Top San Jose Cultural Tours

Find your bliss with a classic Costa Rican experience that combines a seismic dose of adventure and relaxation! On this full-day trip from San Jose, visit the very active Arenal Volcano and explore its base with a guided nature hike. Then, unwind with a soak in a variety of geothermal pools at the luxurious Tabacón hot springs. The tour also includes a stop at the artisan town of Sarchí, plus delicious lunch and dinner.

Get a taste of San Jose’s culture and cuisine on this 3-hour walking tour. Explore Costa Rica’s capital accompanied by an expert guide and learn about the city’s history, architecture and flavor. Explore the produce stalls of two traditional markets and discover what makes Costa Rican coffee so delicious as you sample some local brews. The tour is capped at 12 people for a personalized small-group experience.

Embark on a full-day adventure to see some of Costa Rica’s natural wonders and cultural gems. Visit the Doka Estate coffee plantation to see how beans are grown and roasted for the perfect cup, and check out the artistic enclave of Sarchí, birthplace of the country’s signature hand-painted oxcarts. Admire the magnificent (and active!) Poás Volcano and the enchanting Botas Lake, which fills a neighboring volcanic crater.

Discover San Jose’s hidden delights with this unique evening tour of the Costa Rican capital. Wander through a maze of vendor stalls and to learn about staples of local cooking at the Central Market, and see the opulent National Theater and other architectural highlights on a twilight walking tour. Drive to the ritzy Paseo de la Luz the east side of San Jose well known for its gastronomy. Finish the night with a 3-course meal and wine pairings at a gourmet Costa Rican restaurant.

Enjoy an insider’s perspective of San Jose on this half-day city walking tour. Accompanied by an expert guide, you’ll get a sense of daily life in the Costa Rican capital as you ride public transportation, stop by a beautiful local park and visit the artisan workshop of a third-generation craftsman. Taste local flavors while you browse stalls at the historic Central Market, savor a traditional lunch at an 80-year-old inn and learn to make tortillas.

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.

Treat your taste buds to a sampling of Costa Rica’s famed coffee paired with gourmet chocolate on this half-day tour of the Café Britt coffee plantation. See firsthand how this sustainable, gourmet producer grows, harvests, and roasts coffee beans to create the perfect aromatic cup. Visit the on-site coffee bar to taste several of Café Britt’s different roasts, accompanied by chocolate. Round out the day with a farm-fresh buffet lunch of traditional Costa Rican cuisine at the plantation restaurant.

Explore highlights of Costa Rica's Cartago province on this combo tour from San Jose that offers a mix of majestic natural beauty and cultural gems. Get a front-row view of one of the country's most mystical peaks at Irazú Volcano National Park, and then stroll among vibrant bromeliads, orchids, and hundreds of other plant species at Lankester Gardens in Orosi. You'll also visit the Virgin of the Angels Basilica, a popular pilgrimage site, in Cartago, and taste local flavor with included lunch at a restaurant.

See the best of San Jose on this incredible walking tour that takes travelers through more than 40 different sites, including galleries, parks, art houses and iconic buildings. Whether you're a first time visitor or returning to this beautiful city this two-hour tour is the perfect way to hit all of the highlights.

Don’t miss out on two of Costa Rica’s most alluring natural attractions by taking this 13-hour tour of the Arenal Volcano National Park and the Baldi Hot Springs from San Jose. Stop in the bohemian town of Sarchi, travel through landscapes replete with mango groves and pineapple farms, and eat lunch overlooking the magnificent Arenal Volcano. Then, soothe your muscles in the thermal waters of the Baldi Hot Springs before enjoying dinner. Entrance fees, and hotel pickup and drop-off in San Jose are included.

Visit the Irazú Volcano National Park and Lankester Botanical Garden on this all-day tour from San Jose. First, head to Irazú Volcano, the highest active volcano in Costa Rica at 11,260 feet (3,400 meters) tall and see its most popular attraction, the giant Diego de la Haya crater. On the return trip, stop at the Lankester Garden, which was established to protect types of flora.

Visiting San Jose’s markets with a guide turns an everyday scene into a rich cultural experience as your guide tells you the stories behind the markets’ offerings and takes the guesswork out of deciding what’s worth a try. After visiting top San Jose markets, head to the Pre-Columbian Gold Museum to take a look at the city’s early history.

