La Paz Waterfall Gardens, Animal sanctuary and waterfall gardens in Varablanca, Costa Rica.
La Paz Waterfall Gardens is a nature sanctuary in Varablanca's forests featuring five cascading waterfalls and over 100 native animal species within protected cloud and rainforest land. The site offers pathways through varied forest environments and enclosures for viewing animals.
The site was constructed starting in 1998 and opened to visitors in 2000 as a conservation project. A butterfly observation area was added later to expand what the place offered.
The place reflects Costa Rica's commitment to wildlife protection by housing only animals entrusted by the national Wildlife Ministry for rehabilitation. Visitors can observe threatened species in their natural surroundings thanks to this conservation approach.
The facility is less than an hour from San José and is open daily with self-guided trails and information stations throughout. You can explore the different forest areas at your own pace without needing scheduled tours or fixed timings.
The location sits at higher elevations where cloud forest and tropical rainforest merge, creating its own climate zone. This geography lets visitors experience two different forest environments on short walks.
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