San Jose Sightseeing City Tour
Badge of Excellence
San Jose, Costa Rica
- 4 to 5 hours (approx.)
- Pickup offered
- Group discounts
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Explore San Jose on this guided half-day sightseeing tour. Great for first-time visitors to the city, the tour includes stops at historic and cultural sites such as the Costa Rican Art Museum in La Sabana, the city center, the National Theater, the University of Costa Rica, and the arts and crafts market. Plus, enjoy lunch at a local Costa Rican restaurant.
- See the city from the comfort of an air-conditioned vehicle
- Choose between a morning and afternoon departure time
- The tour allows time for souvenir shopping
- Hotel pickup and drop-off is included
What's Included
- All taxes, fees and handling charges
- Bottled water
- Lunch
- Driver/guide
- Professional guide
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Gratuities
Meeting and Pickup
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
Pickup details
We will pick up all travellers at the different Hotels, Hostels, guesthouses, B&B, Residential areas , central park of each city (San Jose- Alajuela and Heredia)
Itinerary
1
San Jose
4 hours • Admission Ticket Free
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Wheelchair accessible
- Stroller accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Near public transportation
- Infants must sit on laps
- Infant seats available
- Transportation is wheelchair accessible
- Surfaces are wheelchair accessible
- Most travelers can participate
- Dress code is smart casual
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 35 travelers
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Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Reviews
4.3
based on 61 reviews
Sort by: Most insightful
Kay_W, Jun 2026
Ricardo was a great guide. Loved being picked up at our hotel! We were driven all around San Jose including the art museum, parks, and Steven’s restaurant for local cuisine. He told us a lot about the history of the country and SJ. I would recommend this tour for length and convenience. I didn’t see the need for the jewelry factory stop.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you very much for taking the time to share your feedback with us.
We are thrilled to hear that you enjoyed the convenience of the hotel pickup, the historical and cultural highlights of San José, and Ricardo's excellent guidance.
We appreciate your honest feedback regarding the stop at the jewelry factory. Our goal is to provide a well-balanced and high value itinerary, so we will look into this specific stop to ensure that every part of the tour enhances our guests' experience.
We hope to have the pleasure of welcoming you back in the future...
PURA VIDA ! 🌿
Agathe_E, Mar 2026
Lots of traffic in the morning if you’re getting picked up from outside the city, but it’s definitely worth the trip! Our guide Edgardo is very knowledgeable about everything from the food, the economy and politics, and much more. We were a small group of four and he was able to explain everything both in English and Spanish. We stopped at a secret art/jewelry shop that had plenty of local stones, diamonds, paintings, wood sculptures, magnets, cups, and local coffee and liquor tasting. We went to the previous airport terminal located in downtown which is now turned into a museum and the airfield is now a green open space. We also stopped at local and national places and lastly we stopped for lunch at Steven’s which had multiple types of meat with three side options plus a salad and a drink of local juice. Overall, great small private tour with minimal walking around the city!
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Thank you so much for your wonderful and detailed review!
We are thrilled to hear that Edgardo’s extensive knowledge and bilingual skills made your city tour such an enriching experience.
It’s great to know you enjoyed the 'hidden gems' we visited, from the art shop to the history of the old airport terminal.
We take pride in offering comfortable, small group experiences with high quality local gastronomy like the lunch you had at Steven's.
We truly appreciate your recommendation and hope to welcome you back to Costa Rica soon!
Debbie_B, Mar 2026
It is a great way to see a bit of downtown San Jose in a quick visit and it doesn’t require a lot of walking.
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Thank you for sharing your experience!
We're glad you enjoyed our efficient way to explore the heart of San José.
It's the perfect option for those who want to see the city's highlights comfortably and quickly.
We hope you had a wonderful stay in Costa Rica!
Haidon_S, Mar 2026
An enjoyable tour with a knowledgeable guide. The only comment is that the meeting time was at 2:50pm, not 2pm as indicated in the registration.
