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Would you pass up the chance to visit an active volcano with a bubbling crater lake? No, neither would we, and that’s why we consider Poás Volcano a true must-visit from the Costa Rican capital of San José.
We used to live in Costa Rica (and come back often), so we’ve visited Poás Volcano many times from San José. We’ve done this using several different transport options, but we think the best way to experience it is on a guided tour.
There is so much to see in this area and we love that some tours combine multiple activities into one day. Although, not all tours are created equally and some visit better places than others. This is why we’ve found the absolute best tours available that visit Poás Volcano so that you don’t waste your time or money!
Quick Pick: Our Favorite Tour
If you are ready to book a tour right away, you can’t go wrong booking this full-day tour that visits the Poás Volcano, a coffee plantation, and the La Paz Waterfall Gardens!
It is our favorite Poás Volcano tour from San José because it also incorporates 2 of our favorite things: coffee and wildlife! You will get to learn all about the coffee-making process, marvel at the volcano, chase some waterfalls, and witness a variety of animals at Costa Rica’s largest animal sanctuary – does it get any better than that?
This all-inclusive tour only costs $155 USD per person which includes breakfast, lunch, entrance fees, and transportation. We think this is such a good deal for the great experience you get – if you don’t believe us just check out all of the 5-star reviews here!
Secure your spot on our favorite Poás Volcano tour from San José here!
The BEST Poas Volcano Tours
1. Poás Volcano, Doka Coffee Plantation, and La Paz Waterfall Gardens
Poás Volcano is about 1.5 hours away from San José, so if you’re heading out that way, it only makes sense to check some of the other must-do activities in the area off your list, which is why we love this full-day adventure tour!
We kicked off the day with a coffee plantation tour at the largest coffee plantation in Costa Rica. We learned all about the coffee production process and even got to try roasting and grinding coffee ourselves. And of course, we got to try the coffee, which was the perfect way to fuel up for the full day of adventures ahead!
After breakfast and a strong coffee at the plantation, it’s onto Poás Volcano National Park. There’s an initial talk to give you a little background on the volcano, which we found super interesting, and then it’s time to walk to the viewpoint for stunning views of the crater and the milky-blue water in the lake. The hike is short and we found it super easy, so it’s suitable for travelers of all ages and abilities.
What we love most about this tour is that it visits the La Paz Waterfall Gardens on the way back to San José. You will have 3 hours here to explore the park, which is the largest animal sanctuary in all of Costa Rica! We enjoyed wandering through the many different animal centers full of reptiles, birds, monkeys, and even jungle cats. Afterward, we went on a walk through the lush rainforest to check out 5 beautiful waterfalls. It really was the icing on the cake to a fantastic day!
This highly-rated tour (check out the glowing reviews here) costs $155 USD, which we think is good value since it includes all entry fees, transportation, your guide, breakfast, and lunch.
Book this all-inclusive tour with FREE cancellation here!
1. Poás Volcano National Park Half-day Tour from San José
This half-day tour is definitely the best option for those who are short on time! As much as we love La Paz Waterfall Gardens and the coffee tour, if you don’t have long in San José then this half-day tour will be much easier to fit into your itinerary.
The Poás Volcano tops our list of the best volcanoes to visit in Costa Rica. If you’re only going to see one, make it this one!
We like that this tour focuses solely on visiting the volcano, which means you don’t have to miss out on seeing its epic craters and puffs of steam, even if you don’t have much time in the Costa Rican capital. And to be honest, a lot of travelers only spend a day or two here, so we’re glad that there’s a shorter tour available.
Edgar, the guide, is so knowledgeable about Poás Volcano and has so many stories and anecdotes to share. Honestly, for $119 USD, we think that this tour is not only great for those short on time but also for those traveling on a budget. It is a small group tour that includes all admission fees, transportation, and even breakfast!
Book this budget-friendly half-day tour in advance here!
3. Poás Volcano and Alsacia Coffee Farm Tour
We think that this full-day volcano and Starbucks coffee farm tour is ideal for anyone trying to do Costa Rica on a budget. It’s also a good choice if you’re a coffee lover like us!
One thing that we like about this tour is how much time you get at Poás Volcano. There’s plenty of time to explore the National Park and take in the beautiful scenery, which is nice because we hate feeling rushed on tours. We also love that you stop for lunch at Freddo Fresas, a super popular local spot that does some of the best chorreadas we’ve ever had!
In the afternoon, the tour visits the first commercial coffee farm that Starbucks ever purchased, Hacienda Alsacia. In fact, it remains their only one! Of course, this is exciting for Starbucks fans but we also like that it’s a bit different. We usually opt for coffee tours at small, family-run farms, so it’s nice to shake it up a bit!
The tour has two different options you can choose between when booking. You can choose to do a tour of the coffee farm (which we highly recommend) for $120 USD per person, or you can just relax at the coffee farm while others in the group do the tour for $90 USD per person. Both of these costs include transportation, your tour guide, and entrance fees. Just make sure to budget extra for lunch!
Book this combo Starbucks coffee and Poás tour here!
Related Read: For more wow-worthy experiences, have a peek at our list of the 15 best tours from San Jose!
Why We Book Tours with Viator
Viator is a trusted online booking system for tours around the world! We almost always book our tours using Viator for a couple of reasons:
- Free cancellation on most tours – Most of the tours on Viator allow you to cancel and get a full refund up to 24 hours in advance. This is handy in case plans change, or if booking an outdoor activity, the weather forecast is looking grim.
- Reserve now and pay later – You can secure your spot on some of the most popular tours well in advance and not pay until closer to the day of the tour.
- Lowest price guarantee – If you happen to find the same tour at a lower price elsewhere, Viator will refund you the price difference.
