Top Central Valley Day Trips

Take a trip to the beautiful Manuel Antonio National Park on a small-group tour. This park is known for its great surf, picturesque scenery, and abundance of flora and fauna. Choose your own activity for the day such as sunbathing, snorkeling, trekking or surfing—equipment is available to rent—and enjoy the beauty of the park. This tour is inclusive of breakfast, lunch, and park entrance tickets.

Visit Poás Volcano's massive crater and stop at Starbucks' Hacienda Alsacia coffee farm for an included coffee tasting. Includes an expert guide and transport from San José. Perfect for nature and coffee lovers. Discover Costa Rica's most iconic natural wonder and world-class coffee culture in one unforgettable day. Journey from San José to Poás Volcano National Park, home to one of Earth's largest active volcanic craters at 2,708 meters above sea level. Begin your journey venturing into the mystical cloud forest, where trails lead to breathtaking viewpoints of the turquoise acidic lagoon and steaming fumaroles. Visit serene Botos Lagoon, a pristine crater lake surrounded by lush vegetation. Your expert bilingual guide shares fascinating insights about volcanic geology, coffee cultivation, and local biodiversity throughout the journey. With comfortable round-trip transportation and small group sizes, this tour perfectly balances adventure, education, and authentic Costa Rican culture.

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.

Spend a day exploring Costa Rica's rich wildlife on this tour to a coffee plantation, waterfall, and volcanic lagoon from San Jose. After learning how coffee is harvested and roasted on a coffee farm tour, head to Poas Volcano National Park and La Paz Waterfall Gardens for a chance to see animals like birds, butterflies, and monkeys in their beautiful natural habitats.

Explore San Jose on this guided half-day sightseeing tour. Great for first-time visitors to the city, the tour includes stops at historic and cultural sites such as the Costa Rican Art Museum in La Sabana, the city center, the National Theater, the University of Costa Rica, and the arts and crafts market. Plus, enjoy lunch at a local Costa Rican restaurant.

Explore Costa Rica’s beautiful nature and famous biodiversity on a fun full-day small-group trip to La Fortuna Waterfall, Arenal Volcano, and the Mistico Hanging Bridges. Start with an invigorating hike and refreshing swim at the waterfalls, then continue the hike to the volcano, followed by a traditional Costa Rican lunch. Conquer any fear of heights at the hanging bridges, and end this active day with a hot springs soak.

Skip the stress of logistics and visit one of Costa Rica's most popular national parks on this hassle-free day trip from San Jose. See Manuel Antonio National Park's white-sand beaches and tropical rainforest with a guide leading the way so you don't have to navigate, and then make it back to San Jose by nightfall. Breakfast, lunch with drinks, and park entry are included for a seamless experience.

Explore Irazú Volcano, the highest volcano in the area, reaching 11,000 feet (3,432 meters) above sea level, on this full-day combo tour. After visiting the volcano, descend to the city of Cartago, the former capital of Costa Rica, where you will stop at the Basilica of the Angels. Also see the Orosi Valley, known for its diversity of crops, such as coffee and sugar cane. Next, explore the ruins of one of the oldest ruined churches in Costa Rica in Cartago.

Design your own perfect day in La Fortuna on a customizable combo tour. Cross the rainforest canopy on hanging bridges, swim beneath La Fortuna Waterfall, hike in Arenal Volcano National Park, and soak in geothermal hot springs. Take your pick of activities or do them all for a full day of fun and relaxation. Optional lunch add-ons provide a taste of authentic Costa Rican cuisine. Hotel pickup and drop-off are also included from added convenience.