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Thank you for your feedback!
We’re thrilled you enjoyed the tour and our guide's expertise.
We sincerely apologize for the confusion regarding the start time and will correct our registration details immediately to ensure this doesn't happen again.
We hope to see you again soon!
Debra_H, Feb 2026
We had a lovely time with our tour guide Arturo. We had a nice overview of San Jose and our lunch was excellent!
Response from Host, Feb 2026
Thank you very much for your kind review!
We’re delighted to hear that you had a lovely time with Arturo and that you enjoyed the overview of San José.
We’re also happy to know that the lunch met your expectations.
We truly appreciate your feedback and hope to welcome you again soon!
Jennie_S, Jan 2026
Avoid booking this tour! Did not receive services advertised. We were picked up an hour and a half late due to mechanical issues on the bus. First of all, they said it was going be a minivan and it was a double-decker bus with multiple tour groups from different companies. Did not visit sites promised. Only had 15 minutes to shop at the market and only allowed to shop at two shops owned by the tour company. We felt rushed the entire time with inadequate time at the places we did visit. The best part of the tour was our tour guide Hector who was very knowledgeable. This tour was not worth the money nor did we receive Services promised. Refunds would be considered appropriate.
Response from Host, Jan 2026
Thank you for taking the time to share your experience.
We understand your frustration regarding the missed sites and the limited time at the market, and we regret that the experience felt rushed.
Your feedback is very important to us and will be shared with our operations team to help prevent similar situations in the future.
We are glad to hear that Héctor made a positive impression, and we will be sure to recognize him for his professionalism and knowledge.
We truly appreciate your feedback
David_C, Jan 2026
It’s a great way to see the city and our guide was great.
It’s not a private tour so expect to share the van with others
Response from Host, Jan 2026
Thank you for your review!
We’re glad you enjoyed seeing the city and that you had a great experience with our guide.
As you mentioned, this is a shared tour, which allows travelers to meet others while enjoying the experience.
We appreciate your feedback and hope to see you again!
monique_t, Dec 2025
The food was great. I loved the entire experience. The tour guider he was respectful and taught me a lot about Costa Rica culture
Response from Host, Dec 2025
Thank you very much for your kind words!
We’re delighted to know you enjoyed the food and the entire experience, and that our guide was respectful and shared valuable insights about Costa Rican culture.
It was a pleasure having you with us, and we hope to welcome you again in the future.
Pura Vida! 🌿
Hugo_S, Dec 2025
Great guide, Edgardo. Too much traffic during the journey although we finished it almost on time. I evicted more options for lunch time.
Response from Host, Dec 2025
Thank you very much for sharing your experience. We are pleased to know that you enjoyed the tour with our guide Edgardo. We sincerely appreciate your feedback regarding the traffic conditions and the lunch options. Your comments help us improve our services.
We hope to have the pleasure of serving you again in the future.
Janice_J, Dec 2025
The city tour is advertised as a 4 hour city tour on a small van starting at 12:30 and ending around 5:00 However, the tour operator said he would pick us up at 2:00 so we waited and he picked us up at 2:30. We then drove around picking up other guests and arrived at a large tour bus to start the actual tour. We found out the tour would last until 8:00pm which was not compatible with our schedule as we had an event early that evening. Luckily the small tour bus driver agree to take us back to our hotel. I feel the tour is misrepresented in the Viator website and would like a full refund. We've done many Viators all around the world and have always been very pleased. Thank you. Janice Johnson
Response from Host, Dec 2025
Thank you very much for sharing your experience, and we sincerely apologize for the inconvenience caused during your city tour.
The schedule change and lack of clear communication are not consistent with the service standards we strive to provide.
We completely understand your frustration, especially since the tour did not match the itinerary you expected. We will review this internally with our operations team to ensure it does not happen again.
Thank you again for bringing this to our attention, and we hope to have the opportunity to offer you a better experience in the future.