Spend the day away from bustling San Jose and see the majestic Rio Celeste, one of the top attractions in Costa Rica. Located inside the Tenorio Volcano National Park, the deep turquoise waters of the river can be explored via a trail, which includes a waterfall, a suspended bridge, and a section of hot springs

Sample some of the Costa Rican capital’s best bites while exploring its most vibrant neighborhoods on an evening food tour in San Jose. The city can be daunting to explore on your own, so ensure you avoid tourist traps and safely enjoy a night out with the help of a local foodie guide. Learn to eat like a ‘tico’ while trying Costa Rican chocolate, coffee, plus sugar cane liqueur, sangria, and traditional Caribbean dishes on a fun and cultural adventure.

Safely immerse yourself in Costa Rican nature and wildlife on a 7-hour tour to La Paz Waterfall Gardens. Leave the busy streets of San Jose behind in comfortable air-conditioned transportation from your hotel. Discover more than 100 species at the sanctuary, including titi monkeys, 2-toed sloths, pumas, and margays. You can even feed hummingbirds by hand. Have your camera ready for the cloud forest, waterfalls, and aviary.

Come, relax and enjoy this popular 4-hour sightseeing tour of the city and see the historic construction sites that include museums, theaters, markets and other interesting places in the city of San Jose. Tour includes: Bilingual profesional guide, comfortable air conditioning transportation, bottled water and dinner

Kickstart your time in San Jose on a panoramic bus tour that’s designed to provide an introduction to first-time visitors. As well as enjoying unobstructed views of San Jose’s historical centre from the top deck of the bus, you’ll be party to facts and anecdotes that you’re unlikely to find in the guidebook. Plus, exploring by bus allows you to cover more sights in less time, making this tour ideal for time-pressed travelers.

Explore the natural beauty of Costa Rica's Arenal Volcano National Park during a stress-free day trip from San Jose. You'll jump from a walk through the rain forest canopy at Mistico Arenal Hanging Bridges Park to a soak in the mineral-rich thermal baths at the Tabacon Hot Springs Resort, traveling between attractions with ease in comfortable coach. A quick stop in the artisan town of Sarchi is also included.

San Jose is the cultural capital of Costa Rica and boasts a rich and varied history. Get acquainted with the city’s charms on a private tour, featuring a customizable itinerary of must-see attractions and private transportation through the city’s maze of trafficked avenues.

Get to know the city through the eyes of a passionate local. With no set itinerary, you can customize the tour or leave it up to the local for an insightful introduction to the city. Make travel about the people you meet not just the places you see. With our walking tours, you’ll skip the mundane historical tours and discover the city through a local’s eyes. Experience a tour that will transform the way you travel to make it as much about the people you meet, as it is the places you see. Our local guides (Lokafyers) are passionate about their city and eager to share their knowledge and perspective. Since Lokafyers are not professional guides and tour occasionally, they provide an experience that’s authentic and personal, like a friend showing you around their city. By the end of the tour, you'll feel comfortable navigating the city and confident that you have all the information you need to make the most of your stay.

An exclusive private tour that includes a visit to the rainforest, a cocoa plantation, artisan chocolate farm for learn about the chocolate history, plantation, processing and elaboration of chocolate drink and bars. Later enjoy a great relaxing time at Baldi Hot Springs, the best Thermal Pools complex in Arenal Volcano Area

Take a day trip from San Jose to Manuel Antonio National Park, which has some of Costa Rica’s most scenic and pristine coastline. After pickup from your hotel, travel along the coastline to the nature preserve, where you will hike in as cars are not allowed in the park. Once inside, swim, sunbathe, or hike the trail to Cathedral Point.

Though Costa Rica may be more famous for its natural attractions, its capital city of San Jose is not to be overlooked. Head out from downtown San Jose on a double-decker sightseeing bus to discover the city’s important historical landmarks, learn about the history and culture of Costa Rica, and find the best panoramic views of the city.

On this San Jose city sightseeing tour, an art-historian guide lends an astute perspective on essential San Jose sights such as the National Theatre of Costa Rica, the Museum of Gold, and the Metropolitan Cathedral. Plus, learning about San Jose sights and history is made personal thanks to a small-group tour of just 15 people or fewer.