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Activities available in San Jose Costa Rica
Canopy Tour (San Luis)
Duration: 8 hours
This is definitely an adventure you don’t want to miss. We will leave the city and head up the mountains surrounding the Central Valley offering spectacular scenery of vegetation, coffee fields, ornamental plants and picturesque villages typical of Costa Rica.
The Canopy Tour is a once in a lifetime experience, consisting of sliding on a cable strung between tree canopy platforms. The San Lorenzo Canopy is located in the middle of a beautiful tropical forest reserve where we will encounter Costa Rican fauna, orchids, bromeliads and other flowers. The total length of the cable is 8,200 feet suspended between 19 tree platforms. The Canopy of San Lorenzo features one of the longest cables spans in the country. During the tour, the guide will explain the most important characteristics of the forest reserve that we are visiting, when finishing the canopy tour the group will take a short walk where a delicious lunch awaits you.
Recommended: Long pants, tennis shoes, light clothes.
Tour includes:Transportation, guide, entrance fee and lunch.
Price per person: $108
San Jose City Tour
Duration: 4 hours
The tour starts by driving you through the east side of San José, passing through the Democracy Park, National Museum, Federal Courts, Los Yoses neighborhood, San Pedro Mall Center and the University of Costa Rica. We continue by driving through Barrio (neighborhood) Dent, Calderón Guardia Museum, Atlantic train Station and San Jose’ National Park where we will stop at the National Monument (this monument marks the victory over the invading filibusters led by William Walker at the Nicaraguan border in 1856). You will also see up close: the Congressional Building, National Library and “Tribunal Supremo de Elecciones” (Supreme Electoral Body of the Republic of Costa Rica).
The site-seeing trip proceeds through Morazan Park, Metallic School building, National Insurance Institute, España Park, The Yellow House (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) and through CENAC (original National Factory of Alcoholic Beverages). Next we continue our walk through San Jose Central Park and walk by the Melico Salazar Theater and the Metropolitan Cathedral. We then stop at the Pre-Columbian Gold Museum and Opera House for a brief tour of interest. Following these visits, we will continue by bus to the west side of the city visiting the Sabana Park and the Art Museum. This park served as Costa Rica’s first international airport from 1940 until 1955 when it was relocated to Alajuela. This original park area was then officially designated as La Sabana Metropolitan Park in 1977. We then continue through Barrio Rohmoser passing by the Nunciatura Apostólica, President Oscar Arias’ residence (Mr. Arias won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1987).
Recommended: Walking shoes.
Tour includes: Transportation, guide and entrance fee.
Price per person: $85
Coffee Tour
Duration: 4 hours
The Coffee tour is a multimedia presentation using professional actors who describe coffee production, from the raising of the shrubs to the beverage we all know and enjoy. The tour begins in an actual coffee plantation where the participants learn the conditions and process for growing gourmet coffee trees. Afterwards, the actors then present a humorous stage show describing the history of coffee and the steps taken after the beans are harvested. Next, our group participates in a coffee cupping session (tasting) with an expert coffee cupper. This session enables the audience to better understand the different qualities that make a good cup of coffee.
Recommended: Light jacket and walking shoes.
Tour includes: Transportation, guide, entrance fee and lunch.
Price per person: $66
Doka Estate & Poas Volcano
Duration: 8 hours approximately
We will visit the Doka Coffee Estate for a delicious breakfast. Then we will be treated to a coffee tour in an actual coffee plantation where we will learn the ancient techniques used by the experts to produce some of the best coffee in Costa Rica and around the world. The careful process involved in the cultivation, harvesting and roasting of the Golden Bean will then be illustrated, very hands-on, and then we will savor the delectable product.
After the coffee tour, we will continue to Poas Volcano National Park, where there is a noticeable change in temperature and exuberant vegetation of the cloud forest. The Poás Volcano, is an active 2,708-metre (8,885 ft) stratovolcano. The crater of the volcano is over a mile across and 1050 feet deep. It has erupted 40 times since 1828, including April, 2017. The total stay at the Poas Volcano National Park will be 40 minutes: 10 minutes walking on the trail to get to the crater viewpoint, 20 minutes at the crater viewpoint, and 10 minutes walking back to the entrance of the park. There is no access to Botos Lagoon, and in case of fog, there is no extra waiting time allowed (to see if the crater is visible). The visitors to the national park must bring an identification document, and it is mandatory to wear the safety gear given by the personnel of the national park.
Recommended: Light jacket and walking shoes.
Tour includes: Transportation, English Speaking tour guide, breakfast and entrance fees to Doka Estate and Poas Volcano.
Price per person: $119
Irazu Volcano National Park
Duration: 5 hours
Known by Costa Rican Indians as the “rumbling and trembling mountain” with its four awesome craters, the Irazu is the highest volcano in the country soaring 11,259 feet above sea level. On the way up we will drive through villages and typical Costa Rican farms. Once at the summit the volcano will show you its moonscape-like terrain, the result of frequent eruptions. From its peak, on a clear day, visitors can see and admire the Pacific and the Atlantic oceans. On the way down we will stop at the Basilica of the Virgin of Los Angeles, this shrine is dedicated to our patron saint and site of miracles and pilgrimages.
