Top Activities on the Ground in San Jose

Adventure-loving travelers won’t want to miss this combined zip lining, rappelling, and hiking tour. The Carpintera Hills are close to San Jose and offer the easiest way to go zip lining from the capital. Glide through the forest canopy on steel cables strung between 19 platforms. Rappel from as high as 130 feet. Enjoy the forest views along the way and look out for birds and animals.

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.

Explore the Arenal Volcano area on this guided all-day private tour from San Jose. Take a nature walk through the biological reserve of Mistico Park on a system of hanging bridges and catch views of the volcano, which looms over the green hillside. Also take some time for yourself at Baldi Hot Springs in La Fortuna, where you’ll have free time to relax in the resort’s multiple thermal pools.

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.

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. Lunch and 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 3-course meal and wine or beer pairings at a gourmet Costa Rican restaurant.

Visit the Central Market in San Jose on this guided tour and learn about its 136-year history. There, sample regional staples like tropical seasonal fruit, tortillas, ice cream, Costa Rican coffee, and other local specialities. Plus, find out how and why San Jose became the capital city of Costa Rica.

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.

You will get into the Braulio Carrillo National Park, and discover the beauties of the Rain Forest. Enjoy of a hiking tour and the Aerial Tram, two activities that will put you in direct contact with nature, visitors divide into smaller groups for a 45 to 90 minute (optional) nature walk with a trained naturalist guide. The Open-sided cable-cars hold 5 passengers and a guide. The guides are quite knowledgeable about flora and fauna. They'll point out orchids and different species of trees and are quick to identify the calls of the many birds that inhabit this unique environment.

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.

Unmask the beauty and culture of contemporary Costa Rican life on this San Jose walking tour that takes you through the streets, bustling markets, and tranquil parks. * Discover a side to this city only heard from the mouths of locals, while indulging in typical cuisine and one of Costa Rica’s most delectable exports .. *Discover the secrets behind herbal remedies, and fresh produce at Borbon and San Jose Central Market. *San Jose tour you’ll get up close and personal with Costa Rican life, through local food, history, and even the herbal remedies of folk medicine. *Enjoy a hands-on lesson on exotic plants, fruits, vegetables, and the smoothies they can create in the midst of the vibrant city markets.Nothing could get you closer to authentic San Jose than strolling through the streets with a local as they show you the ins and outs of daily life. Take a wander through the city with us on this tour that takes typical San Jose and turns it into a local experience you’ll never forget.

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 beaches, 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 and a typical lunch.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

This hike is ideal for those adventurers who are in downtown and want to get to know some of most famous San José mountains. These mountains belong to the Protective Zone of Escazú and are part of the Cordillera de Talamanca. The best known hills are: • Monkey Trail Hill 2,428 m.a.s.l. • Cedral Hill 2,420 m.a.s.l. • Pico Alto Hill 2,353 m.a.s.l. • The most famous Pico Blanco 2,271 m.a.s.l. Its name refers to its rockier side which can be seen from miles away. Come join me to hike these unknown but spectacular hillsides! Join me on these spectacular hikes off the beaten path! Distance: 5 - 7 km approx. (A shorter or longer distance can be arranged if previously requested, as long as it is within the same time schedule) Duration: 4 - 5 hours Difficulty: Medium / High Departure: 8:00 a.m. Note: The terrain on this hike features dirt roads, mountain trails through rain forest paths

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.

With Explornatura, you’ll have a unique experience, combining waterfall rappelling, ziplining, hanging bridges and a small wall for scaling. For us It’s very important to always follow the safety rules. We provide specialized equipment and guides and a delicious lunch!

An off of the beaten path activity, the exploration of Hacienda Ébano, a Natural Reserve and Ranch. The customer will experience a 1km / 0.6 mile short hike through the rainforest, 2 gorgeous waterfalls with natural pools, also stunning mountains and ocean views. In the trip, the client will have the opportunity to see wildlife such as birds, frogs, and monkeys, also many types of plants, flowers, and trees. The transportation is in a comfortable and safe 4x4 Safari style Truck - the best tool to travel the 10km / 6.2 miles through the big mountains. The perfect end is to refresh us and swim in the Jade Waterfall, also enjoy next to the river, a Costa Rican authentic lunch wrapped in banana leaf. All in a small group, with the company of local experienced guides committed with client service. Please remember to bring: • Hiking shoes, tennis or water-shoes (do not use flip flops) • Swimsuit • Insect Repellent

On this hike we will travel through the area of Valverde Vega in Alajuela, and to Bajos del Toro to visit an area which is recognized for its stunning waterfalls. Discover the most hidden gems of Costa Rica located in a remote valley between extinct volcanoes and experience the richness of the natural forest. We will visit unbelievable waterfalls that change between blue and turquoise colors. Their tones vary in the summer or winter due to volcanic activity at Poas Volcano. Come join me. One trip. So many ways to explore. Distance: 6 - 7 km approx. (A shorter or longer distance can be arranged if previously requested, as long as it is within the same time schedule). Duration: 8 - 10 hours. Difficulty: Easy / Medium. Departure: 7:00 a.m. Note: The terrain on this hike includes dirt roads, mountain trails through rain forest paths and along streams