Top San Jose Private Sightseeing Tours

Coffee lovers, get your fix on a tour of the Café Britt plantation including private transfers from your San Jose hotel. Learn the history of this famous Costa Rican export, and see firsthand how coffee beans are cultivated, roasted, and transformed into fragrant elixir with a behind-the-scenes look at the farm and processing facilities. Browse products at the Britt factory store, order a freshly brewed drink from the coffee bar, and enjoy a buffet lunch from the plantation’s own restaurant.

San Jose is the cultural capital of Costa Rica and boasts a rich and varied history. Get acquainted with the city’s charms on a private tour, featuring a customizable itinerary of must-see attractions and private transportation through the city’s maze of trafficked avenues.

Immerse yourself in Costa Rican culture and history on this guided tour of the capital city. Highlights include the National Theater, the Pre-Columbian Gold Museum, the University of Costa Rica, the Supreme Court, and Central Market. A bilingual guide is on hand to answer questions and provide insight about what you see along the way.

Explore three of Costa Rica's most incredible national parks in just three days with this tour. You'll spend time hiking in Arenal Volcano National Park, traversing the canals and rivers at Tortuguero National Park, and hanging out at the beaches in Manuel Antonio National Park. For added convenience and comfort, all accommodation, transportation, and meals are included.

Go beyond the city of San José and discover its beautiful surroundings on this full-day tour. Start your day with a Costa Rican breakfast at a local coffee plantation, then learn about the coffee-making process on a farm tour. Afterward, head to the active Poas volcano to explore its massive crater before heading to a nature park to see an animal sanctuary and picturesque waterfalls.

Embark on a journey through the heart of San Jose, where you'll explore the city's most significant historical and cultural sites. Begin at the stunning Teatro Nacional Costa Rica, home to the Costa Rican Symphony Orchestra, and indulge in its European-style coffee shop. Continue to Parque Espana, once a parking lot for oxen carts, now a serene park with views of the historic Barrio Amón. Visit Parque Nacional Park, where you'll learn about Central America's united stand against North American slave traders, commemorated by the impressive National Monument. Finally, marvel at the Metropolitan Church, San Jose's main cathedral, filled with exquisite art and history, including a statue of Pope John Paul II, who held a mass for peace here in 1983.

Head off the beaten path and discover the Poás Volcano on this exciting adventure from San Jose. Alongside a private guide, visit the active stratovolcano and discover the unique ecosystem that surrounds it. Then, choose from a few attractions to visit such as the La Paz Waterfall and Gardens, the Rescate Wildlife Rescue Center, and the Alsacia Starbucks Coffee Plantation.

This private day trip from San José blends three Costa Rican highlights into one unforgettable experience: volcanoes, waterfalls, and coffee. Start at Poás Volcano National Park, where you’ll stand on the edge of an active crater and take in its turquoise lagoon and panoramic views. Continue to La Paz Waterfall Gardens, an eco-park of rainforest trails, butterfly and hummingbird gardens, and powerful waterfalls cascading through lush greenery. On the way back, stop at a coffee plantation (Doka Estate or similar), where you can stroll among the rows of plants or visit the café and shop—note that guided tours or tastings aren’t included. With hotel pickup and drop-off, an English-speaking driver, and fully customizable stops, this journey combines Costa Rica’s natural beauty and cultural heritage in a single day.

Thanks to its warm waters and lushly forested shores, the Pacuare River is widely considered one of the most beautiful rivers in Costa Rica. This white-water rafting tour from San Jose is a fun and exciting way to experience the river in just one day. Go up against class III and IV rapids along with a guide who helps you spot wildlife like blue morpho butterflies, sloths, and toucans along the way. Then, enjoy lunch at a local restaurant before heading back to San Jose.

Discover the heart of adventure in Costa Rica with this exhilarating ATV activity. Explore the lush jungles, picturesque river paths, and pristine beaches, all while taking in the beauty of the landscape from the mountaintop with an unobstructed view of the majestic ocean. This privately guided tour promises a thrilling and unforgettable experience, offering a perfect blend of nature, adrenaline, and fun.

