Things to do in San Jose
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San Jose Art Walking Tour: Contemporary Galleries & Street ArtA two-hour walking tour in San Jose explores contemporary Costa Rican art across galleries, street art, graffiti and public works, with a live English or Spanish-speaking guide. The route moves through the city center starting at Parque Morazan, passing historic buildings and sometimes meeting working artists. Comfortable walking shoes are recommended; the pace suits moderate fitness levels.Is it for me?Small groups keep the pace conversational and give you room to linger at pieces that catch your eye—this works well if you want to ask the guide questions and absorb the work without feeling rushed through a standard itinerary.
La Paz Waterfall Gardens tour from San José: Five waterfallsA half-day tour from San José to La Paz Waterfall Gardens includes transportation, a certified bilingual guide, park entry, and buffet lunch. The day runs roughly six to seven hours from pickup to return, with about three hours spent inside the gardens walking trails to five waterfalls, the butterfly observatory, and wildlife exhibits. Pickup happens between 10:20 and 11 a.m., and you're back in San José by 6 p.m. A minimum of two passengers is required to operate.Is it for me?The six- to seven-hour commitment from pickup to return means the tour fills most of your day, leaving only the early morning or evening free for San José itself. Book this if a full immersion in the rainforest and waterfalls is your priority and you don't need flexibility to explore the city on the same day.
Manuel Antonio National Park Day Trip from San Jose: Wildlife & BeachesYou're picked up from your San Jose hotel and driven to Manuel Antonio with stops at a fruit stand, crocodile bridge, and macaw spotting point along the way. After breakfast, you hike the rainforest for an hour with a bilingual guide looking for monkeys, sloths, and tropical birds, then have free time to swim or explore the beaches. Lunch with ocean views is included before the return drive to your hotel in the late afternoon.Is it for me?Pick this tour if you want to see Manuel Antonio's wildlife and beaches without renting a car, navigating on your own, or deciding which trails are worth your time—the guide handles the spotting and the timing keeps you ahead of the afternoon crowds.
Doka Coffee Tour, Poás Volcano & La Paz Waterfall from San JoseA full-day guided tour from San Jose that starts at Doka Coffee Plantation with breakfast and a tour of how the beans are processed, moves to Poás Volcano National Park to see the active 2,708-meter crater and its gas emissions, and ends at La Paz Waterfall Gardens where you walk past an aviary, the country's largest butterfly observatory, hummingbird gallery, serpentarium, and frog, monkey and cat exhibitions before lunch. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included; the tour operates with a live guide in English or Spanish and requires a minimum of two travelers.Is it for me?Book this tour if you're staying in San Jose without a rental car — hotel pickup means you don't arrange your own transport to any of the three sites, and the 10-hour day packs three separate ecosystems into one outing with all meals and entry fees settled in advance.
San Jose to Manuel Antonio: Catamaran & Park Tour with LunchYou’ll leave San Jose before sunrise and find yourself sailing Pacific waters by mid-morning—snorkeling among tropical fish, sharing lunch on deck, then wandering through Manuel Antonio’s rainforest with a local guide who spots sloths before you even notice them. End your day relaxing on a wild beach surrounded by jungle—moments you’ll remember long after you’re home.
La Paz Waterfall Gardens tour: 5 waterfalls & wildlifeA 7-hour guided tour of La Paz Waterfall Gardens from San Jose takes you through rainforest trails to five waterfalls and a wildlife sanctuary holding over 100 species. Hotel pickup, a professional guide in English or Spanish, park entry and a buffet lunch with 35+ options are all included; children from age 3 are welcome.Is it for me?Choose this if you want a guide timing the day around wildlife viewing patterns and a midday meal break; pick self-guided entry if you prefer exploring the gardens and trails at your own pace.
