San Jose


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15 Best Things To Do in San Jose

The tours and day trips worth booking.

The 15 top-rated things to do in San Jose — the boat trips, beach days, volcano hikes and old-town wanders worth building a day around, with real prices and who to book each one with.

15 Best Things To Do in San Jose

Tortuga Island Full Day Tour from San José with Lunch - Puntarenas transfer: comfy ride, long day math
San Jose, Tour Reviews

Tortuga Island Full Day Tour from San José with Lunch

1.Tortuga Island Full Day Tour from San José with Lunch

Tortuga Island full-day trip from San José with speedboat, snorkeling gear, dolphin watching, and lunch plus five hours of beach time.

Most Popular 4.5

“Such an amazing experience! Memo, our tour guide was such a pleasure to be around. He was super fun and so helpful. I’d definitely recommend this tour.”

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San Jose Walking and Bus City Tour - Price and logistics: what you’re really paying for at $80
San Jose, Tour Reviews

San Jose Walking and Bus City Tour

2.San Jose Walking and Bus City Tour

5-hour San José walk and bus tour: Teatro Nacional lobby, Mercado Central, monuments, Gold Room museum, and lunch for $80.

4.5

“There is a lot of time on the bus...We could have walked and seen more. We would have liked to see inside the theatre and had more time at the gold museum.”

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Hacienda Doka Coffee Experience Tour - Coffee shop tasting: your payoff, not just a free sample
San Jose, Tour Reviews

Hacienda Doka Coffee Experience Tour

3.Hacienda Doka Coffee Experience Tour

A hands-on coffee and sugar-cane farm tour near San Jose with tasting, butterfly viewing, and plant-to-processing storytelling in about 1.5 hours.

4.5

“This was so very enjoyable and enlightening! I learned so much about the coffee bean plants, the harvesting and the production! Ray was our tour guide and he did and excellent job! And the tasting of coffee and chocolate was delicious! I highly recommend this tour to everyone!!!!”

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San Jose By Night: Sights & Culture Tour with Local Dinner - Spain Park, Casa Amarilla, and the architecture you can actually spot
San Jose, Tour Reviews

San Jose By Night: Sights & Culture Tour with Local Dinner

4.San Jose By Night: Sights & Culture Tour with Local Dinner

4-hour San José night walk with a local guide, iconic architecture, Barrio Escalante, and dinner plus 2 drinks included.

4.5

“This tour was great! So much information and the guides were super knowledgeable about past and present information on the culture and city. There was a mid point stop and there were several options! The only thing was were close to tour guide but there were times being by traffic it was hard to hear.…”

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Arenal Volcano and Thermal Hot Springs from San Jose - Arenal Volcano viewpoints: what you can expect (and what changes with weather)
San Jose, Tour Reviews

Arenal Volcano and Thermal Hot Springs from San Jose

5.Arenal Volcano and Thermal Hot Springs from San Jose

San José to Arenal day trip with Sarchí ox carts, Arenal viewpoints, and included thermal hot springs plus lunch and dinner from $195.

4.5

“Terrible customer service! Our tour got cancelled after 1 hour past our pick up time, they never show up! They don’t pick up phone calls, no respond on whatsup, only messages we got that our spots got sold out, we can change date or they can cancel my reservation.”

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Skip the Line:Day Ticket-La Paz Waterfall Gardens Nature Park & Wildlife Refuge - Five Waterfalls Plus Rainforest Trails: How the Walking Feels
San Jose, Tour Reviews

Skip the Line:Day Ticket-La Paz Waterfall Gardens Nature Park & Wildlife Refuge

3-Hour Shuttle Service from San Jose Airport to La Fortuna - The Mi Rancho Restaurant stop in San Ramón: why it’s more than a bathroom break
San Jose, Tour Reviews

3-Hour Shuttle Service from San Jose Airport to La Fortuna

7.3-Hour Shuttle Service from San Jose Airport to La Fortuna

Shared shuttle from SJO to La Fortuna with air-conditioning, a mid-route San Ramón stop, and hotel drop-offs. Value at $50.

5.0

“Tour operator was very responsive and was able to provide me all the info I needed. I was in a flight delay and busy immigration situation and the tour operator was in contact with me all the time and could confirm with me if the shuttle will still wait as there are other passengers and…”

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The Escape Game at Great Mall in Milpitas - The 60-minute mission: clues, puzzles, and real teamwork
San Jose, Tour Reviews

The Escape Game at Great Mall in Milpitas

8.The Escape Game at Great Mall in Milpitas

Timed escape room at The Escape Game in Milpitas inside Great Mall. Pick a mission, solve puzzles, and escape in 60 minutes.

5.0

“Went in for my wife’s bday. Robby was very nice to set up balloons and banner for her! Very friendly people! Will come back again!”

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Poás Volcano and Coffee Tour with Tasting and La Paz Falls - Stop in San Jose’s rural rhythm: strawberries, dairy, and quick sights
San Jose, Tour Reviews

Poás Volcano and Coffee Tour with Tasting and La Paz Falls

Manuel Antonio National Park from San José - Route 27 drive: mountains, palm plantations, and a real break from city life
San Jose, Tour Reviews

Manuel Antonio National Park from San José

SJO Airport Private Shuttle to San José - From Juan Santamaría Intl to San José: what this shuttle really does
San Jose, Tour Reviews

SJO Airport Private Shuttle to San José

Chocolate Making and Tasting at a Local Factory in San José - Getting set up: aprons, molds, and hands-on tools
San Jose, Tour Reviews

Chocolate Making and Tasting at a Local Factory in San José

Half-Day San Jose Evening Bus Tour with Dinner and Pickup - Stop 1: Teatro Nacional Costa Rica lobby time and the ticket question
San Jose, Tour Reviews

Half-Day San Jose Evening Bus Tour with Dinner and Pickup

13.Half-Day San Jose Evening Bus Tour with Dinner and Pickup

San Jose evening bus tour with hotel pickup, Teatro Nacional, art museum, Mercado Central, and dinner for an easy after-dark overview.

4.0

“RE VIP City Tour: This tour was great! Our tour guide and driver were very accommodating. The tour guide was very knowledgeable and courteous. I loved walking around the city and getting a feel for the culture and lifestyle in places like San Jose’s Central Market and downtown retail area. The highlight was the delicious…”

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Poas Volcano waterfalls and coffee tour from from San Jose - Poás Volcano National Park: the crater visit, the steam, and the photos you can actually get
San Jose, Tour Reviews

Poas Volcano waterfalls and coffee tour from from San Jose

14.Poas Volcano waterfalls and coffee tour from from San Jose

Poás Volcano, two coffee stops, and La Paz Waterfall in one long nature-and-coffee day from San José, with lunch and transfers included.

5.0

“Great experience! Carlos was a terrific guide and there were so many incredible things to see between the food/coffee/nature. FYI- San Jose traffic is real!! Not the tour’s fault at all but this added hours onto the tour at the end so know that it may go longer than expected.”

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Irazú Volcano National Park (Half Day) - Inside Irazú Volcano National Park: crater walk and the 3,432-meter viewpoint
San Jose, Tour Reviews

Irazú Volcano National Park (Half Day)

15.Irazú Volcano National Park (Half Day)

Half-day trip from San José to Irazú Volcano and Cartago’s Basilica of Los Angeles, with A/C transport, snacks, and included tickets.

4.5

“Overpriced and underwhelming, then they had the cheek to try and upcharge me $50 for lunch! Would not recommend”

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