Top Costa Rica Historical Tours

Combine two popular activities in one on this guided tour. First, visit Santa Rosa National Park and learn about this tropical dry forest and the wildlife and plant life that call it home. Following that, head to a local restaurant for lunch, and then stop in Liberia for a tour of the city and to shop for souvenirs.

Immerse yourself in the culture, nature, and adventure of Costa Rica on this all-day experience. First, learn about coffee, sugar cane, and ceramics, then head out on a ziplining adventure or traverse the hanging bridges. Go for a horseback ride through the forest. Finally, relax in a natural hot water pool and slather yourself in volcanic mud.

Travelers who are interested in seeing how Costa Rica’s indigenous people live will enjoy visiting the Maleku Indigenous Reserve in northern Costa Rica. Tour three different villages to see traditional ways of life and how indigenous people have adapted to the modern world. Enjoy a tasty local lunch and experience the reserve in an authentic way. You’ll get access to parts of the country that are difficult to visit independently.

Costa Rica’s Cartago Province is home to the lofty Irazú Volcano as well as a variety of historic settlements. See Cartago’s highlights in a single day on this private tour, which allows you to experience Irazú Volcano National Park’s panoramic viewpoints and steaming craters, visit centuries-old settlements, and admire historic Spanish-colonial churches. Your guide navigates and provides transportation, leaving you free to enjoy the scenery.

From San Jose, the easiest way to take a day trip to Arenal Volcano is on a guided tour. All transportation is included by private vehicle so you don't have to deal with slow public transit, and logistics such as lunch, dinner, and entrance fees are already planned and included in the ticket price. After visiting Arenal Volcano with a guide, head to Baldi Hot Springs to soak in thermal waters before returning to you San Jose hotel.

Learn about Costa Rican cuisine on this hands-on tour in Quepos. First, visit a farmers’ market to browse and select ingredients for lunch. With the help of local cooks, you’ll learn how to make corn tortillas from scratch, “ceviches” with plantain or banana, picadillos, and more. Along the way, find out about the origin of the organic ingredients, how they are prepared, and how you can recreate the dishes at home.

Experience the ‘pura vida’ of Costa Rica’s traditional farming lifestyle on this half-day nature and agriculture tour that takes you beyond the tourist hot spots. Learn about sustainable farming practices used on the farm; try your hand at milking a cow; extract cane juice to make refreshing drinks; and create artisanal cocoa using indigenous tools. At the end of your tour, taste the bounty of the land with a farm-fresh lunch of local, organic products.

Escape the hustle and bustle of San Jose and experience Sarchi, a small town famous for its artisan crafts. After pickup from your hotel, your personal guide will show you the best spots, detailing the tradition of oxcart painting—and the importance of the oxcart to Costa Rica—wooden craft-making, family art factories, and more. Grab an authentic lunch and choose from 200+ shops to select a souvenir to take back home.

Discover the living culture of the Bribri people in Watsi Delve into an authentic experience that connects you to the ancestral history and wisdom of the Bribri indigenous people. He knows his traditional way of life, his clothing made with natural fibers, hunting instruments and the sacred use of medicinal plants. At Casa Usure, a sacred place, you will learn about its worldview and creation of life. The favorite part, the cocoa process : you will make everything from scratch and grind with the indigenous women, and then enjoy a delicious chocolate accompanied by Creole bananas. You will also try a typical lunch served in leaves, as they do. To close the day, we will visit a waterfall, where in addition to cooling off you can observe poisonous frogs, the same ones that the indigenous people used to poison their spears. End this magical experience by drinking a pipe water in the middle of nature. A cultural, natural and transformative experience that will remain in your heart.

Get a taste of San Jose’s culture and cuisine on this walking tour that includes snacks. Explore Costa Rica’s capital alongside a guide who alleviates the hassle of navigating, and learn about the city’s history, architecture as you taste. Explore the produce stalls of two traditional markets and discover what makes Costa Rican coffee so delicious as you sample some local brews.

Visit some of the most spectacular natural areas in and around La Fortuna with this small-group tour for up to 10 people. You'll visit Baldi Hot Springs, La Fortuna Waterfall, and Arenal Volcano National Park, with a stop for an included farm lunch along the way. All entry fees are included and you'll have a guide with you throughout your experience.

Explore the hidden history and natural beauty of San Lucas Island National Park on an unforgettable tour in one day. We begin with the search for dolphins in their natural habitat—a magical opportunity to connect with marine life in the Gulf of Nicoya. Then, we sail to the mystical San Lucas Island, where you will take an exclusive guided tour of the corners of its former penitentiary. We’ll tell you the true, mysterious and sometimes jarring stories surrounding this site, declared a National Park for its historical and cultural value. After the tour, you will relax on one of the most beautiful and tranquil beaches on the island, surrounded by nature and crystal clear waters, perfect for swimming, sunbathing or just enjoying the scenery. This tour is much more than an excursion: it is an enriching experience that connects the past with the natural beauty of Costa Rica. Ideal for those looking for something authentic, different and deeply memorable.

