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  • Writer's pictureJacqlyne Mba-Jonas
    • Aug 1, 2021
    • 6 min read

San Jose Costa Rica Itinerary - Tours and Activities

Updated: Mar 16

Located in Central Valley, San Jose is at the center of Costa Rica. It is the country's capital city and also its largest. It is an urban city filled with diversity, and its central location makes its the perfect spot when visiting popular attractions all around the country. So lets take a look at what San Jose has to offer.


Disclaimer

Part of the job of a travel agent is to save clients time and money. I looked through hundreds of tours and picked out the best tours to book in various categories that are both the best in quality and price.


Prices listed below are subject to change. Rates are typically discounted for larger groups and children, so use the links provided to see the exact cost for your specific scenario and book what is of interest to you.

San Jose Walking and Bus City Tour

Explore the Costa Rican capital’s rich history, landmark buildings, and modern culture on a combo bus and walking tour of San Jose. Get a great introduction to city highlights like the National Theater and Art Museum, and stop to walk through bustling markets and public plazas to feel the pulse of this modern Central American metropolis. Get an extra boost of Costa Rican culture by listening to traditional folkloric music onboard the bus. Choose between a morning and evening tour. Roundtrip hotel transportation and lunch or dinner included.


Duration

5 hours

Availability

Everyday at 10am and 2:30pm

Price

$66 per person

Alternative


Bites and Sights - Walking Food Tour

Unmask the beauty and culture of contemporary Costa Rican life on this San Jose walking tour that takes you through the streets, bustling markets, and tranquil parks. Discover the secrets behind herbal remedies, and fresh produce at Borbon and San Jose Central Market. Discover a side to this city only heard from the mouths of locals, while indulging in typical cuisine and one of Costa Rica’s most delectable exports.


Duration

3 hours

Availability

Monday – Saturday at 8:30am and 11:30am

Price

$32 per person

Alternative

Beer Walking Tour - $57 per person.


Doka Estate Coffee Tour with Butterfly Garden and Bonsai Garden

Get the inside scoop on a pair of Costa Rica's most famous exports on a combo tour of the Doka Estate coffee plantation. Learn how coffee beans are grown, harvested, and roasted to perfection, and then follow the sticky-sweet journey of sugar cane at a working sugar mill. Finish the flavorful visit with a tour of the estate’s inedible natural treasures, including hundreds of miniature bonsai trees, colorful orchids, and butterflies. Roundtrip hotel transportation included.


Duration

1.5 hours

Availability

Monday - Saturday at 9am, 10am, 11am, 1:30pm and 2:30pm

Price

$96 per person

Alternative

Pub Crawl

Experience San Jose’s party scene with a pub crawl through the heart of Costa Rica’s capital, and skip the line with an expert guide and a fun crew of fellow travelers. Learn about the city’s history as you walk alongside your guide, drink like a Tico as you tip back house shots at a series of four bars and clubs, then dance, drink and party the night away in the heart of the city.


Duration

4.5 hours

Availability

Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30pm

Price

  • $31 per person without hotel pickup and drop-off

  • $62 per person with hotel pickup and drop-off


Full Day Tour to Tortuga Island

Sail out to Tortuga Island in the Gulf of Nicoya from San Jose on this all-day boat trip. Hop aboard a catamaran boat and head towards the island, which boasts a protected forest and clear waters that are ideal for swimming. There, you’ll be able to relax and enjoy a day away from the Costa Rican mainland. Roundtrip hotel transportation, breakfast, lunch, snacks and soft drinks included.


Duration

10 – 12 hours

Availability

Wednesday and Friday - Sunday at 5am

Price

$123 per person


ATV River, Beach, Jungle Adventure and Crocodiles Hotspot

Are you ready to cross a river riding an ATV, and feel the adrenaline on your body? Visit the pacific mountain hills, driving up through rivers. Immerse in jungle trails, then come down to a beautiful beach. Fun and nature will make your day one to remember.

Stop on the Tarcoles River Bridge to take pictures of huge crocodiles. Snacks and hotel pickup and drop-off included.