- Pay in your chosen currency – Avoid costly international transaction fees by choosing to pay in your home currency.
- Peace of mind – When booking with tour operators you find in person on the street or in small booking offices, you are often promised one thing and given another. This online platform holds tour operators accountable with a written description of inclusions as well as the opportunity for customers to leave reviews.
Check out the Viator website here! Or, for more info, read our detailed review about Viator here.
About Poás Volcano
Poás Volcano National Park is one of the most visited national parks in the country. It’s an easy day trip from San Jose at only a 1.5-hour drive.
Since the mid-1800s, Poás has erupted 39 times with explosions of varying intensity. Some more significant eruptions have ejected steam and debris over 1,000 meters (3,280 feet) above the lake!
The last strong blast happened on September 30, 2019. Experts consider the volcano to be in a constantly active state. However, most eruptions are incredibly mild and are caused by the interaction of the hot lava with the water in the crater lake. This lake, known as Laguna Caliente (or “Hot Lake”) is considered the world’s largest geyser and is a spectacular shade of greenish-blue.
Lucky visitors (like you!) will get the rare opportunity to get up close and personal with an active volcano – there are not many places in the world you can do that!
Should I book my Poás Volcano tour in advance?
Yes! Since visiting Poas Volcano is such a popular thing to do, the best tours (such as the ones on this list) tend to book up quickly. Make sure to book at least a couple of days in advance if you want to secure your spot and arrange hotel pick-up.
Make sure you plan to go on a day where the forecast looks clear, as the volcano can’t be seen well on cloudy days. We know that the weather can be unpredictable which is why we always book with Viator. It allows you to secure your spot on the tour and gives you the option to cancel up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund in case the weather forecast changes for the worst – which is always reassuring!
Is a Poás Volcano tour worth it?
Absolutely! If you can time it right and get there on a sunny, clear day, then it is definitely worth it!
It is one of the largest active craters in the world and is something you can’t miss out on while in San Jose. Going with a tour makes it easy to get to and seeing the steam rise out of the crater is unlike anything else!
Learn more about our favorite Poás Volcano tour from San Jose here!
Getting Around Costa Rica
How you choose to get around Costa Rica is one of the biggest decisions you’ll make when planning your holiday here! How you do it depends on your budget, travel style, and comfort level.
Renting a Car
Without a doubt, the number one way to explore Costa Rica is in a rental car. We book rental cars on the Discover Cars website as we have had good experiences with them in the past.
One of the things you need to watch for when renting a car in Costa Rica is the mandatory insurance that the government requires you to have. There are a lot of very cheap rentals that don’t include this mandatory insurance (TPL) in the original booking price, but there are also ones that do. To avoid additional surprise charges when you pick up your rental car, be sure to rent a car that includes the mandatory insurance when you book.
Thankfully, on Discover Cars it’s easy to tell apart the companies that include the mandatory insurance and those that don’t. The trick is you can’t pick any car on their website. In the picture below, you can see this rental car, with pick up in Jaco, includes the TPL. That means the mandatory insurance is included in the price. Any cover you get above that is extra.
Of course, I still suggest getting the full coverage offered by Discover Cars, which covers you even more.
You can browse cars on Discover Cars here.
Book Shuttles
If renting a car isn’t in your budget, you don’t feel comfortable driving in Costa Rica, or you just don’t like driving, shuttles are the next best option. There are hundreds of shuttle routes available all over the country, and they are very affordable.
Shuttles in Costa Rica are specifically for tourists and often include pick up and drop off at your selected hotels and airports. The drivers also speak some English, and the vehicles have air conditioning. You’ll also be guaranteed a seat when you book a shuttle (which isn’t the case with the public bus system.)
To get the best price, use the website Bookaway. They compare all the offers and prices of shuttle companies in Costa Rica so you get the best price! Honestly, we have saved so much money using Bookaway!
You can search for shuttles online on Bookaway here.
Public Bus
Lastly, you can use the public bus system. On short journeys, such as from San Jose to La Fortuna or Uvita to Manuel Antonio, this system is great. However, the longer the journey the more hassle and time spent on a bus. It’s undoubtedly best to save the public bus in Costa Rica for short and straightforward trips!
The public buses are definitely the cheapest way to get around Costa Rica, but they are not always very reliable and schedules often change without notice and delays are to be expected. The buses can also be very crowded and hot – so just be prepared!
It’s also good to speak some Spanish if you plan on riding the public bus since most drivers and ticket booth operators don’t speak English.
Don’t Forget Travel Insurance!
If you’re looking to save money on travel insurance, we currently use and recommend SafetyWing. We’ve been using their coverage since 2018 and they’ve had our backs when we needed emergency flights and got sick overseas.
SafetyWing is one of the cheapest providers out there and covers everything from medical costs to lost luggage, travel delays, and emergency flights. A huge difference we’ve found between them and other companies is that they let you take out a policy AFTER leaving your home country. We’ve also found it handy that it’s a monthly payment rather than a lump sum, and you can get a refund for unused time.
SafetyWing has helped us out in some scary situations before and their affordable coverage has given us peace of mind.
Pura Vida!
With Poas Volcano so close to San Jose, it’s absolutely worth a trip while you’re in the Costa Rican capital. By far the easiest way to get here is with a tour, and we are sure you will have a blast!
Before your vacation, check out our blog all about Costa Rica. We have blogs about everything from location guides to the best tours in town. Here are a few blogs I think you might find helpful:
Best Activities for One Day in San Jose, Costa Rica
5 BEST Arenal Volcano Tours from San Jose, Costa Rica
11 BEST Restaurants in San Jose, Costa Rica
10 BEST Hotels near Juan Santamaria Intl Airport (SJO) for all Budgets