Top Central Valley Bus Tours

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.

Costa Rica’s inland capital is far from the coast but that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy a day on a white-sand tropical island from San Jose. This full-day guided tour to Tortuga Island simplifies your travel to this Pacific coast island, eliminating the need to stay overnight. After getting there in a comfortable air-conditioned vehicle, spend several hours at leisure on the beach swimming, snorkeling, and looking out for dolphins.

Experience the sights, sounds, and flavors of San Jose on an evening bus tour. Starting from your hotel, board a comfortable double-decker bus with a welcome drink. See over 25 of the city’s landmarks as you take a bus tour, and stop for bilingual guided tours at key locations, including the Costa Rican Art Museum. Enjoy an included dinner of local cuisine before drop-off back 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.

Observe Costa Rica's bountiful wildlife from the hanging bridges of Mistico Park in Arenal. Trek along ground-level forest trails and suspended walkways in this private, family-owned nature reserve that’s home to a vast array of birdlife, monkeys, reptiles, and tropical plants. Learn about the area’s rich biodiversity from a naturalist guide as you explore different levels of the rainforest, from floor to canopy, and enjoy commanding views of Arenal Volcano.

Combine three adventurous activities in a single tour: a hike to Arental Volcano, visit to the Hanging Bridges, and exploration of La Fortuna Waterfall. This full-day tour from La Fortuna, perfect for nature lovers, includes hiking and swimming amidst Costa Rica's beautiful natural scenery. Hotel pickup and drop-off included.

Get a new perspective on the tropical rainforest that surrounds Costa Rica's Arenal volcano on this guided tour. Stroll over suspension bridges while you keep your eyes peeled for wildlife, such as howler monkeys, and learn all about the area's diverse flora and fauna from your naturalist guide. Choose between a morning and afternoon tour.

Discover the natural beauty of the La Fortuna region on an action-packed full-day tour that is ideal for people who enjoy outdoors activities. Go on hikes through lush rain forest; visit a butterfly garden and Maleku Indian village; take a dip at La Fortuna waterfall; look for wildlife; and view the Arenal Volcano. Top off the day with a cocktail and a relaxing soak in a natural hot water river.

Visit three Costa Rican highlights in one day on this guided tour from San José. First explore a Starbucks-owned coffee farm, learning all about how your morning brew is grown, harvested, and roasted. Next, visit the Poas Volcano Crater and marvel at its powerful geysers and bubbling lake of aquamarine water. Then, experience La Paz Waterfall Garden–a lush rainforest that boasts spectacular waterfalls and exotic wildlife. Finally, stop by another coffee plantation and enjoy a lunch of traditional Costa Rican fare.

Instead of juggling multiple tours and reservations, combine coffee, a volcano, and wildlife on this full-day combo tour from San Jose. Travel to San Isidro to learn about coffee production at a coffee plantation. At Poas Volcano, admire the main crater, then hike to Botos Lagoon. Afterward, see the animals and waterfalls at La Paz Waterfall Gardens.

Enjoy an exciting zipline adventure with incredible views of the Arenal Volcano (if weather permits) at Airtime Zipline Adventure, located just minutes from downtown La Fortuna and next to the famous Sloth Watching Trail. The course features 9 cables (including a practice line) and 10 platforms, built with sustainable and recycled materials. Perfect for families and beginners, this activity offers a thrilling experience without extreme heights children 4 years and older are welcome! Our professional guides will ensure your safety and fun throughout the tour. We operate with all official permits and insurance from the Costa Rican Tourism Board (ICT), giving you total peace of mind. On clear days, you’ll soar with amazing volcano views while enjoying a memorable experience surrounded by nature. The adventure lasts only a couple of hours, so it’s easy to fit into your La Fortuna itinerary.

View several of Costa Rica's top scenic attractions in a single day, and leave all the logistics and planning to someone else, on this hassle-free day trip from San José. Traveling via air-conditioned vehicle, head first to Poás Volcano, an active volcano known for its vast crater and bubbling lake. Then, make a scenic stop at La Paz Falls before enjoying a tour and tasting at a local coffee farm.

Take a walk through the rainforest canopy on a tour of the hanging bridges surrounding Arenal Volcano. Many species of Costa Rican wildlife like monkeys, sloths, and frogs live up in the trees, so these suspended walkways give you a bird’s-eye perspective of Arenal’s amazing ecosystem. The mostly flat aerial hike is gentle enough for most ages and abilities, so the whole family can experience the wonder of the rainforest.