Sajeeva_R, Nov 2025
We had a good and friendly guide. However this itinerary doesn’t really go into any of the major monuments. It’s more of a quick drive by. Also there was a stop at a jewelry store for about an hour which was an excessive timeframe for those of us who did not want to shop. Our fellow travelers were offered shots of liquor which we believe was to encourage them to stay and shop. On the positive side we did hear and learn about the history and culture while in the van
Response from Host, Nov 2025
Thank you very much for sharing your experience with us. ]
We’re glad to hear that you enjoyed the company of a friendly and knowledgeable guide, as well as the historical and cultural information shared during the ride.
Your feedback is extremely valuable, as it helps us adjust the experience to better meet our travelers’ expectations.
We truly appreciate your comments and will carefully review these details to improve future tours.
Thank you again for taking the time to let us know about your experience.
Chris_W, Nov 2025
Harlen was a fantastic guide who took time in explaining the history and culture of San Jose and Costa Rica. His knowledge and passion was evident and I appreciate him for sharing with me.
Response from Host, Nov 2025
Thank you so much for your wonderful feedback!
We’re delighted to hear that Harlen made your experience meaningful by sharing his knowledge, passion, and cultural insights about San José and Costa Rica.
We truly appreciate you taking the time to share your review, and we hope to welcome you again for more memorable experiences.
YESENIA_S, Aug 2025
Ricardo and Christian were very delightful... Ricardo knew alot of history and showed us around San Jose... the lunch they gave us was very tasty and I would recommend this tour if you would like some history of San jose
Response from Host, Sep 2025
Thank you so much for your kind words! We're glad you enjoyed the tour and that Ricardo and Christian made your experience memorable.
It's great to hear that you liked the lunch and the historical insights. We appreciate your recommendation and hope to see you again soon!
Beverly_D, May 2025
We recommend that you don't go to downtown San Jose on a holiday. The traffic was horrendous, therefore we were not able to get to see some of the sites.
Response from Host, Jun 2025
Thank you for your recommendation. We're sorry the traffic impacted your experience. The number of cars these days is uncontrollable worldwide. We hope next time you have the chance to enjoy downtown San Jose more comfortably.
Susan_G, May 2025
Ronnie our tour guide and driver did an awesome job. He was very polite and so knowledgeable about the history and culture of Costa Rica. He wanted us to have a good time. We had lunch at a very nice place. Dining with him was like being with an old friend not someone we just met. He took us to a unique place to shop. Overall...excellent way to start our trip!
Response from Host, Jun 2025
Thank you so much for sharing your experience! We're happy to hear that Ronnie did an awesome job as your guide and driver, and that you felt comfortable and well cared for during the tour. It’s great that you enjoyed the lunch and the visit to a unique shopping spot. We hope the rest of your trip is just as memorable and that you come back soon.
Jeffrey_S, Apr 2025
Jerry was an excellent tour guide. He explained a lot but he also listened to us and let us spend more time in the parts that interested us the most.
Response from Host, Jul 2025
Thank you very much for your kind words about Jerry. We’re glad to hear that his attentiveness and flexibility made the tour even more special for you. We hope to have the opportunity to welcome you again soon.
Santos_R, Apr 2025
Turned into a private tour, which was great, the tour guide was wonderful. He added a tour of a jewelry factory
Response from Host, Jul 2025
We're so glad to hear you enjoyed your private tour and that the guide made it extra special by adding the jewelry factory visit. Thank you for sharing your experience!
Karen_L, Apr 2025
Wonderful tour, exploring all through San Jose. I definitely recommend it. Our tour guide was friendly and knowledgeable, and even stopped when we saw a roadside stand of fresh fruits that we wanted to taste tour company was very professional.
Response from Host, Jul 2025
Thank you so much for your kind review! We're glad you enjoyed exploring San José and appreciated the extra touches like the fruit stop. It’s great to hear that your guide and our team made the experience special. We hope to welcome you again soon!
