Top San Jose Day Trips - page 6

Irazu Volcano, small towns and Hot Springs. Private Tour

(1)

9 hoursFree Cancellation

from $295

One Day Tour To Corcovado From San José

16 to 17 hours

from $505

Dinner with Private Show in Tiquicia Traditional Nights

4.6

(8)

5 hoursFree Cancellation

from $95

4.2

(6)

Combo: Day Trip to Hanging Bridges + ZipLine in Monteverde

Escape the city and experience San Jose’s surrounding nature in the most relaxing way possible—with this private, full-day tour to waterfalls, gardens, and hot springs. Picked up from your hotel, you’ll traverse the countryside until you reach the rainforest, where you’ll explore gardens, spot sloths, and get misted by waterfalls. Then you’ll head to nearby hot springs for lunch, a soak under the Arenal Volcano, optional spa treatments, and more.

from $320

La Paz Waterfall Gardens and Tabacon Hot Springs Private Day Tour from San Jose

13 hours

from $525

Finally, what everyone was after! TravelWellCR picks you up early in the morning, starting at 6:00 a.m. at your hotel in downtown San Jose, to take you straight on the adventure to the majestic Poás Volcano. Along the way we will look for sloths in their natural habitat and thus continue with your volcanic experience. Includes: - Roundtrip transportation hotel or airport: Travel comfortably and safely in air-conditioned tourist transport. Includes pick-up from your hotel and return to the hotel or airport at the end of the tour. - Admission to Poás Volcano National Park

Poás Volcano Main Crater
Main crater of Poas Volcano

7 to 8 hoursFree Cancellation

4.0

(8)

Early Volcano Poás Tour

from $99

Likely to Sell Out

Turn exploring San Jose into an ultra-rich cultural experience with this guided “bites and sights” tour. You’ll start at the city’s best markets—Central and Borbon markets—tasting empanadas, fresh fruits, coffees, and more, plus learning all about local goods and handicrafts. You’ll also get a guided exploration of the Pre-Columbian Gold Museum, diving even deeper into the city’s gilded history.

San Jose: Bites and Sights Walking Food Tour and National Museum

4.8

(28)

5 hoursFree Cancellation

from $65

4.3

(4)

From San José: Private Poás Volcano & Local Life Experience

6 to 8 hoursFree Cancellation

from $575

Per group

Tortuguero One Day Private Tour from San Jose

(19)

10 hoursFree Cancellation

from $365

Day Trip from San Jose to Tabacon Hot Springs Resort & Spa

Likely to Sell Out

4.7

(17)

13 hours

from $400

Make your day in Costa Rica truly special with a visit to Natuwa Wildlife Sanctuary, a refuge dedicated to the protection and rehabilitation of rescued animals such as jaguars, macaws, monkeys, tapirs, and more. Walk through lush tropical surroundings as your guide shares the inspiring stories behind each species and the sanctuary’s ongoing conservation work. This experience is perfect for cruise travelers who want to spend their day connecting with nature and discovering Costa Rica’s incredible wildlife in a genuine and educational way.

Wildlife Tour to Natuwa Rescue Center - Small Group

4.3

(6)

4 to 5 hoursFree Cancellation

from $199

Doka Estate Coffee Tour, Grecia and Sarchi Oxcarts factory

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.

Coffee Tour, Grecia Town and Sarchi Shopping. Private Tour

(3)

7 hoursFree Cancellation

from $275

Seeing Costa Rica’s wildlife is great—getting up-close encounters on a private tour, led by a naturalist guide, is even better. Picked up from your San Jose hotel, you’ll head to one of the best wildlife rescue centers in the country to spot tapirs, spider monkeys, pumas, peacocks, and more in their natural habitat. Great for all ages, you’ll get to discover this world and get all your questions answered.

Costa Rica Wildlife. Visit to Zooave. Private Tour

Wildlife Rescue Center Private Tour

5 hoursFree Cancellation

from $185

Visit the active Poas Volcano, an epic waterfall, and the one-and-only Starbucks Coffee Farm on a day trip perfect for nature and coffee lovers who are short on time but want to see it all. The small-group tour reveals cloud-forest scenery, plantations, and farms along the way to the second largest crater in the world. Plus, see behind the scenes at the farm that grows Starbucks’ renown coffee.

