Visiting a National Park such as this one is not necessarily for those on a budget or who like to do activities on the fly. You have to get your tickets online in advance and it’s about $20 per person and then once you drive here (from San Jose depending on what part it can can be 1.5 to two hours) their hand is out for their mandatory parking fee. Please note they do check to make sure you have tickets before you are allowed to pay. Many people mentioned that they had a time limit of 20 minutes that was enforced, but that was not our experience. We were up there longer than 45 minutes and no one said anything to us. We did have on shades and I think that helped our eyes out. Really Breathtaking experience and since your in Costa Rica you minus well come on to see it. Some people mentioned it was cold at the top and again that was not our experience your blood should be flowing from the hike up there. They have a museum on site with a lot of valuable information. Also their bathrooms were clean , we did not go in the gift shop. The hike was easy peezy and only took us about 15 - 20 minutes. Have fun 🤩

Nice national park to visit while in San José. English speaking tourists: the bus times in the website are wrong. Check the Spanish version of the website for up-to-date information. I wish there was more information about the different trails, which ones are opened/closed. There could also be more historic and scientific information about the volcano. There were only a few signs.

The park was open when I visited and the volcano looked quite active (steam coming out). VERY IMPORTANT: Buy your tickets beforehand! Buy them before starting for Poas Volcano (a few days prior would be even better to get your desired time slot). At the entrance, they do not sell tickets. There is some WiFi where you can attempt to buy but the signal is not reliable. They will not let you enter if you do not have a prepaid ticket and if you do not arrive for your designated time slot. Try to arrive before 10 am. It gets cloudy afterwards to the point where you wouldn't be able to see the volcano. From the secured parking, it's a short walk (5-10 mins) to the viewpoint on a gradual incline. Expect to spend 10-15 mins at the top, taking pictures and admiring the view (or more if you are waiting for the clouds to clear for a moment). It is quite an impressive site when the conditions are right! There are restrooms at the main building after the car parking. If you are calling Uber or something for your return, you may not get enough signal. Better to have your own car or arrange for return transportation beforehand. Typically, takes around 1h 10 mins driving from the airport area (give yourself 10-15 mins buffer because of strictness of entry and vehicle queue at entrance). On navigation, put "Poas Volcano main parking lot".

Awesome place if you like breathtaking views. You should target good weather without clouds if possible. Also double check official website to make sure park will be open on your visit date. Take time and check the trail near volcano, it will lead you to the second crater with a lake inside through a cloud forest. Unforgettable journey, totally worth it if we are talking about your time and money.

Unique to see an active volcano so close. Highly recommended place to visit. The actual crater was a fairly easy walk of 15 minutes from parking 2 on a paved road. Be mindful that if you want to see the lake, the last entry to the lake gate is 2:30 pm. Even if you are in the park near the crater, you won’t be able to go see the lake because the close the trail gates.

Started the day early at Poás National Park and it was unforgettable. At first, I thought the park was closed due to volcanic activity, but luckily it was open. The hike up to Laguna Botos was magical—peaceful, serene, and filled with hummingbirds. On the way back, I took time to read all the signs and learned so much about the local flora. The highlight was reaching the volcano just before the clouds rolled in, offering a breathtaking view before everything disappeared into mist. A truly enchanting Costa Rica experience and well worth the visit!

Great place to visit for a Volcano experience. Gotta catch a nice sunny day though, better to go from mid November to May. Great restaurant for a treat or just a good coffee

Definitely a must see when you come to Puerto Rico. We got to see it active plus it's a short walk to the volcano from the parking lot. Then there's also a very small hike to a gorgeous volcano lake. You must come to see the volcano and the lake before 12 PM when the clouds come in.

Cannot review based on the volcano, as it was closed. I wish there would’ve been warning closer to the bottom instead of just at the top. However, the drive up is long and windy but the views are absolutely breathtaking. Much cooler at the top, make sure you bring a sweater.

An hour and a half from SJ, depending on traffic and rain. Cannot enter unless you book online $15-20, parking fee is about $5-6, It is a short walk to the viewing area, however you won't see anything when it's a cloudy day. I took an extended hike and it is very steep and dangerous when it's raining. I was glad to make it out without getting hurt. Park closes at 4 pm, stops allowing anyone after 2 pm.