Discover one of La Fortuna’s most complete adventure combos with zipline, a volcano hike, hanging bridges, and a natural thermal river all in one day. A full day of adventure, nature, and relaxation awaits in La Fortuna with this exciting combo tour. Soar through the treetops on a zipline adventure featuring 9 cables and 10 platforms, with stunning views of Arenal Volcano and Cerro Chato. Continue with a moderate 3 km hike at Parque Ecológico Volcán Arenal, where you’ll explore scenic volcanic landscapes with a guide. Then discover the beauty of Mistico Hanging Bridges Park on a guided walk of approximately 2.5 hours through the rainforest. End the day relaxing in a natural thermal river, where you can soak in warm waters and enjoy a volcanic mud mask. This full-day experience includes transportation, lunch, and expert guides throughout the tour.

Costa Rica is famous for its coffee, natural wonders, and diverse wildlife, and this full-day tour from San Jose combines all three. Learn how Costa Rican coffee is made on a guided tour of the Doka Coffee Plantation, enjoy magnificent views of the Poas Volcano crater on a scenic walk, and spot wildlife around the La Paz Waterfall, including a visit to the country’s largest butterfly observatory.

Marvel at one of Costa Rica's most impressive volcanoes and get close to its enchanting wildlife on this 2-in-1 combo tour. Stand above the steaming fumaroles and lake-filled crater of Poas Volcano with direct summit access, and then admire smaller-scale natural wonders at the La Paz Waterfall Gardens, a beautifully landscaped animal sanctuary. A typical Costa Rican lunch and hotel pickup complete this all-inclusive tour.

Visit one of the top beaches in Costa Rica even if you have limited time with the convenience of a full-day tour from San Jose. Manuel Antonio National Park encompasses a rain forest that is home to monkeys, sloths, and other wildlife, and white-sand beaches on the Pacific Ocean. Get an early start to make the most of the day on a tour that includes two meals and transportation.

Learn about coffee production and visit an active volcano on this combo half-day tour from San Jose. At the Doka Estate Coffee Plantation, enjoy breakfast and a tour of the estate to learn about the cultivation, harvesting, and roasting of coffee beans for savoring samples. Afterwards, visit Poas Volcano National Park too admire its main crater and fumaroles.

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.

Explore Manuel Antonio National Park on this all-day tour from San Jose. On the way to the park, stop for a traditional Costa Rican breakfast. Then, once you arrive, choose to relax on the scenic beaches or hike one of the many trails throughout the tropical rainforest. Be on the lookout for monkeys, iguanas, birds, and three-toed sloths during your visit.

Spend an evening enjoying a delicious dinner while taking in panoramic views of San José. As you dine, enjoy typical Costa Rican entertainment, including a folkloric dance and comedy show, and learn about the country's history and culture. The buffet-style dinner includes two alcoholic beverages, such as wine or beer.

Visit two of the most popular attractions near La Fortuna with the full-day excursion to the Arenal Mistico Park and La Fortuna Waterfall. First, walk along a 2-mile (3.2 kilometers) hanging-bridges circuit up to 200 feet (60 meters) above the rainforest floor. Afterward, swim and relax at La Fortuna Waterfall before having a traditional lunch and returning to La Fortuna.

Enjoy stunning views from Irazu Volcano National Park and Orosi Valley, plus wander through the streets of Cartago City on this popular tour that takes travelers outside for a taste of Costa Rican nature. Explore the active Irazu volcano some 3,432 meters above sea level and gain a deeper understanding of why Costa Rica's largest volcano is so impressive!

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.

Spend a day out in nature on this adrenaline-pumping zipline tour. Lines range from 16 to 1,800 feet (50 to 550 meters) and are a variety of different heights so you can get the best views of the varied landscape including waterfalls, rivers, and lush vegetation. Enjoy a typical Costa Rican lunch before the return trip home. The tour is family-friendly and suitable for guests four years old and up.

If you’re short on time in Costa Rica but want to see the country’s famous biodiversity beyond the concrete capital, this day trip to the Tortuguero National Park is ideal. Travel through the canals and lagoons on a boat and look out for toucans, crocodiles, sloths, iguanas, and much more. The highlight, though, is seeing the sea turtle nesting sites on the beaches, which give the park its name.

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.

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.