See the active Irazu Volcano and other highlights of Costa Rica’s Cartago province at your own pace on a private tour from San Jose. Reach the summit of the peak known by locals as ‘El Colosso,’ famous for its modern eruptions and lake-filled craters. Soak up regional culture in the artsy, historic town of Orosi, and spend the afternoon relaxing in mineral-rich hot springs and dining at Hacienda Orosi.

Discover the incredible birds and biodiversity of Palo Verde National Park on this boat tour with lunch. Spot native wildlife such as crocodiles, iguanas, monkeys, and a colorful parade of bird species during a 1-hour and 20 minutes cruise down the Tempisque River led by a naturalist guide. Afterward, discuss your sightings with fellow travelers over a traditional Costa Rican lunch at a local restaurant.

If you like to contact nature, this is the opportunity to do it. Imagine walking in a magical place full of hanging gardens in the trees, with a great variety of organisms. That place is my green office, which is very large, and an environmental interpretation walk in the cloud forest is a unique experience to understand the specific interactions of flora and fauna in a complex and exuberant ecosystem such as the neotropical cloud forest. The forest is like a book that is waiting to be read and interpreted, let's go! And join me to read each page of that beautiful book called the Monteverde cloud forest.

Get closer to nature while still experiencing thrills during 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, so you can ride an aerial tram, encounter native critters at a butterfly and frog garden, cross a hanging bridge, and explore the jungle on a nature hike at your own pace. Get your adrenaline pumping as you soar through the treetops on ziplines, including one of the longest and fastest in the country.

See the vast diversity of Costa Rica on a 3-day tour that includes hiking at Arenal Volcano, exploring the Monteverde cloud forest, and enjoying the tropical white-sand beaches of Manuel Antonio National Park. This expertly organized all-inclusive tour covers all of your transportation and accommodations, so busy travelers can maximize their time and not worry about any of the logistics.

Discover the unique, original way of how medicinal ceremonies are presented in the BriBri culture. This will take place in the home or the shaman and here you´ll see how the medicinal plants are used. He will explain where every plant is helpful for and how this is used to heal someone. After the ceremony you´ll see the process of making cacao and enjoy an traditional meal. To end this extraordinary experience you´ll have a hike to the waterfall and have a refreshing swim.

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.

This coffee crawl connects specialty coffee, history, and the city itself into a single narrative. You don’t just visit cafés; you walk the same streets where coffee wealth shaped political decisions, funded public spaces, and helped define Costa Rica’s social identity. It’s great because it’s slow, human, and immersive. You experience the city at walking pace, with time to taste, listen, and reflect. The 11 stops create rhythm: coffee, street, story, coffee again. It’s also great because it’s local and authentic. You’re not following a generic tour; you’re engaging with independent specialty coffee shops, passionate baristas, and real historical spaces that still shape daily life in San José. And finally, it’s great because it changes how you see coffee. By the end of the crawl, coffee is no longer just a beverage—it’s a cultural force that helped build a country, a city, and a way of thinking that values dialogue, community, and identity.

Experience San Jose like never before with our walking tour, tailored just for you. Our knowledgeable guides will lead you through the city's most iconic spots, sharing fascinating stories and historical insights. Marvel at the grandeur of the National Theater, with its stunning neoclassical architecture and opulent interiors. Stroll through the vibrant Central Market, where the colors, scents, and sounds create an unforgettable sensory experience. Enjoy a relaxing break at the Edificio Steinvorth, savoring the finest coffee Costa Rica has to offer. Explore the historic Parque Nacional and uncover the significance of the National Monument and the old train station. This tour offers a perfect blend of history, culture, and culinary delights.

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.

If you’re looking for a great cup of coffee in Costa Rica, then this tour will take you to the right place. A private day trip to the Doka Estate coffee plantation will show you how Costa Rican coffee is processed from bean to brew. After seeing how this amazing coffee is made, you’ll head to the town of Iglesia de Sarchi for a few hours of souvenir shopping before making a quick stop at Parque Central de Grecia.

Curious travelers who want to learn more about Costa Rica’s indigenous cultures will enjoy this private half-day shore excursion from Limon. After being picked up from the cruise port, head to an indigenous reserve, where you’ll meet a shaman and learn about medicinal plants and local chocolate production. Experience a cleansing ritual, then head to some beautiful waterfalls for a refreshing swim and some relaxation.