ISLAND GUIDE
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.
Tortuga Island full-day trip from San José with speedboat, snorkeling gear, dolphin watching, and lunch plus five hours of beach time.
Most Popular“Looking for a beautiful day on a beach? Look no further. This is a long ng day. I was picked up at 5am and back by 7pm. It was worth it! The guides were informative, entertaining, and there was many activities to pay for.”
5-hour San José walk and bus tour: Teatro Nacional lobby, Mercado Central, monuments, Gold Room museum, and lunch for $80.
“Informative excursion to experience a taste of San José. Well organised with knowledgeable guide on board”
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.
“It was fun getting to pick the coffee beans from the plant and touring the factory to see how the beans are separated, peeled, dried, and packaged. The chocolate and coffee tasting was a delicious ending to the coffee tour.”
4-hour San José night walk with a local guide, iconic architecture, Barrio Escalante, and dinner plus 2 drinks included.
“Too overpriced for the experience. The guide spoke to quaet, it was hard to listen. Not a good food.”
San José to Arenal day trip with Sarchí ox carts, Arenal viewpoints, and included thermal hot springs plus lunch and dinner from $195.
“OMG!!!!! The experience was exceptional, the Driver Jose and Tour Guide Roberto took very good care of us. Whether it was making sure that we were ok from the bumpy drive or ensuring that all of our needs were met. Roberto was very knowledgeable, and even had the driver pull to the side of the…”
Self-paced entry to La Paz Waterfall Gardens in San Jose, Costa Rica, with five waterfalls, wildlife exhibits, orchids, and hummingbirds.
“Such a great place to visit - beautiful property - very tranquil! Very knowledgeable staff in all locations to visit and learn.”
Shared shuttle from SJO to La Fortuna with air-conditioning, a mid-route San Ramón stop, and hotel drop-offs. Value at $50.
“The driver took me to the wrong address and then left me in the dark and drove off despite my plea being in a strange country and Strange neighborhood this is how people lose there life”
Timed escape room at The Escape Game in Milpitas inside Great Mall. Pick a mission, solve puzzles, and escape in 60 minutes.
“It was fairly easy to redeem my free birthday game with my husband. The staff were nice and welcoming. Our host was Robby, he was nice and helped us out tremendously. He also gave options in how we would like his help. For example, he asked if we would prefer to just press the button…”
See Poás Volcano, tour a coffee plantation with tastings, and visit La Paz Waterfall from San Jose in one long day.
“A well organized tour with an English speaking guide, well aware of the area providing detailed info about local traditions and surroundings.”
Manuel Antonio day trip from San José: rainforest walk to a postcard beach, wildlife stops, and breakfast, lunch, guide, and park entry.
“We were so excited to see the number one national park in Costa Rica but we ended up being very disappointed with this tour to say the least. We paid for a guided tour through the national park so that we can get the full experience of the nature and animals but our guide was…”
Private SJO airport-to-San José shuttle for up to 3, with flight tracking, WiFi, and hotel drop-off. Usually 20–35 minutes.
“Traffic is really bad in San José. Otherwise I felt completely safe and enjoyed our driver, Lenny, a lot.”
San José chocolate workshop: taste cocoa from fruit to bar, make your own bars, and pack them in eco-friendly wraps.
“The instructors were knowledgeable interactive and fun. They were super informative and gave clear directions. It was a great time from beginning to end. Being able to take home the chocolate you’ve made was fantastic.”
San Jose evening bus tour with hotel pickup, Teatro Nacional, art museum, Mercado Central, and dinner for an easy after-dark overview.
“The trip was very informative about the historical areas in San Jose that represent the Costa Rican culture. We were able to see the market place , cathedral, art museum, theater, and town square. The guide was very passionate and explained everything well.”
Poás Volcano, two coffee stops, and La Paz Waterfall in one long nature-and-coffee day from San José, with lunch and transfers included.
“I was terribly sick the entire time and I still had a lot of fun. I think this tour is definitely worth it. Also, my tour guide Johnny drove me back to my hostel because of how sick I was. Definitely a great your group.”
Half-day trip from San José to Irazú Volcano and Cartago’s Basilica of Los Angeles, with A/C transport, snacks, and included tickets.
“It was a very interesting tour! Despite the size and international composition of the group, guide Raquel managed everything very competently and presented a lot of background information clearly. However, a little more time to visit the different points would be good. Unfortunately, contrary to the program, the visit to the Basilica of the Virgen…”
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