Go where standard vehicles can’t as you head off La Fortuna’s beaten path and into Costa Rica’s lush jungle. Drive an all-terrain vehicle (ATV) through Arenal Volcano Ecological Park (PEVA), along muddy trails and through dense rainforest. Along the way, stop in Maleku Village to learn about local indigenous culture.

Relax and unwind with a day at La Fortuna’s famous hot springs at the base of the majestic Arenal Volcano. On this tour, enjoy round-trip transportation from San Jose and relax at either Los Lagos or Baldi Hot Springs (depending on the option you've chosen), enjoying free time to rejuvenate at a pace that suits you. A delicious lunch at the resort is included, so you can focus on relaxing in the soothing thermal waters.

Poás hides wonderful traditions and stunning landscapes that captivate every visitor. Start your tour with a cup of freshly brewed coffee on an authentic local estate, where you can enjoy panoramic mountain views and experience the warmth of Costa Rican hospitality. A few minutes away, discover the majestic La Paz Fall, a 35-meter waterfall that rushes through a green-covered canyon, in the middle of a cloud forest full of wildlife. Then head to the imposing Poás Volcano. Its huge crater, one of the largest in the world, reveals a turquoise acid lagoon surrounded by steam and volcanic formations. The views are surreal and the atmosphere transmits the living force of nature. Whether you love nature, culture or are looking for a peaceful getaway, Poás offers the perfect combination of adventure and serenity. Come and explore a place where tradition meets natural wonder.

This day trip from San Jose provides the perfect combination: Soak in the soothing waters of Baldi Hot Springs—with options for massages and spa treatments—after hiking around the Arenal Volcano area. This tour also includes lunch and dinner and a stop in Sarchi to check out the arts and crafts and one of the world’s largest ox carts.

In just one day, it’s possible to visit top Costa Rica attractions including Arenal Volcano, La Paz Waterfall, and Arenal Hot Springs when you book this full-day guided tour from San Jose. All-inclusive private transport smooths over otherwise tricky transportation logistics, and your guide keeps you entertained and informed as you explore. This tour includes hotel pickup and drop-off, all entrance fees, plus two meals, adding up to a great value.

Visit the impressive crater of Poas Volcano and go behind-the-scenes at a large commercial coffee farm on this full-day tour from San Jose. A guide shares fun facts about one of Costa Rica's most-visited volcanos and biggest exports on a field-to-cup tour of the coffee farm. Plus, private transportation and included lunch make this tour a breeze.

Safely immerse yourself in Costa Rican nature and wildlife on an 8- to 9-hour tour to La Paz Waterfall Gardens. Leave the busy streets of San Jose behind in comfortable air-conditioned transportation from your hotel. Discover more than 100 species at the sanctuary, including titi monkeys, 2-toed sloths, pumas, and toucans. You can even feed hummingbirds by hand. Have your camera ready for the cloud forest, waterfalls, and aviary.

Get out of San Jose on a day tour to the Arenal Volcano region, where you’ll get a glimpse of Costa Rica’s famous biodiversity and natural beauty. Travel through scenic farmland and villages to reach the volcano. Stop at a coffee plantation, waterfall, and look out for wildlife en route. In the shadow of the volcano, soak in natural hot springs for a refreshing experience, before returning to San Jose.

Explore and swim under the Rio Celeste and Llanos de Cortés waterfalls, without the pressure of getting there on your own, with this group activity package. Enjoy a seamless experience that covers your itinerary, optional transportation, park fees, and lunch, meaning you can relax and immerse yourself in the day's activities. Along with the waterfalls, hike through Tenorio Volcano National Park and visit a sloth sanctuary.

Live an unforgettable night hike in La Fortuna, near Arenal Volcano, and discover the wildlife that comes alive after dark. Explore the nature trails of Mirador El Silencio accompanied by an experienced naturalist guide who will help you find and get to know Costa Rica’s fascinating nightlife. We will search for red-eyed frogs, poison frogs, snakes, lizards, spiders, insects, resting birds and other nocturnal creatures. With any luck, we can also observe sloths and other mammals. All animals live free in their natural habitat, so every night is different and sightings are not guaranteed. Our family-friendly small group experience allows for a more personal and educational adventure, with opportunities to photograph fauna. Discover the hidden world of the Arenal tropical forest and experience one of the best nature experiences in La Fortuna.