Costa Rica Day Trip Tour with Lunch

3.6

(27)

8 to 12 hoursFree Cancellation

from $149

Day Tubing the Pejibaye River

(11)

6 hoursFree Cancellation

from $110

Manuel Antonio’s most complete experience from San Jose – sea, jungle and beach in one day Are you in San Jose and want to know the best of Costa Rica in one day? This all-in-one tour is the perfect choice. Start your adventure with a Pacific catamaran ride, enjoy drinks, lunch and snorkeling on tropical reefs. You will see dolphins, turtles and oily fish in their natural environment. Then explore the famous Manuel Antonio National Park with a local guide. Discover monkeys, sloths and lush vegetation, and end up relaxing on one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. We are the only company that offers this unique combination of sea and jungle in a single day leaving from San Jose. Available all year round and with a 99% satisfaction rating among our travelers, this is a must-see experience. Book today and experience one of the most memorable days of your Costa Rica trip.

Super Combo: Manuel Antonio Park + Catamaran tour from San Jose

4.5

(32)

This exclusive tour offers you the best of Monteverde in one day. We start at 06:00 a.m. from San José, through the province of Puntarenas, where you will enjoy nature at its best. Monteverde is home to 2% of the world’s biodiversity and has the most conserved forest reserves in Costa Rica. The tour combines an exciting extreme zipline experience with cloud forest exploration, ideal for nature and adventure lovers. You can take spectacular photos from the suspension bridges and spot local fauna. You will also experience flying as a Superman over the canopy and enjoy a relaxing gondola tour, exploring the cloud forest from a new perspective. Make the most of your time in Monteverde with this comprehensive experience. Book now and live the adventure!

from $237

Combo Monteverde: Cable car + zip line tour + suspension bridges

(4)

Costa Rica's Corcovado National Park is known for its wildlife, tropical rainforests, and coastal scenery—and this full-day, small-group tour from San Jose takes all the hassle out of visiting. Depart in the early morning via van, and enjoy breakfast en route. You'll embark on a boat tour of the Terraba and Sierpe wetlands; will go on a waterfall hike; will look out for wildlife like jaguars, monkeys, and ocelets; and much more.

from $338

Corcovado National Park One Day Tour

(1)

12 to 14 hours

from $690

4.6

(80)

Arenal : Suspension Bridges + Hot Springs + Falls from San Jose

Explore the Arenal Volcano area on this guided all-day private tour from San Jose. Take a nature walk through the biological reserve of Mistico Park on a system of hanging bridges and catch views of the volcano, which looms over the green hillside. Also take some time for yourself at Baldi Hot Springs in La Fortuna, where you’ll have free time to relax in the resort’s multiple thermal pools.

from $249

Arenal Volcano Hanging Bridges & Baldi Hot Springs. Private Tour from San Jose

Arenal Hanging Bridges and Hot Springs Private Tour from San Jose

4.4

(7)

from $295

Zoom through the Costa Rican jungle on a full-day zip-lining tour in San Ramon. The tour is perfect for adrenaline junkies and active families alike. Thanks to provided safety equipment and the watchful eye of your experienced guide, you’re able to sail through the cloud forest with ease. Walk across six hanging bridges, measuring up to 360 feet across (110 meters). Along the way, keep your eyes peeled for hummingbirds, sloths, and monkeys.

Zipline. Butterfly Garden and Hanging Bridges Tour from San Jose

4.8

(6)

1 dayFree Cancellation

from $173

The tour to La Paz Waterfall Gardens is ideal for travelers who do not want to stray too far from the city to live a unique experience surrounded by nature and wildlife. The adventure begins from the moment we begin to climb the mountain, entering through the province of Alajuela, this tour will allow you to experience the changes in climate, accompanied by a wonderful landscape, which will be the prelude to the magnificent experience that travelers will have in La Paz Waterfall Gardens Natura Park & Wildlife Refuge This tour includes travelers, transportation, park tickets, and a delicious buffet lunch, so you won't have to worry about anything other than enjoying the experience.