Very interesting experience to visit an active vulcano. The smell of sulphuric acid and the sounds of the vulcano is crazy. Nice ride up to the location, beautiful roads and surroundings. Parking is close and requires a 500-700 meters walk up to the actual destination. They display you a short video about the vulcano and provide you with hard hats.

Such a beautiful place to visit. Make sure you bring a long sleeve because it gets windy there.

Beautiful volcano. Worth visiting from different ankles. However is mostly covered by clouds and fog

Amazing experience!! It's a very short trip from San José and there's a beautiful waterfall on the way there. Someone said the journey is scary and that's just a bit extreme lol. The roads are fine. It seems to rain a lot though and it's chilly so bring a poncho and jacket. Try to order your tickets online as it makes life easier when you get there. The last entry is around 2PM. If there's cloud cover when you arrive, wait a bit and it will clear even if just for a moment because that's what happened with us. Got there and it was just clouds but after about 10 or so minutes it cleared nicely. When leaving, you're going to see some trails, be careful because we ended up on one that was very long and very far and very difficult with lots of stairs and there's hardly any signs to guide you. By time we got to the end we were beat. Overall I'd definitely recommend this experience!

Boring, don't waste your time (normally I post photos, but it was not worth it), better visit the National park close by or waterfall gardens, they are great!!!

It was OK but the entry to the trails was very expensive, 5000 colones or $10 per person it's not worth it, specially since it was raining and the trails were muddy and very wet so we only walked a very tiny part of them . The good thing is that you can eat at the restaurant without paying for the trails and the food was good and at a fair price.

There is no road

The place is beautiful but I find it expensive

(Translated by Google) I loved this place. I took my dog, and they were super friendly with her the entire time. She had a great time hiking through the mountains and trails. It's a medium-level hike and a great way to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life. There's also a restaurant with affordable prices. I highly recommend this place; it's actually much better than it looks in the photos. (Original) Este lugar me encantó. Llevé a mi perrita y fueron super amables con ella todo el tiempo, ella por su lado se la pasó super bien caminando por la montaña y senderos. Es una dificultad media y es una excelente opción para salir del día a día. También hay un restaurante con precios económicos, recomiendo este lugar, la verdad es mucho mejor de lo que se aprecia en fotos.

(Translated by Google) I went recently with my Labrador, and we both had a great time! It's a super safe place to go alone with your pet, or even as a family! The waterfall was beautiful, and it was a 5 km hike! On the way back, I had a delicious tortilla aliana, and the patacones (fried plantains) were spectacular, too! :) I highly recommend it! It's important to bring a raincoat or jacket! (Original) Fui hace poco con mi labrador y la pasamos súper bien las dos! Es un lugar súper seguro para ir solo con tu mascota o también en familia! La catarata estaba preciosa y fueron 5 KM en total! Al regresar comi una tortilla aliñada deliciosa y los patacones son espectaculares también! :) recomiendo mucho! Importante llevar capa o una jacket impermeable!

wonderful place with so nice people...helped me when my motorbike broke...margaritas were tasty, tico, but tasty...and the VIEW!

The PERFECT place to stop between Catarata del Toro and Volcan Poas. The view is beautiful, the food is incredible, the portions are huge, and they even have a varied selection of local sweets you can take to go at the counter.

Delicious fresh food with generous portions.

As the name suggests, you get a lovely view towards the valley. The food is traditional Costa Rican and they have really nice fresh fruit smoothies. Also not very expensive.

Excellent dishes, I had the Chocolate drizzled French Toast for breakfast which was as good as it sounds. One of the best views of central / populated Costa Rica as long as the clouds haven't rolled in. A must stop when visiting Poas Crater (you can also buy your tickets here on the same day as entry). Note: they also have a live camera of the crater so you can see the current conditions (cloud cover). Wifi is free.

Excelent food. One of the best I tried in Costa Rica.

It's a perfect place to eat after a visit to Poàs volcano. Traditional Costa Rican breakfast will make it perfect.

