sarah079

Hi everyone,

I was thinking about going to go on the ‘four in one tour’ (Coffee Fields, Poas Volcano, La Paz Waterfall, Jungle ride on the Sarapiquí River and butterfly farm) on the last day of our two week trip to Costa Rica.

However I was wondering if it would be better to rent a car for one day and go to Poas and La Paz on our own, so that we can spend longer there and also so we can get there earlier, when it is a bit quieter. Also I understand that the tour does not go into the La Paz garden park, which I hear is really good. It may be worth mentioning that we are going to Monteverde and thinking about doing the coffee tour there.

I wonder if anyone has any advise on this? Has anyone been on the tour and thought that it was worth doing? Also, could anyone recommend a rental car company where I could rent a car for one day – and have anyone got any idea of cost?

I would really appreciate any advice.

Thanks

Sarah

dfarmer

If you prefer only to see these two locations, then rent the vehicle or hire a driver for the day. We have never rented for just a day, but a driver would probably cost around $100 for the day.

I assume you will be staying in or near SJ at this time of the trip? If so most hotels can suggest a driver.

Lots of discussions on car rental companies here, just put in the search function and you should find lots. Same goes for drivers.

We used a driver from Wady Tours last year for a one day trip. I, like you, wanted to see just certain things and decided the driver would be the best choice.

ShSue

I don't understand how you can "tour" LaPaz Waterfall Gardens without going in. If you don't go in, you won't see the butterflies, frogs, snakes, hummingbirds. We spent hours in there!

nightread

That trip sounds jam packed. I was trying to decide whether or not to go on a rafting trip on the Pacquare or do the Poas Volano and Waterfall... anyone have advise?

shillmac

Nightread, they would both be interesting for you. The rafting would, of course, be more adventurous! Gorgeous scenery both ways.

sarah079, I have done the Highlights (4 in 1) tour. It's a great tour, but yes, you only stop to view one of the falls at La Paz that can be seen from the road.

It starts out with an early breakfast at the Doka coffee plantation (great breakfast). Then on to Poas to view the crater and hike a bit through the secondary forest. From there you'll drive to Selva Verde for lunch and a look around the property. You'll see poison dart frogs! On the way you'll stop and look at the waterfall. You'll also stop at a hummingbird gallery for a little snack. This little place alongside the road overlooks a deep canyon with a waterfall in the distance. It is a good place to view dozens of hummingbirds up close and personal.
After lunch at Selva Verde, you'll continue on to Puerto Viejo de Sarapiqui and a one hour slow cruise down the Rio Sarapiqui where you'll see caimans, several species of waterfowl, bats, huge iguanas, just to name a few critters. You'll then have the opportunity to look around in Puerto Viejo for awhile before heading back into San Jose (about an hour and a half).

One of the nice things about this tour is that you'll get to drive along a good portion of Braulio Carillo Parque Nacional. You'll look down (if you are on the right side of the vehicle) into a forested canyon that appears to be bottomless! The entire day will provide you with an amazing array of diversity through 4 of the 7 provinces, over into the Caribbean lowlands even. It really is an excellent tour. You'll be part of a small group and have a guide who will tell you so much about the areas you travel through.

The disadvantage is just missing out on La Paz. If you do your own thing, you will be able to go into La Paz, see the many hummingbirds and butterflies and several waterfalls. I went to La Paz finally last summer. It took about 2 hours to enjoy. It was nice, but so was the Highlight Tour I had taken a couple of years earlier! You won't go wrong either way.

It will cost you about $50 to rent for a day. Maybe less. Check with Tricolor. They are just up the road from the Hampton Inn that is across from the airport (this was my pick up for the 4 in 1 tour). www.tricolorcarrental.com

Suzie2

There is a 4 in 1 (maybe more than 1 company ) that actually goes into the waterfall park. Vacationcity.com

Ecoscape just stops at the La Paz waterfall while passing on the road. Pretty awesome waterfall but now that I know what else is back there I would say go with a tour that actually goes into the gardens. This is the only real "tour" I have ever been on and it was fun. I actually ended up being a tour guide on this trip for a little while because the bus broke down. Our driver and guide were busy talking to the mechanic and lots of the other passengers wanted to go into a little grocery store to see what it was like. I was the only person who could speak even just a tiny bit of spanish so I was elected to help them all shop.

I do believe there are others that go into the gardens as I met some people who were doing it when we were there a couple of years ago.

It is a great trip because you see so many different things.

If you aren't interested in the Doka coffee plantation part or the river ride on the Sarapiqui then I would just rent a car or hire someone to take you up to the volcano and the gardens. You can certainly spend several hours looking at the butterflies, hummingbirds and waterfalls. The food was okay, nothing great. Check out the bathroom. It is a long hike down but there is a shuttle van to bring you back to the beginning.

As far as the Pacuare goes....it is one great trip! If you would rather get your heart pumping after the long flight down do it. One of my favorite trips.