La Paz Waterfall Gardens tour: Wildlife exhibitsA seven-hour tour from San José to La Paz Waterfall Gardens includes hotel pickup, a guided walk through rainforest to the waterfall, visits to the hummingbird gallery, serpentarium, bird house, butterfly garden and frog exhibit, lunch, and a live guide in English or Spanish. The tour operates with a minimum of two travelers and requires moderate physical fitness for the trail walk.Is it for me?You book this tour when you land in San José and have a free morning or afternoon but no rental car — the pickup and the guide handle the logistics, and the seven hours fit between arrival and an evening flight or a second day of exploring. It works for families with children of all ages because the exhibits are paced for everyone, though the rainforest walk itself requires moderate fitness and comfortable walking shoes.
La Paz Waterfall Gardens & Coffee Plantation Tour: 8 HoursAn eight-hour guided tour from La Paz pairs a working coffee plantation with La Paz Waterfall Gardens, where you walk a trail to a waterfall in the rainforest and tour wildlife exhibits. Hotel pickup and buffet lunch are included, and the guide explains the coffee process from sowing to harvest. The park holds a hummingbird gallery, serpentarium, bird house, butterfly garden, frog exhibit and jungle cats that cannot be released to the wild.Is it for me?The eight-hour commitment leaves the rest of your day free, which suits anyone staying in the La Paz area who wants both a working plantation and a full park tour without splitting them across two days. The minivan and fixed schedule mean you move through both stops without arranging transport or timing yourself.
SJO Airport - Manuel Antonio: Private Transfer with Local DriverYou’ll be greeted at SJO Airport by your local driver and travel in comfort toward Manuel Antonio, with flexible stops along scenic routes for photos or coffee breaks—maybe even spotting crocodiles at Tarcoles Bridge. Enjoy free WiFi and bottled water as you settle into Costa Rica’s rhythm—a welcome you’ll remember long after arrival.
San Jose: Central Market & National Museum Walking TourYou walk through two of San Jose's oldest markets, taste exotic fruits and street food, learn to make plantain empanadas and traditional coffee with a local family, visit the Cathedral and National Theater, and enter the National Museum without waiting in line. The whole day runs about six hours and includes all food tastings, the cooking class, and museum entry.Is it for me?Book this if you want to taste what San Jose actually eats and see the city's oldest markets and museums in one morning without arranging transport or entry separately—the guide handles the timing and the lines, so you move through the markets and the museum at a pace that lets you stop and talk to vendors and locals.
San José: Dinner & Folk Dance Show with City ViewYou’ll ride up into San José’s hills for dinner in a historic home with city views, sip a welcome cocktail, taste Costa Rican dishes with wine or beer, then watch (and maybe join) a lively folk dance show—all with pickup included. It’s one of those evenings where you end up feeling part of something local and real.
Ziplining and ATV from San Jose: Choose 2 activitiesA full-day adventure from San Jose combining two activities you choose—zipline, ATV jungle ride, horseback to waterfalls, surfing lessons or chocolate tour—with transport, lunch, bilingual guide and all safety gear included. The day runs ten hours and starts with a stop at the Tarcoles River to photograph crocodiles in their natural habitat before heading to Vista Los Suenos Adventure Park in Jaco Beach.Is it for me?The ten-hour commitment means you're leaving the city early and returning late, which rules out a second excursion that day but gives you time to do two full activities without rushing between them. If your schedule only has a few hours, this is too long; if you want a full immersion in adventure activities and don't mind spending the whole day, the length is what makes both activities possible without feeling compressed.
Tortuguero National Park: Private day tour from San JoseYou’ll travel from San Jose into Costa Rica’s wildest corners: cruising Tortuguero’s winding canals by private boat, spotting monkeys and sloths with your local guide, tasting real Caribbean flavors for lunch in town, then climbing Cerro Tortuguero for sweeping views you’ll remember long after the trip.
