La Paz Waterfall Gardens Nature Park is a privately managed nature park and wildlife refuge in Vara Blanca, Alajuela Province, on the northeastern slopes of Poás Volcano. The property lies at an elevation where cloud forest and rainforest meet, creating a cool, humid environment with dense vegetation and flowing streams. Its protected area includes forest, former pastureland, gardens, and more than 3.5 kilometers of walking trails. The park is particularly known for combining waterfalls, forest habitats, and wildlife exhibits within one site, making it a notable stop in the mountain region between the Central Valley and the northern plains.
The park's conservation work is centered on environmental education and the care of wildlife that cannot be returned to the wild. Its animal refuge includes rescued species entrusted to the park by Costa Rican wildlife authorities, including several birds and mammals that were previously kept illegally as pets. The property also maintains a traditional Costa Rican house known as the Casita, where visitors can learn about rural life and agricultural traditions. The park employs many people from nearby communities, linking its conservation activities with the local economy of Vara Blanca and surrounding mountain settlements.
Five waterfalls are connected by the park's forest trails: Templo, Encantada, Magia Blanca, Escondida, and La Paz. The La Paz waterfall itself drops about 34 meters, while Magia Blanca reaches about 37 meters. Other attractions include an aviary, butterfly observatory, hummingbird garden, serpentarium, frog exhibit, jungle cat enclosures, and trout lake. The surrounding cloud and rainforest support orchids, bromeliads, birds, amphibians, and other species adapted to the cool highland environment. Views along the trails also reveal the forested slopes and river valleys around Vara Blanca.