Top Costa Rica Culture in 2026

Bike north to south and take a journey through Costa Rica's culture. Immerse in the world of our local street art crafted by celebrated local and international artists. Let our passionate local experts lead you along the vibrant streets of Jaco, unveiling the hidden treasures and captivating tales behind the city's unique street art. This tour will not only expand your knowledge of our country's culture but also infuse your Costa Rican adventure with a newfound sense of wonder. Get ready for an experience that will leave you with unforgettable memories and a deeper connection to the heart and soul of Costa Rica and Jaco town.

Horseback riding to a waterfall, touring one of Costa Rica’s best coffee farms, munching on Costa Rican pastries—with this tour, you’re guaranteed a wild and wildly delicious experience. At the farm, you’ll explore the bucolic grounds, see how coffee is brewed from seed to cup, hoof it into the jungle, and finish up having tasted a true slice of Costa Rican culture.

This is a unique tour in the area because it focuses on the land-based wildlife, while most tours in the area focus on the marine life. Uvita and the National Park of Marino Ballena are chock-full of incredible and rare wildlife. If you are staying in the Bahia Ballena area, you do not have to travel far to get an incredible wildlife experience.

Discover the rainforest after dark on a two-hour guided hike at Mirador El Silencio, near Arenal Volcano. Traverse the forest trails with an expert local naturalist and look for free-roaming nocturnal wildlife, such as red-eyed tree frogs, insects, spiders, snakes, sleeping birds, and mammals. Your guide will explain animal behavior, rainforest ecology, and conservation efforts, helping the group observe wildlife safely and respectfully. Flashlights are provided. Wildlife sightings vary naturally on each tour. Choose the option that best suits your needs and carefully check whether the trail entrance fee is included.

Explore the enchanting world of nocturnal wildlife in La Fortuna during a guided night walk. Choose between two convenient time slots at 6:00 PM or 8:00 PM, and venture into the lush trails with a flashlight in hand. This 1.5 to 2-hour adventure offers the chance to spot fascinating frogs, elusive snakes, and a variety of insects and plants. With a bilingual guide leading the way, you can learn about the unique behaviors and habitats of these creatures while capturing memorable photos along the journey. ✨

You will have the opportunity to live a 4-in-1 experience, where you will be able to learn about each of the processes about coffee from people who are passionate about this fruit, in addition to delicious tastings of sugar cane and chocolate, you will return home with some magnificent recipes to prepare these products at home. Finishing with the tastings we will enter the forest, in small groups, in order to avoid disturbing as little as possible and achieve a better experience, always accompanied by a local guide who knows every corner of the forest who will show each of the more wonders present in Monteveverde when the night comes

It’s more than just a night walk it’s a deep dive into the nocturnal life of the jungle, led by passionate locals who know where to look and what to listen for.

Many travellers in Costa Rica will tell you, your tour is only as good as your guide. Here at Osa Nature Experts, our lead guide Walter is what sets this tour apart from the rest. His keen sense of where to find the birds you’re after combined with his excellent ability to find birds through calls alone, give you the opportunity to see as many birds as possible. This tour is also customized, based on our clients desires and mobility. If you are after a specific bird species, we will do our best to accommodate that request. Walter also leads his tours with his telescope and phone adapter, allowing you to get close and personal to the birdlife. He can help you take lovely photos and videos too!

More than learning about coffee, you will live it from the inside, in a family farm in the heart of the San Luis Valley, Monteverde. This tour is guided by the Ramirez Brenes family, coffee growers for more than 30 years, who open the doors of their home to share not only the coffee process, but its history, its knowledge and its way of life. There are no crowds or impersonal scripts here. There are walks between orchids, ficus trees, organic crops and fresh mountain aromas. You will roast coffee with your own hands, visit an old house loaded with memories and taste a cup accompanied by homemade pastries made by Dona Denia, as if you were part of the family. It is an intimate, authentic and transformative experience. Ideal for those looking for something real: direct contact with nature, the local culture and the soul of Costa Rican coffee.