La Paz Waterfall Gardens Nature Park Full-Day Tour

4.5

(14)

6 to 7 hoursFree Cancellation

from $125

Our guide will go through each hotel previously coordinated, to pick up the passengers who will accompany us in this beautiful experience. Hanging Bridges in the Cloud Forest, a very spectacular adventure, In our tours you can enjoy the greatness of nature in Costa Rica, it is the perfect tour for the whole family, enjoy the most beautiful orchids in Costa Rica, Bird watching, various types of animals such as howler monkeys, coatis and more species that you can enjoy throughout the trip. As a second Canopy Tour activity, we have cables between 50 and 550 meters long at the points with the most adrenaline. In these tours you can enjoy various views of the Cataraticas River. Our platforms are located on bases with heights from 3 to 106 meters high, some of them on trees and on land bases depending on the points of attraction and adventure. To close we will enjoy a delicious typical lunch

Canopy Tour in The Fabulous Hanging Bridges from San José

(1)

11 hoursFree Cancellation

from $165

This is a private tour for couples, friends and family. Close to San José and surroundings, ideal for those who have a free day and want to do something different and discover what is in those mountains behind the city, for lovers of nature and beautiful views, we will visit forests and incredible viewpoints and small towns that will give you an insight into how people live in Costa Rica and what life is like in the mountains of this beautiful Central American country. Let's go to Heredia a town with a rich history and discover some of the places at the foot of the Barva volcano.

Travel to Heredia and the mountains

5 to 6 hoursFree Cancellation

from $175

Per group

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Top Attractions in San Jose

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Attractions

What are people saying about San Jose

La Paz Waterfall Gardens and Wildlife Refuge Tour from San Jose

Jennifer_C, May 2026

Lots of stairs, but worth...

Lots of stairs, but worth every step! A gorgeous jungle with 5 bridges over the canopy. Stunning views and lots of plants and wildlife to explore. Our guide Kevin (5 stars) was so knowledgeable and was an expert at spotting wildlife. I highly recommend this excursion.

From San Jose: Zipline, Horseback, ATV, Surfing, & Chocolate Tour

Nyasia_T, May 2026

Amazing 100000/10

My friends and I did ATV and Ziplining , let’s just say we have the time of our lives. Our ATV instructor was Juan and he was amazing . Zipling was truly an amazing experience overall. The instructor all were fun and extremely helpful. Overall I’d do again and again and again

Full Day Poas Volcano, La Paz Waterfall Gardens and Coffee Plantation Experience

Nora_K, Apr 2026

We really enjoyed this...

We really enjoyed this tour with 3 different and beautiful destinations. We saw and experienced so many things in one day: we learned about coffee planting, we climbed up two volcano craters with stunning views, we admired a multitude of animals and we hiked up and down to see the fantastic waterfalls in the tropical forest. Everything was well organized, the lunch was tasty, we had enough time in every destination and our guide Raquel was knowledgeable and friendly. Thank you!

Poas Coffee tour, La Paz Falls and Poas Volcano

Sophie_K, Apr 2026

Viktor was a super nice...

Viktor was a super nice guide and very happy to answer questions. He even took us to an extra stop (strawberry - cheese - wine - shop and tasting) after the 3 stops. I didn't understand why we first went to the coffee farm and then to the volcano because it's better to visit the volcano early so you can actually see something. We were lucky, but 10-15min after we arrived everything was cloudy and you couldn't see anything anymore. I hope they'll change it for future tours, so people can actually enjoy a good view.

San Jose: Bites and Sights Walking Food Tour including Markets

Payton_T, Apr 2026

Eric was a wonderful...

Eric was a wonderful guide and incredibly informative! My friend and I really felt immersed in the culture in San José and felt even more comfortable navigating through the markets and parts of the city after this tour. The food was absolutely delicious and worth every penny. I highly recommend doing this tour with Eric!