Kerry_L, Mar 2025
This tour is great for those that want a "windshield tour" of San Jose. Was disappointed that we weren't able to go into the Museo Nacional de Costa Rica. Did enjoy the local dinner.
Response from Host, Jul 2025
Thank you for your feedback! We’re glad you enjoyed the local dinner and the panoramic tour of San José. We’re sorry you couldn’t visit the Museo Nacional this time and appreciate your understanding. We hope to offer you a full experience next time!
Craig_P, Jan 2025
Great baseline of culture, history, and governance. Ronnie was a great ambassador for Costa Rica and it was a pleasure getting to know the country and him a bit better.
Response from Host, Jul 2025
Thank you for your thoughtful comment! We’re happy to hear that Ronnie gave you a meaningful introduction to Costa Rica’s culture, history, and governance.
It’s wonderful that you felt a connection both with the country and your guide.
We hope to welcome you back soon!
migreen1213, Jan 2025
Had a great day with Ricardo. He was very informative and showed us many interesting sights around the City.
Response from Host, Jan 2025
Thank you for your comments, we are glad to know that the service and the excursion were to your satisfaction. Thank you for allowing us to serve you.
Kathryn_C, Dec 2024
Except for the traffic issue, we enjoyably visited the places one could not see on the walking tour.
Response from Host, Jan 2025
Thank you for your comments, we are glad to know that the service and the excursion were to your satisfaction. Thank you for allowing us to serve you.
James_U, Nov 2024
We had a really great time with Oscar. He was very knowledgeable and did a great job customizing our experience!
Response from Host, Nov 2024
Hello James, we are happy to know Oscar did a great job and that you enjoyed the excursion.
Thank you
Burjis_G, Nov 2024
Great overview of the city with short stops at important sites like the pre-Colombian period spheres and the national theatre. Good opportunities for shopping and eating on the way.
Response from Host, Nov 2024
Thank you for your comments, we are glad to know that the service and the excursion were to your satisfaction. Thank you for allowing us to serve you.
reginald_j, Sep 2024
I enjoyed the whole tour and from beginning to end I learned somethings about gold that I didn't know about
Linda_M, Jun 2024
First of all, Oscar was an amazing tour guide. He showed me around all of San Jose and stop for me to take pictures. He took me from north to south, and from east to west. There was no stone unturned in San Jose Thad we didn’t see. We ate a an authentic Costa Rica restaurant, where I was able to eat a delicious Costa Rica meal. Overall, the tour was worth it, because Oscar really knew his history. You saw the richness of the city from a proud native.
Kathy_V, May 2024
Jerry was an excellent guide. The restaurant did not have an English menu or a person to translate so we had no idea what we we getting. It was excellent coffee that was made special and the food was great but was a surprise. The last stop was a shopping store with jewelry and art which we were not interested in. Otherwise it was a great way to start our stay here to get to know the city.
PATRICIA_B, Apr 2024
This was a small group, which was great. However, all we really did was ride around the city. Even the one "museum" that we stopped at was really just a place to buy high end souvenirs/art/jewelry. Lunch was really good though.
Response from Host, May 2024
Thanks for sharing your impressions. Your comments greatly help us to improve any detail that helps provide better service to our customers.
Cheryl_F, Mar 2024
Oscar was great. We did the evening tour and saw a lot of the city. We went during Easter weekend so a number of stores and businesses were closed. Oscar did a good job of showing us things and explaining some history behind some locations. Good dinner and nice kick off tour to our stay in Costa Rica.
Response from Host, May 2024
Thank you for your comments, we are glad to know that the service and the excursion were to your satisfaction. Thank you for allowing us to serve you.
David_B, Mar 2024
Our guide, Oscar, knew everything about San Jose and Costa Rica’s history and after 5 hours and 200 photos ( and a fabulous local lunch), we fell in love with the city and everyone who lives here, ❤️
Response from Host, May 2024
Thank you for your comments, we are glad to know that the service and the excursion were to your satisfaction. Thank you for allowing us to serve you.
From $95.00
per personup to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
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