Catarata de La Paz

You hear the La Paz waterfall before the viewing platform comes into sight — a low, pressurised roar that seems to come from inside the hillside rather than above it. What surprises most visitors is not the height of the drop but the geometry: the water funnels through a narrow basalt corridor, compressed by dark volcanic rock on both sides before exploding into a plunge pool you cannot actually reach. This is the centrepiece catarata within the Paz Waterfall Gardens complex, sitting at roughly 1,500 metres (4,900 ft) elevation on the eastern slope of the Cordillera Central, about 50 kilometres (31 miles) north of San José via the route through Varablanca — a drive that takes around 90 minutes in clear conditions but considerably longer in the afternoon fog that rolls in from the Caribbean side. The falls themselves drop approximately 40 metres (130 ft) through the slot, and the spray zone extends far enough that a light jacket is practical, not optional. The surrounding cloud forest is dense with Cecropia trees, giant tree ferns, and the occasional Resplendent Quetzal in season — most reliably between February and April when males are displaying. Emerald toucanets, Prong-billed barbets, and glass-wing butterflies appear in the vegetation flanking the descent trail. The honest picture: this site is operated as a private wildlife park and charges a substantial entrance fee (around $45–60 USD), which includes access to butterfly gardens, a serpentarium, and aviaries. The main waterfall trail is well-paved and accessible, which means it draws coachloads of day-trippers from San José, particularly between 10h00 and 14h00. Arriving before 09h00 or staying into late afternoon changes the experience considerably — fewer people, colder light through the canopy, more bird activity. The waterfall itself is non-negotiable in any season; flow peaks in the wet season (May–November) when the river runs visibly louder and the mist column rises above the canyon rim.