Home to over 100 species of animals, five waterfalls, and a cloud forest the Wildlife Refuge La Paz Waterfall Gardens is bursting with biodiversity. Visit, explore, learn, and even hike among the sloths, monkeys, tropical birds, pumas, ocelots, and more who call Costa Rica’s most visited private ecological reserve home. Take in the incredible plant life like wild orchids on this full-day tour from San Jose with lunch included.

With its cascading waterfalls and abundant wildlife, the Pacuare River is rightfully famous for its natural beauty. Paddle through the river gorge, navigating 52 Class II-IV rapids as you go, on this 12-hour trip from San Jose. Take in views of the tropical rain forest and wildlife such as sloths, parrots, and toucans as you ride the river (and your adrenaline rush) over the course of the day.

Escape the city and spend the day surrounded by nature on this private tour from San José. Discover towering waterfalls hidden by lush jungle, walk over hanging bridges for a unique perspective on the local flora and fauna, and relax in a thermal spa with more than 25 pools. This excursion has everything you need to feel rejuvenated, while offering the best views of the Arenal Volcano.

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.

Visit the Irazú Volcano National Park in just half a day with this excursion from San José. Your driver will pick you up early in the morning and take you to the volcano, where you can see the crater and learn about the history of the area from a local guide. Next, you'll head to the Los Angeles Basilica, a church and museum with a holy water source.

Private and exclusive tour, an off of the beaten path activity, the exploration of Hacienda Ébano, a Costa Rican Natural Reserve and Ranch. The customer will experience a 1km / 0.6 mile short hike or a 2.5km / 1.6 miles medium hike through the rainforest, 2 gorgeous waterfalls with natural pools, also stunning mountains and ocean views. In the trip, the client will have the opportunity to see wildlife, such as birds, frogs, and monkeys, also many types of plants, flowers, and trees. The transportation is in a comfortable and safe 4x4 Safari style Truck - the best tool to travel the 10km / 6.2 miles through the big mountains. The perfect end is to refresh us and swim in the Jade Waterfall, also enjoy next to the river, a Costa Rican authentic lunch wrapped in banana leaf. All in a small group, with the company of local experienced guides committed with client service. Please remember to bring: • Hiking shoes, tennis or water-shoes (do not use flip flops) • Swimsuit • Insect Repellent

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.

Get on the Pejibaye River totally worry-free with this all-inclusive tour. After pickup from your hotel, you’ll hop into your private car for a ride to the river—and a stop for a traditional Costa Rican breakfast. Once at the water, your guides will set you up for an exciting 3-hour float through the jungle, complete with photos, water, and towels provided.

With this private half-day tour, exploring active volcanoes couldn’t be easier. Picked up right from your hotel, you’ll make the scenic 1-hour ride to Irazu Volcano National Park and its namesake volcano—the highest in the country. You’ll explore this fiery wonderland with a guide (greenish-yellow crater lake and all), witness the old town of Cartago, and so much more.

Just 90 minutes from San Jose lies a world of fiery, steaming, white-hot adventure, and with this private tour, you’ll walk into it yourself. Picked up from your hotel, you’ll make the drive to Poas Volcano National Park, where you’ll literally step into the volcanic crater. After getting your fill of this lava land, you’ll cool down with stops at a bucolic farm, coffee plantation, or other Alajuela attractions.

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.

Devote a day to experiencing some of the best in Costa Rican nature without having to do a lot of planning with this tour, which combines three incredible experiences. Enjoy a scenic boat ride on the Sarapiqui River with a naturalist guide, take an aerial tram into the rainforest, and go on a nature walk, with time left over to enjoy included lunch in a rainforest restaurant.

Discover one of Costa Rica’s most beautiful national parks, Tortuguero, on a full-day private tour from San Jose. Travel comfortably with hotel pickup and board a private, fully-covered boat for your tour through the canals. Your guide sheds light on the ecosystem and points out wildlife like sloths, toucans, monkeys, and crocodiles. This moderate-level tour includes a nature walk and town visit for a complete experience.

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.