Top San Jose Day Trips

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.

See more of the Arenal Volcano region with the convenience of a full-day tour from San Jose. Take a scenic route to Arenal with views of farms, rain forest, and small towns, and stop at a coffee plantation where you can sample coffee and traditional snacks. Stop at a waterfall, look for wildlife, then have the afternoon to soak in hot springs set in a lush garden near the Arenal Volcano.

Visit the Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve, a 26,000-acre (10,500 hectare) oasis of virgin cloud forest. Visited by roughly 70,000 people a year, the reserve is home to about four percent of the world’s animal species. Walk across suspended bridges and hike among native flora and fauna. You can also pay extra to zipline through the canopy. Lunch and a guide are included.

Head to La Fortuna, home to the Arenal Volcano, on this guided all-day tour from San Jose. Sit back and relax as you travel through diverse plantations and cattle ranches on the roughly 3.5-hour drive. After arriving, enjoy lunch with a view of the volcano. Then, take a dip in the area’s thermal waters and indulge in an optional massage or other treatment.

Escape from busy San Jose for an action-packed full-day tour in the Jaco Beach region. Stop at the beach, then continue with a zipline tour and ATV tour in the rain forest nearby. You’ll also see crocodiles at the Tarcoles River, and get great views of the Pacific Ocean from the ATV and zipline course. Includes lunch, and all necessary equipment and instruction.

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.

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.

Explore the Costa Rican capital’s rich history, landmark buildings, and modern culture on a combo bus and walking tour of San Jose. Get a great introduction to city highlights like the National Theater and Art Museum, and stop to walk through bustling markets and public plazas to feel the pulse of this modern Central American metropolis. Get an extra boost of Costa Rican culture by listening to traditional folkloric music onboard the bus.

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.

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.

Escape the city and spend the day surrounded by nature on this private tour from San José. Discover towering waterfalls hidden by lush jungle, walk over hanging bridges for a unique perspective on the local flora and fauna, and relax in a thermal spa with more than 25 pools. This excursion has everything you need to feel rejuvenated, while offering the best views of the Arenal Volcano.

With its cascading waterfalls and abundant wildlife, the Pacuare River is rightfully famous for its natural beauty. Paddle through the river gorge, navigating 52 Class II-IV rapids as you go, on this 12-hour trip from San Jose. Take in views of the tropical rain forest and wildlife such as sloths, parrots, and toucans as you ride the river (and your adrenaline rush) over the course of the day.

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.

Go beyond the city of San José and discover its beautiful surroundings on this full-day tour. Start your day with a Costa Rican breakfast at a local coffee plantation, then learn about the coffee-making process on a farm tour. Afterward, head to the active Poas volcano to explore its massive crater before heading to a nature park to see an animal sanctuary and picturesque waterfalls.

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.

Discover the beautiful natural attractions of Costa Rica on this all-day tour from San Jose. Fly over the rainforest canopy via a zipline course and rappel down 150 feet (50 meters) at an adventure park. Visit two waterfalls and admire the local wildlife including iguanas. Stop at a coffee plantation where you'll learn how it's cultivated and harvested. Finally, relax in thermal mineral hot springs at the base of Arenal Volcano.

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.

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.

Visiting Monteverde from San Jose in just one day can be challenging on your own, but this guided tour streamlines transportation to make the trip a cinch. Arrive at Monteverde in the morning and head straight to a canopy tour: hike on hanging bridges and learn about the rich cloud forest environment before heading back to San Jose.

Spend a day exploring nature and learning about coffee production with this group tour from San Jose, which includes breakfast, lunch, and hotel transfers. You'll start at the Doka Coffee Estate, where you'll learn about the lifecycle of coffee, from bean to cup. You'll then visit Poas Volcano National Park for some hiking, wrapping your tour up with a stop to observe flora and fauna at La Paz Waterfall Gardens.

Though Costa Rica may be more famous for its natural attractions, its capital city of San Jose is not to be overlooked. Head out from downtown San Jose on a double-decker sightseeing bus to discover the city’s important historical landmarks, learn about the history and culture of Costa Rica, and find the best panoramic views of the city.

The lush rainforest and white-sand beaches of Isla Tortuga are part of the Islas Negritos Biological Reserve, and are located along the eastern coast of the Nicoya Peninsula. With this tour, you'll set sail aboard a large cruise ship, admire views of Isla San Lucas and Isla Tortuga from the water, and enjoy time on the island to swim, snorkel, or relax on the beach.

As one of the most popular parks in Costa Rica, Manuel Antonio National Park is a must for visitors. This guided tour from San Jose makes visiting on a time crunch a cinch—your guide takes the guesswork out of deciding which trails are worth the effort, plus helps you spot wildlife along the way. This tour is specifically timed to avoid the crowds, too, helping you have the best possible experience exploring.