Tortuga Island Full Day Tour from San José with Lunch

Marisol_S, Apr 2026

Amazing experience

My trip to Isla Tortuga in Costa Rica was an amazing experience! I decided to go solo, and it ended up being one of the best decisions I’ve made. Our travel guide, Roy, was incredibly friendly, patient, and helpful throughout the entire trip, which made everything even more enjoyable. I also loved meeting new people along the way, it really added to the experience. And the drinks? Easily a 10/10! 🍹 I would definitely recommend this trip to anyone looking for a fun, relaxing, and memorable adventure.

Arenal Volcano Experience Full-Day Tour from San Jose

Brianna_T, Apr 2026

Must do 10/10!!!

I had an amazing experience on this full-day tour in Costa Rica! Our guide was incredibly sweet, friendly, and made the entire day feel so enjoyable and relaxed. We made plenty of stops along the way to take pictures and spot wildlife, which made the experience feel really special and not rushed at all. One thing I really appreciated was how the guide took the time to take photos of us.They were also very communicative, explaining what we were seeing and making sure everyone felt comfortable throughout the tour. Overall, it was such a memorable experience, and I would definitely recommend this tour to anyone visiting Costa Rica!

Poás Volcano, Café Doka and Peace Falls Day Tour

Joanne_C, Apr 2026

Well-organized and fulfilling tour

This was a very well-organized and fulfilling tour. It covered all the must-see highlights around San José.We started at Doka Coffee Estate with breakfast and a coffee tour, then visited the Poas Volcano and Botos lagoon, and later explored La Paz Waterfall Gardens with animals, lunch, and waterfalls. The itinerary was packed but well-paced. Our guide, Fila, was experienced and explained everything clearly. Overall, it met my expectations and I would recommend it.

4 in 1 : Irazu + Orosi + Lankaster + Lake Cachi with Lunch

Lukas_R, Mar 2026

This tour is great if you...

This tour is great if you want to see a variety of places in one day. The lunch was a highlight — probably the best meal I had during my 7-day stay in Costa Rica. I also appreciated that the guide added an extra stop at the Cartago ruins when I asked. Highly recommended.

White Water Rafting Pacuare River From San José

Christopher_T, Mar 2026

You gotta go

I’d just like to say for everyone who said this made their trip NO LIES WERE TOLD. For my first time rafting the guides were 10/10 great energy, funny, knowledgeable all around great people really. Prepare for an arm workout you do get breaks in between paddling. Breakfast was ok but the lunch was great. They have lockers and changing stations bring a change of clothes you get soaked depending on your placement. We thank yall for the longest but most eventful day.

Manuel Antonio National Park Sightseeing and Wildlife Day Tour from San Jose

Kylie_G, Mar 2026

Alex is an awesome guide, great tour

Alex our guide was amazing, he was so funny and knowledgeable. We called him Eagle Eye Alex because he was able to spot even the smallest insects on the hike. The day was enjoyable, my mother and I were actually the only one on the tour because many cancelled due to the construction on the alligator bridge. Breakfast and lunch was very good, they had vegetarian options for us which was great! The day is long and you’re in the van for a while but it’s mainly due to the traffic and construction. Overall, Alex and the tour was great, I loved seeing all the animals in their natural habitat! Make sure you have sunscreen and lots of water it is very humid. If you want to swim at the beach bring your swim suit and a towel. There are foot washing stations on the trail back to where you’ll meet your guide but it’s a bit of walk till you get there. Make sure you go to the bathroom before you get back on the bus to San Jose, it is a long way back and you might have to take a different back route that goes through the mountains with no places or very limited places to stop to use the bathroom.

San Jose Walking and Bus City Tour

Anitra_D, Nov 2025

Fantastic San Jose Walking & Bus City Tour!

I had an absolutely amazing time on the San Jose Walking and Bus City Tour! Everything was so well organized, and the guide was incredibly knowledgeable, friendly, and made the entire experience fun and engaging. I loved getting to see the city from both perspectives—walking through the historic streets and then relaxing on the bus while taking in even more sights. The pace was perfect, the information was interesting, and I came away with a much deeper appreciation for Costa Rican culture, history, and beauty. I highly recommend this tour to anyone visiting the area. It was truly a memorable experience and well worth it!