This experience blends culture, history, and sustainability in one unforgettable day. Begin with a scenic drive through Costa Rica’s picturesque countryside before exploring the region’s main city on a guided one-hour walking tour. Visit a local museum, a centuries-old Catholic church, the first elementary school, and the historic Royal Street while your guide shares fascinating stories about the area’s heritage. Then head to Finca Tropicalia, where you’ll savor a freshly brewed cup of Costa Rican coffee with seasonal fruit and take part in a meaningful tree-planting activity that helps offset carbon emissions and leaves a positive impact on the environment. Perfect for travelers who want to connect with local culture while giving back to nature. The inluded pick up area is Playa Hermosa but we can coordinate transporation from any hotel area in Guanacaste. You can also select the 'Self-Drive' option and start the tour in Liberia City.

Join us on a nature walk through Monteverde's Cloud Forest with an experienced guide who is eager to share their knowledge of the surrounding flora and fauna. We will explore the reserve and keep an eye out for any potential wildlife sightings, including stunning birds that call this magnificent forest home. Come and experience the high biodiversity of this incredible place and create memories that will last a lifetime.

Immerse yourself in Costa Rica’s storied coffee tradition on the Diría Coffee Tour, with flexible arrival options to suit your needs. Choose to self-arrive at the beautifully restored Chorotega farmhouse—ideal for independent travelers—or add round-trip transportation from Sámara or Puerto Carrillo for a seamless experience. Upon arrival, you’ll step into a traditional Chorotega house and learn how pre-Columbian farming legacies shaped today’s coffee culture. Wander through sun-lit drying patios, inspect pulping and roasting machinery, and compare raw versus freshly roasted beans as they crackle in small-batch roasters. Engage all your senses during a guided tasting (“cupping”) of single-origin coffees, evaluating aroma, body, acidity, and finish. Whether you arrive under your own steam or relax on a comfortable shuttle, this enriching tour delivers hands-on learning, cultural insights, and genuine Pura Vida hospitality—leaving you with a deeper appreciation for every cup you sip.

Discover the original Costa Rican coffee tour where over 30 years of coffee roasting expertise come to life. Immerse yourself in the rich history and flavors of coffee on the tour that started it all, offering an authentic journey into Costa Rica's coffee culture and heritage.

A perfect blend of culture and coffee Dive into Costa Rica’s rich history, from pre-Columbian times to the abolition of the army, as you walk through iconic landmarks. Then, uncover why coffee is such a cornerstone of Costa Rican identity. Finish by experiencing the true essence of coffee with a tasting that highlights its importance and unparalleled flavor. This is more than a tour—it’s a journey through the heart of Costa Rica.

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.

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.

It is a place with a lot of nature and wildlife with a large number of species of birds and flora that you cannot miss. In addition, due to its geographical location, we are very close to the international airport and GAM with easy access to visit in a day with little time.... It also has a history of the 70s, how some towns began to form in rural areas and how lived the upper class of Costa Rica

I am Naza, a Costa Rican photographer passionate about showing the beauty of my country through photography. As a local, I know San José and its most authentic corners, and I want to share them with you in a different way. During the experience, I will accompany you on a walk through some of the city's most representative places, combining photography, history, architecture, and natural moments. You don't need to know how to pose or feel comfortable in front of a camera; I will guide you throughout the tour so you can enjoy the experience while I create photographs that truly reflect your visit to Costa Rica. What makes this experience special is that you not only take professional photographs, but also the opportunity to get to know San José from the perspective of a local person.

Ideal for time-pressed travelers, this small-group tour of San Jose covers the highlights of the Costa Rican capital in just one day. Admire sculptures and paintings at the Museo de Arte Costarricense, take in landmarks such as the Metropolitan Cathedral and historic Barrio Amon while exploring the city on foot, watch the sunset from a panoramic viewpoint, and dig into an included dinner—with all transportation included.

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.

It is a tour where you will see all the traditions that our grandparents lived in their towns and dances and the food that is a delight for all people and everything with the flavor of our Grandparents And the most important thing is to see our Capital at night in the distance and then return to our hotels, it is an experience of knowing our customs of our ancestors.

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.

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.