Recommended: Walking shoes, light jacket.
Tour includes: Transportation, guide and entrance fee.
Price per person: $85
Irazu Volcano, Orosi Valley & Lankester Gardens
Duration: 9 hours
A unique combination of the volcano, the original capital city, a lush orchid garden and picturesque rural areas make up this tour. Pick up is at your hotel and we drive through the old capital city of Cartago, where we find the shrine of the patron saint of Costa Rica, Lady of the Angels. As we continue we enjoy the view of green mountains dotted with potato and carrot cultivations, dairy farms as well as a variety of local flora. Once on the volcano top we will enjoy a walk through the trails where we can observe the crater. Following the Irazu Volcano visit we continue to the reconstructed ruins of Ujarras, the second church built in Costa Rica and one of the oldest in Central America. The ruins of the old church at Ujarras are the site of the town’s annual celebration in honor of the blessed Virgin. We then continue on the road to the majestic Cachí dam followed by a stop for a typical lunch at the beautiful “Casona del Cafetal”.
Afterwards, we will visit the Lankester Gardens developed as an orchid farm by the English botanic Dr. Charles Lankester. The Lankester Biological Gardens are now operating as a research center by the biology department of the University of Costa Rica. The Garden displays specimens of over 800 varieties of orchids, aroids, bromeliads and other tropical plants that will enthrall and delight all visitors with its variety of flowers and plants in season.
Recommended: Light jacket and walking shoes.
Tour includes: Transportation, guide, entrance fee and lunch.
Price per person: $129
Pacuare River Rafting
Duration: 8 hours
Enjoy the adventure of the white water rafting at the most scenic river and the most popular rafting destination in Costa Rica: the Pacuare River.
Located on Costa Rica's Caribbean slope, the Pacuare River borders the Talamanca mountain range, home to native Cabecar Indians and an incredible variety of wildlife, including parrots, toucans, deer, jaguars, ocelots, monkeys, butterflies, and more. Add in the exciting Class III-IV whitewater rapids and you have a tropical adventure packed with rich experiences that last long after you've returned home. You'll raft from San Martin to Siquirres for 19 miles on exciting Class III-IV whitewater.
Recommended: Shorts or bathing suit, light water-resistant jacket or shirt, waterproof shoes or extra shoes, small towel, backpack with extra clothes.
Tour includes: Transportation, guide, lunch, equipment and entrance fee.
Price per person: $158
Poas Volcano & La Paz Waterfall Gardens
Duration: 8 hours
Our day starts with a drive to the sunny and warm province of Alajuela. On the way we will pass by beautiful coffee plantations, luscious strawberry fields and ornamental plant greenhouses until we reach the Poas Volcano summit. The volcano manifests the largest active geyser-type crater in the world, with steaming fumaroles that emit sulfurous gases and an ever changing yellowish-green hot water crater lake that hurls columns of boiling mud and jets of steam high into the air. The total stay at the Poas Volcano National Park will be 40 minutes: 10 minutes walking on the trail to get to the crater viewpoint, 20 minutes at the crater viewpoint, and 10 minutes walking back to the entrance of the park. There is no access to Botos Lagoon, and in case of fog, there is no extra waiting time allowed (to see if the crater is visible). The visitors to the national park must bring an identification document, and it is mandatory to wear the safety gear given by the personnel of the national park. Next stop, the Waterfall Gardens located 15 minutes from the Poas Vocano. The Waterfall gardens with over 70 acres of natural preserve to explore as well as a Butterfly Observatory, a Hummingbird Garden and of course 5 magnificent waterfalls has become a must for tourist of all ages. During the visit we will walk along a trail that borders the falls and enable visitors to view, photograph and feel the power of the awesome waterfalls. Afterwards, lunch will be served and time to return to San Jose.
Recommended: Light jacket and walking shoes.
Tour includes: Transportation, guide, entrance fee and lunch.
Price per person: $177
Tortuga Island Cruise
Duration: 12 hours
Tortuga Island is surrounded by the Pacific’s turquoise water which washes against its white, palm-lined beachs. During the trip, a light breakfast will be served on route to the port city of Puntarenas. There we will board a cruise ship and savor a welcome cocktail as we cast off into the Pacific. As we make headway to our destination we will pass protected islands that are important rookeries for seabirds. Once ashore, the transparent blue warm water of the Pacific Ocean will lure visitors into swimming or snorkeling and the sun will beg them to stretch out on the sand. Under the shade of swaying palms, visitors will be delighted with a buffet that will highlight the day. We return by boat to the port city of Puntarenas and then, take the bus to San Jose.
Recommended: Towel, swimsuit, hat, sunscreen and sandals (high heels are not allowed)
Tour includes: Transportation, guide, entrance fee, breakfast, lunch and non alcoholic drinks.
Price per person: $188
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