Top Activities on the Ground in San Jose

In just one day, it’s possible to visit top Costa Rica attractions like Arenal Volcano, La Paz Waterfall, and Arenal Hot Springs when you book this guided tour from San Jose. All-inclusive private transport smooths over otherwise tricky transportation logistics, and your guide keeps you well entertained and informed as you explore. This tour includes all entrance fees plus two meals, adding up to a great value.

Climbing the tallest volcano in Costa Rica need not be daunting; keep it easy with this guided tour to Irazu Volcano from San Jose. Join this guided tour to the summit of the volcano, an easy hike after the scenic drive, and take your time at the top admiring the views. This tour includes round-trip transportation from San Jose as well as all entrance fees.

Experience a high-flying adventure on a rain forest zipline course near San Jose. Journey from the Costa Rican capital to a private ecotourism reserve, where you’ll soar through the lush jungle canopy and above the rushing Molinete River. Glide across 10 different zipline cables, including the 2,297-foot (700-meter) Adrena-Line, and walk across a hanging bridge. Expert adventure guides will accompany you throughout the day to ensure your safety and help you spot native rain forest critters.

Feel the adrenaline rush of soaring over 11 different waterfalls on this small-group canopy tour at Adventure Park Costa Rica. 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. bottled water are included. Transportation to and from this Costa Rica zip line tour is an available option. Participants must be at least seven years old and weigh less than 280 pounds (127 kg).

Discover San Jose’s hidden delights with this unique evening tour of the Costa Rican capital. Get up close and personal with the nightlife in San Jose, starting with the Morazán Park where we will learn post-colonial Costa Rican history. From there, our appreciation for San Jose’s historical architecture continues, with a walk by the Metallic Building, then on to Spain Park for a fantastic view of the Yellow House (now the Ministry of Foreign Affairs). We’ll continue to charming Barrio Escalante, one of the oldest residential areas in San Jose. Finish the night with a tasty traditional meal and wine or beer pairings at a gourmet Costa Rican restaurant.

Get a taste of San Jose’s culture and food samples 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.

Be immersed in the Costa Rican rainforest on this easy tour to the Braulio Carrillo National Park from San Jose. Active travelers can embark on an optional nature walk before joining the open-sided aerial tram for a more leisurely trip through the forest. Spot a variety of orchids and learn to identify birdsong from your naturalist guide. This tour is ideal for families and groups with mixed mobility levels.

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.

Sample a wide variety of Costa Rican flavors while learning about the country's cultural heritage with this San Jose walking tour. You'll shop for fruits and veggies at the Mercado Central and the Mercado Borbón, visit the National Theater and La Laguna Plaza, and try all sorts of local treats along the way.

San Jose is filled with amazing attractions to see such as the National Theater of Costa Rica and the Metropolitan Cathedral, but if you’re not familiar with San Jose, it could take you ages to see everything on your list. Take this San Jose nighttime city tour and travel with a guide who knows their way around under the city lights. Plus, dinner and round-trip transport are both included.

This sampler adventure tour from San Jose fits the best of Costa Rica's rivers, and rain forests into one action-packed day. Catch some sun at popular Jaco Beach, one of the closest to the capital, and go croc-spotting at a famous overlook on the Tarcoles River. Then head into the lush jungle for a thrilling zipline canopy tour plus your choice of a horseback ride to tropical waterfalls or an ATV safari.

Explore three levels of lush Costa Rican rain forest from the floor to the canopy on a guided tour tour of Braulio Carrillo National Park. Learn about local flora and fauna as you walk along nature trails, explore specialty gardens, and glide over treetops in an aerial tram, all narrated by a guide with extensive knowledge about the local ecosystem. Optional upgrade includes pickup and drop-off from your lodging in San Jose.

Get out of the city and experience Costa Rica’s rich wildlife heritage with this half day private tour to the Toucan Rescue Ranch. What started out as a rescue facility for toucans has expanded to include other charismatic species such as sloths, monkeys, parrots, and owls. Learn all about them from the dedicated staff committed to their care.

Visit the Irazú Volcano National Park in just half a day with this excursion from San José. Your driver will pick you up early in the morning and take you to the volcano, where you can see the crater and learn about the history of the area from a local guide. Next, you'll head to the Los Angeles Basilica, a church and museum with a holy water source.

Experience the sights, sounds, and flavors of San Jose on an evening bus tour. Starting from your hotel, a comfortable double-decker bus with onboard WiFi serves as your transportation for the evening. See over 25 of the city’s landmarks and stop for a bilingual guided tour at key locations, including the Pre-Columbian Gold Museum. Enjoy an included dinner of local cuisine, before drop-off at your hotel.

San José is characterized by its Spanish colonial buildings, Victorian mansions, and rich historical sites. This zero-emission bike tour allows you to see the city up close, avoid car traffic, and cruise through San José’s vibrant neighborhoods—past notable buildings, parks, and squares. Your guide navigates through the city and provides useful background information as you stop to appreciate local highlights.

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.

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.

Monteverde is a Mecca for nature lovers, and this full day trip won’t disappoint. On the way there, stop at the largest fruit stand in the country and sample a variety of tropical fruits. Once at the destination, ride the Sky Tram over the cloud forest canopy, then proceed on a guided hike along trails and hanging bridges suspended among the treetops.

Fly above the treetops on this all-day zipline tour from San José. Located in the cloud forests of the country’s Central Valley region, the San Luis canopy boasts a system of zip lines that allows you to soar through the forest, plus an "elevator" lift that takes you above the trees for a panoramic view.

Don’t let your experience of Costa Rican nature be rubbing elbows with 100 other travelers. With this small-group tour, your guide leads you into the jungle for a moderate hike, where you’ll follow bubbling streams, trek in the world of volcanoes, and get misted by waterfalls. With transportation and lunch provided, it’s a ready-made adventure into the wild.

Escape the crowds and go off the beaten path in Costa Rica. This small-group tour of the Ebano Natural Reserve is ideal for active travelers who want to spend time in scenic nature. You'll take a short hike through the rainforest, spotting wildlife such as colorful frogs, birds, and monkeys along the way, before arriving at a double waterfall where you can cool off with a swim.

Try your skills at canyoneering on this group tour in Turrialba. You’ll be rapelling, ziplining, crossing hanging bridges, and more. You’ll keep costs down by booking this group tour, but still have a great adventure with some new friends. All your safety gear is provided, so no need to organize that separately. Lunch is also provided to keep your energy up.