Downtown San Jose Walking Tour: National Theater & Historic SitesThis is a guided walking tour of downtown San Jose lasting three hours, led by a live guide in English or Spanish, that moves through the city's most significant historic sites. The route includes the National Theater (home of the Costa Rican Symphony Orchestra), the National Monument, a historic park in the Barrio Amón neighborhood, and the main cathedral. Children are welcome from age 8.Is it for me?The three-hour pace is built for walking—you'll cover downtown on foot with stops to look and listen, so come ready to stand and move between sites rather than sit. This works well if you want the history and architecture explained as you go, rather than reading plaques on your own.
San Jose Airport to Los Suenos: Private Roundtrip ShuttleYou get a named driver meeting you at San Jose airport arrivals, private transport to Los Suenos with WiFi and water included, and the flexibility to stop or adjust timing along the way. Hotel pickups are available for an extra fee. Support is available 24/7 if anything changes after you book.Is it for me?Right for travelers landing in San Jose who want to skip the shared shuttle lines and have a driver waiting with their name—the private format and flexible timing mean you're not synced to anyone else's schedule or hotel stops.
San José to Manuel Antonio: Private Transfer 3 HoursYou get picked up at San José airport or your hotel and driven directly to Manuel Antonio in a private, air-conditioned van. The three-hour route includes optional stops at Tarcoles River for crocodile spotting and typical restaurants, plus WiFi and cold water on board. The driver can help arrange activities once you arrive, and the price is locked in before you travel.Is it for me?Right choice if you land at San José and want to reach Manuel Antonio without arranging a taxi or waiting for a shared shuttle. The three-hour drive is part of the journey, and the stops along the way — especially the Tarcoles River for crocodile spotting — turn the transfer into a small part of your trip rather than just a ride.
San Jose to SJO Airport: Private Minivan Transfer & Meet-GreetYou're picked up at your San Jose hotel by a professional chauffeur in a private minivan, avoiding taxi lines and language barriers on the way to the airport. The driver meets you, handles your luggage, and includes bottled water and 15 minutes of waiting time. You arrive at Juan Santamaría International Airport relaxed, with your flight details and phone number confirmed at booking.Is it for me?Right choice if you're leaving San Jose without a car and want to skip the taxi negotiation and language barrier. The fixed price and fixed pickup time mean you're not arranging transport on the morning of your flight.
Sarapiqui Night Frog Tour: 35+ Amphibian SpeciesA guided night tour in Sarapiqui's humid tropical forest where you walk through different amphibian habitats to find and observe over 35 frog species. A live guide in English or Spanish leads the search, providing lanterns for each person and explaining the role these ecosystems play. The tour runs 1 to 2 hours and suits all fitness levels, though closed shoes or rubber boots are required.Is it for me?The 1- to 2-hour window means you can fit this into a morning or evening without reshaping the rest of your day, making it work whether you are staying in Sarapiqui or passing through on a longer itinerary.
Tortuga Island Catamaran from San Jose: Snorkeling & Beach DayYou're picked up from your San Jose hotel at 6am, driven to Puntarenas with breakfast, then board a catamaran with live music and snacks for a 1.5-hour crossing to Tortuga Island. Spend four hours swimming and relaxing on the protected island's white-sand beach, enjoy lunch included, then return by boat and bus to your hotel in the evening. The fixed schedule means you skip the logistics of getting to the coast and timing the boats yourself.Is it for me?Pick this if you want a full beach day on a protected island without arranging your own transport to the coast or timing the boats — the early pickup and fixed schedule handle all of that, and you just show up at your hotel at 6am.
Pacuare River Rafting 2-Day Class III & IV AdventureA two-day rafting trip on the Pacuare River departing from San José includes hotel pickup, transport to Cartago and Turrialba, 6 miles of whitewater on day one, overnight accommodation at Avesol Lodge, a guided forest walk, and another 5 hours of rafting on day two before return to San José around 6 p.m. The itinerary holds meals, drinks, all equipment and a safety kayaker; guides speak English and Spanish.Is it for me?Book this if you want a fully guided two-day rafting trip with overnight camp included—you paddle Class III and IV rapids on day one, then continue downriver on day two, with a river guide and safety kayaker managing the pace for moderate paddlers.