This place is an absolute must visit if you're in Costa Rica! From the moment I walked in, I could tell this place was special. The staff is incredibly friendly and welcoming, making you feel right at home. The general manager is a total sweetheart, always checking in to make sure everything is perfect. But what really stood out was the owner. He is humble, professional, and truly passionate about providing an amazing experience for every guest. You can tell he puts his heart into this place, and it makes all the difference. Now, let’s talk about the food...WOW! Every single bite was packed with flavor, and you could taste the quality in everything. The steak was perfectly cooked, the sides were delicious, and the entire meal was just top notch. They clearly take pride in what they serve, and it shows. On top of the incredible food, they also have rooms where you can stay the night. The rooms are spotless, giving off that cozy cabin vibe with a breathtaking view of the surrounding nature. Waking up here felt like a dream; very peaceful, quiet, and absolutely beautiful. If you’re looking for a place with amazing food, incredible hospitality, and a relaxing stay, this is it. Between the top-tier service, the welcoming atmosphere, and the humble yet professional owner, you won’t find a better experience. I’ll definitely be coming back! Highly recommend!

We stayed in this hotel for two nights in April 2025. It was a lovely room and a pleasant restaurant. The room was very comfortable. An extra blanket and an electric space heater were provided and much appreciated because of the cooler temperatures at the higher elevation. The WiFi signal was unreliable. It was weak and dropped so often that we were not able to really use it. The food at the restaurant was very good, with big windows and lots of hummingbirds. Our room included breakfast, but there was some confusion about that on our second morning. Thankfully, the young woman who was taking care of us was very helpful - even though she spoke very little English and we spoke very little Spanish - and we eventually got it figured out. The location is very convenient to both the waterfall and the volcano. Unfortunately, the park was closed while we were there because the volcano was actively erupting. We did have a lovely day at the waterfall gardens, though. Absolutely beautiful, but be prepared for many many steps and a lot of walking on uneven surfaces.

We had a great time at the hotel la Paz! The owner is really friendly and always ready to help. We especially enjoyed the very private and family atmosphere. It is a great place for visiting the volcano Poas. We waited until the sky cleared up and could see the crater and lagoon perfectly. It‘s just a 10 minute ride by car to the volcano! Thank you again for the warm welcome and your hospitality! Ina & Alex from Germany

This place is a Jewel …it was recommended to us from a local on our coffee plantation tour…from the time we arrived we were welcomed with the true Pura Vida Vibes, food was Great Amit and his crew went the extra mile to show us a good time, made some new friends and definitely heading back next trip, do yourself a favor and check this spot🤙

Glad that we decided to stay here! Location is great and, despite being on the main road - very quiet and secluded. Rooms are very cozy - fully wooden and have a cute fireplace-like heater. Coffee and coffee maker in the room. Great shower with actual hot water 😃 and non-electric shower head which is great Great place to stay to be early for Poas volcano (recommend to come early for more clear conditions - those who come is the afternoon are likely to see just fog instead of the crater) Also just across the road from one of the best restaurants - steak we had there was better than in a fancy French restaurant (El Sabor de la Montaña)

Love this hotel and restaurant! Everything was great! Clean room, beautiful views, friendly staff, delicious food!

We stayed here for a night after visiting the volcano. The staff here was excellent. We had a great meal at the restaurant and really enjoyed our time here We met the owner and he cares about creating a great hotel and restaurant where his guests feel comfortable and welcomed. I highly recommend staying here.

First time I ever do a bad review. Service was awful, not only did they take such a long time to take our order but they also delivered the food in 30 minutes and the place wasn't even half full. I had to switch my drink because a bug fell in and they forgot about it for longer than 15 minutes. They also forgot to give a dessert included in one of the dishes. The place is beautiful but service made me want to not recommend it to anybody.

Best possible mountain top views of the mountains and valley in the Poas region. Cabin-like design, spacious, food is delicious, good prices, good service. Recommended!

Amazing views and great food at this place, quite good prices too considering the location. Service was slow but nothing outrageous. Definitely worth a stop for dinner or lunch with a view!

Great view. Quality food. Worth the drive if going to Poas.

Beautiful view! Food is okay! Price is pretty high for Costa Rica, but consider we are also paying for the view.

Very bad experience today. My girlfriend was bitten her 2 legs by 2 dogs at that restaurant. Even if the personnel were gentles to contact the ambulance, I will never return to this restaurant. Another couple came while waiting the ambulance and these 2 dogs (white/black and light brown) charged them and myself but fortunately without consequence. I advised the police authority but I’m not sure they will react. Therefore, take care if you go there.

Food was delicious and service was great! People here were really friendly and helpful!!!!