Duration

6 hours

Availability

Everyday at the top of every hour from 7am - 1pm

Price

$149 per person

Alternative

Ziplining, Waterfall Rappelling and ATV Tour - $152 per person

Mega Zipline (25 lines) over 11 Waterfalls

Feel the adrenaline rush of soaring over 11 different waterfalls on this small-group canopy tour. Enjoy breathtaking views over the ocean, mountains, and rainforest on 25 zipline cables, the longest in Costa Rica. Led by a professional guide, this tour emphasizes safety and provides all the necessary equipment. Lunch and bottled water are included. Participants must be at least seven years old and weigh less than 280 pounds (127 kg).


Duration

3.5 hours

Availability

Everyday at 6:45am (with transportation) or 9am (without transportation)

Price

  • $99 per person without transportation

  • $189 per person with transportation

Alternative


6 in 1 Tour: Rainforest Adventures

Experience a fun-filled day in the jungle at the Rainforest Adventures Costa Rica Atlantic eco-reserve. Your multi-pass gives you access to six different activities throughout the beautiful tropical park. Get a bird’s-eye view of the rainforest canopy with an aerial tram ride, encounter native critters at a butterfly and frog garden, cross a hanging bridge, and explore the jungle on a nature hike. Get your adrenaline pumping as you soar through the treetops on ziplines, including one of the longest and fastest in the country.


Duration

8 hours

Availability

Price

  • $60 per person without ziplining

  • $98.99 per person with ziplining

  • $114 per person with lunch, transportation and without ziplining

  • $138.99 per person with lunch, transportation and ziplining

Alternative


Private Beach, Rainforest & Mangrove Horseback Riding Tour

Head to the Central Pacific Coast and Tarcoles River where you will embark on a 2-hour riding adventure. The tour will take you to a Mangrove, rainforest, beach, and River, where you will encounter huge crocodiles. After the tour, enjoy a delicious and authentic Costa Rican lunch before heading back to your hotel in San Jose. Round-trip transportation included.


Duration

8 hours

Availability

Everyday at 7am

Price

$255 per person

Whitewater Rafting at Sarapiqui River Class II-III

Appease your appetite for adventure during an exhilarating 3-hour rafting session on the Sarapiqui River. With an experienced guide, conquer the Class II and III rapids on the river’s most intense section and feel your adrenaline levels surge. During calmer periods, marvel at the abundance of exotic wildlife on the banks of the Sarapiqui River and listen to fascinating commentary from your guide. All rafting equipment and round-trip transportation from Puerto Viejo de Sarapiqui is included.


Duration

3 hours

Availability

Everyday at 7am, 11am, and 3pm

Price

$55.37 per person

Alternative


Safari on Sarapiqui River

Escape the city for a day in the wild on this full-day tour from the San Jose area, including a cruise down the Sarapiqui River, visits to various animal sanctuaries at the Black Madero private wildlife reserve, and a typical buffet lunch. Make it easy to see Costa Rica’s famous wildlife on this inclusive tour featuring a sample of popular rain forest and river activities in and around Braulio Carrillo National Forest. Round-trip transportation included.


Duration

7 hours

Availability

Everyday at 9am

Price

$99 per person

Alternative


La Paz Waterfall Gardens Nature Park & Wildlife Refuge

Get a taste of Costa Rica’s famed biodiversity without straying too far from the city with all-access to La Paz Waterfall Gardens Nature Park. Featuring hiking trails through the cloud forest, cascading waterfalls, a rescued jungle cats educational program, and numerous specialty wildlife exhibits, La Paz Waterfall Gardens guarantees good fun for the whole family.


Duration

2 - 3 hours

Availability

Everyday at 8:30am with transportation, from 8am - 5pm without transportation

Price

  • $51 per person without transportation

  • $140 per person with transportation

Alternative

Irazú Volcano National Park

This excursion takes you to one of the most active volcanoes in Costa Rica. Hailed as one of the most beautiful and impressive and just one hour from downtown San José. You will be able to walk through the main crater, and after the tour you cam go to the highest point of the National Park, then descend from the volcano to visit the most important church in Costa Rica, The Basilica. The church is famous for its pilgrimage and for the history of the Virgin of the Angels. The church also has a small museum and the holy water fountain. Round-trip transportation included.


Duration

6 hours

Availability

Everyday at 6am

Price

$99 per person

Alternative


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