Top San Jose Full-day Tours

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.

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.

Combine coffee, wildlife, and a volcano on this full-day small-group tour from San Jose with hotel pickup. Travel to San Isidro to learn about coffee production at Familia Vargas plantation. Visit La Paz Waterfall Gardens to see rescued animals and waterfalls with included lunch and entrance fees. Finish at Poas Volcano, admiring the main crater and hiking to Botos Lagoon.

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.

Ascend to the summit of Irazú Volcano, Costa Rica’s highest peak, and witness its lunar-like craters and breathtaking views that stretch from coast to coast on clear days. Travel through beautiful farmlands enriched by volcanic soil before reaching Cartago, the country’s historic capital, where you’ll visit the famous church: "Basilica de los Angeles", a cherished pilgrimage site since 1635. Then unwind in the stunning Orosi Valley at Hacienda Orosi Hot Springs, featuring seven natural thermal pools at 36–38°C. Enjoy mineral-rich waters, a volcanic mud treatment, and a traditional Costa Rican lunch surrounded by lush mountain scenery. A perfect blend of nature, culture, and deep relaxation—an unforgettable full-day experience in the heart of Costa Rica.

This excursion is a full day we will travel to the beautiful area of Poás, our bus will travel through mountains and cattle farms until we reach the impressive Poás Volcano. We will take a short hike to the crater to see its beautiful lagoon, of course considering that its sighting depends on the natural weather conditions of the area. In the volcano there is a beautiful cafeteria we will give time to buy snacks at the end of the tour in the Volcano. Then we will visit the Peace Falls a beautiful, 37 meter high waterfall where you will have amazing photos. Finally, we will visit an authentic Coffee Hacienda, where you can see coffee plantations, know the process and also test coffee and chocolates produced on the estate. At the end we will travel back to your hotel.

Discover the magic of this wonderful beach, Playa Tortuga, located in the Gulf of Nicoya, 12 nautical miles from Puntarenas, Playa Tortuga (called by the indigenous Tolinga) has an area of 120 hectares and is maintained as a protected forest; which has enjoyed the Ecological Blue Flag for more than five years. This distinction is awarded to beaches in our country that have pollution-free waters. Due to its geographical characteristic, its waters are turquoise in color and are ideal for swimming.

This is not just any excursion: it is a premium adventure, designed for those who value comfort and authentic experiences. More than a tour, it is an intimate trip through the natural wonders of Costa Rica.  Super-small groups and premium transport guarantee you comfort, flexibility and personalized attention throughout the tour. We observe lava pourings, stop at hidden viewpoints and explore the legacy of the imposing Arenal Volcano. We stop at local places: postcard waterfalls and hidden viewpoints, where you will try typical fruits and dishes (meals not included so you have freedom of choice). We enjoy everything from a hidden river of hot water to the thermal pools of a resort with excellent amenities. ️ Our guide not only knows the route, he lives it. Natural, attentive and close narrator, because in a world full of generic tours, this trip feels like with a local friend who wants to show you the best of his land.

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.

As one of the most popular parks in Costa Rica, Manuel Antonio National Park is a must for visitors. This guided tour from San Jose makes visiting on a time crunch a cinch—your guide takes the guesswork out of deciding which trails are worth the effort, plus helps you spot wildlife along the way. This tour includes breakfast and lunch, and is specifically timed to avoid the crowds, helping you have the best possible experience exploring.

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.

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.

Enjoy a private tour to Manuel Antonio National Park from San José with a naturalist guide and professional photographer. Includes high-quality photos, drone videos, private transport, and time to relax at Espadilla Beach. Support local businesses and travel stress-free.

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.

Safely immerse yourself in Costa Rican nature and wildlife on a 7-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.

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.

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.

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.

This sampler adventure tour from San Jose fits the best of Costa Rica's rivers and rainforests into one action-packed day. En route, go croc-spotting at a famous overlook on the Tarcoles River. Then head to the jungle adventure park where you can choose two activities from a list of thrilling options, including ziplining, horseback riding, surfing lessons, an ATV adventure, and a mountain bike tour.

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.

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.

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.

Navigate Class III-IV rapids under the guidance of an expert during this white-water rafting course down the Pacuare River from San Jose. Paddle your way through one of Costa Rica's most picturesque river gorges, looking out for native wildlife between rapid runs, on an exciting day trip ideal for thrill seekers. Hotel pickup and drop-off, equipment, and lunch are all included, so you can focus on the thrills.