San Jose: Bites and Sights Walking Food Tour including Markets
Recommended by 97% of travelers
San Jose, Costa Rica
- 3 hours 30 minutes (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Sample a wide variety of Costa Rican flavors while learning about the country's cultural heritage on this San Jose walking tour. You'll shop for fruits and veggies at the Mercado Central and Mercado Borbón, visit the National Theater and Morazan Park, and try local treats including a hands-on cooking class with artisanal chocolate empanadas and specialty coffee at Mr. Sloth Coffee Shop.
- Explore San Jose on foot with a local guide
- Enjoy personalized attention in a small group
- Food and beverages are included in the price
- Sample traditional Costa Rican dishes like tamales and empanadas
What's Included
- Learn to prepare Café Chorreado with award-winning vandola coffee, and Agua de Sapo infused .
- Savor Costa Rican-style tamales, wrapped in banana leaves, crafted by local families
- Plantain empanadas classes with sugar cane and cheese are delicious and unique treat
- Try fresh, seasonal fruits at the Borbón Market.
- Indulge the traditional picadillo, Green banana or pejibaye
- Enjoy local ice cream at the Central Market from a shop over 100 years old.
- The tour is capped at 12 people for a personalized small-group experience.
- Transportation: if you need to quote transportation service, write to us.
- Alcoholic Beverages
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- Los PresentesC. 4, San José, Paso De La Vaca, Costa Rica
Between Avenue one and Central Avenue on street 4, we have the Central Bank of Costa Rica, in front of the main entrance we have a Monument with several small green people, this monument is known as the Monument de los Presentes, there is where the we will be waiting to start the tour.
End point
- Mr. Sloth Coffee ShopUrban Tours, C. 5, San José, El Carmen, 10101, Costa Rica
The tour ends at Mr Sloth Coffee Shop, a very special cafeteria of fine coffees and chocolates, where we will taste coffee food and cook dessert.
Itinerary
1
Los Presentes
10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
2
Mercado Borbón
45 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
3
Central Market (Mercado Central)
1 hour • Admission Ticket Free
4
Metropolitan Cathedral of St. Joseph of Costa Rica
10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
5
Teatro Nacional Costa Rica
10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
6
Mr. Sloth Coffee Shop
45 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
7
Morazan Park
10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Near public transportation
- Infants must sit on laps
- Most travelers can participate
- Safety Tips, San Jose is a big city like any other, it is a preventive measure to dont wear flashy jewelry.
- Dont eat before the tour.
- The groups are 12 people with a guide.
- We can accommodate vegetarians and other dietary restrictions. Please notify us in advance if you have any dietary requests.
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 30 travelers
Supplied by
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Reviews
4.8
based on 1,899 reviews
Sort by: Most insightful
Dilip_R, Jul 2026
Nice tour across San Jose markets and historic areas. Guides were really good. Fruits and ice cream at the market was delicious. Food at the end was very good.
One suggestion would be to spread out the food a little bit more. I was disappointed there were no food samplings from the small sodas in the market. Went back and sampled some
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Thank you for sharing your review! We're glad you enjoyed the fruits, ice cream, and the food at the end of the journey.
To provide some context on the food layout: the small sodas inside the market are quite compact and best suited for solo travelers or couples, making it logistically impossible to host tour groups there without causing a bottleneck. This is why our tour is intentionally designed as an introductory guide. We introduce you to the local culinary scene and then treat you to authentic, home-cooked traditional meals at our private space that are usually only prepared in Costa Rican homes. We love that our tour gave you the baseline knowledge to confidently go back and sample the market sodas on your own! Have an amazing journey ahead and Pura vida!"
Gina_G, Jul 2026
Great walking tour to experience, the culture, food, history, and people of Costa Rica. Marcello was an excellent guide.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Thank you so much for this wonderful review! We are absolutely thrilled to hear that our walking tour gave you such a complete experience connecting with the culture, food, history, and beautiful people of Costa Rica.
Marcelo is an outstanding guide who puts his whole heart into every tour, and he will be incredibly proud to read your kind words about his hospitality. Showcasing the true essence of our capital through these elements is exactly what we love to do at San José Urban Tours. Thank you for your support, safe travels on your next adventures, and Pura vida!"
Kaye_C, Jul 2026
We had a fantastic time with Marcelo on this tour. Tried several exotic (to me!) fruits at the farmers market and he was so informative about origins and history. The walking portion past several National monuments was interesting. We ended at Mr Sloth with local dishes and coffee. Exceeded my expectations. A great way to spend the morning.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
What a fantastic feedback! Thank you for taking the time to share your experience with the traveler community. Marcelo sends his warmest thanks for your kind words about his guiding style and historical insights.
We are delighted to know that discovering our exotic fruits, walking past the national monuments, and enjoying lunch and coffee at Mr. Sloth exceeded your expectations. It was an absolute pleasure hosting you for the perfect morning in San José. Have an amazing journey exploring the rest of Costa Rica, and Pura vida!"
Knight63, Jul 2026
Lots of walking. Guide was very informative and helpful. It was interesting to see downtown Costa Rica city of San Juan.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Thank you so much for sharing your review! We are delighted to hear that you found our guide informative and helpful, and that you enjoyed discovering the interesting side of downtown San José.
You are absolutely right—our experience involves a good amount of walking! We intentionally design it this way because going on foot is the absolute best and only way to truly feel the pulse of the city, explore the vibrant inner aisles of the local markets, and see the historic details that you would completely miss from a tour bus window. We appreciate you choosing San José Urban Tours, wish you an incredible journey ahead, and Pura vida!"
Matthew_T, Jul 2026
This was a great value tour that combined cultural and historical knowledge, sightseeing and local cuisine. Angel was friendly and knowledgeable.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Thank you so much for this wonderful review! We are absolutely thrilled to hear that you found our experience to be a great value and that you enjoyed the seamless combination of history, culture, sightseeing, and local cuisine.
Angel is a phenomenal asset to our team, and he will be incredibly happy to read your kind words about his friendliness and deep knowledge. Our main goal at San José Urban Tours is to give you a complete, high-quality introduction to our capital without missing a single detail. Thank you for your support, safe travels on your next adventures, and Pura vida!"
Ronald_S, Jul 2026
It’s a very insightful tour from seeing how everyday locals go about their day to day lives. Seeing the markets, cathedral and theatre are very nice. Also learning about the fruits and coffee. 👍🏾
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Thank you so much for this wonderful review! We are absolutely delighted to hear that our tour gave you such an insightful look into the authentic, day-to-day lives of the locals here in San José.
Combining the vibrant energy of our local markets with historical treasures like the Cathedral and the National Theater is exactly how we love to showcase the true soul of our capital. We are also thrilled that you enjoyed diving into the rich world of Costa Rican tropical fruits and our professional coffee traditions. Thank you for your support, safe travels on your next adventures, and Pura vida!"
Veronica_R, Jul 2026
What a fantastic way to start our Costa Rica vacation! This was a nice and entertaining opportunity to see main sites and a have a taste of great bites. Marcelo - Chelo was an amazing tour guide, very good explanations, great costumer service, and such a pleasant personality! We never felt rushed. I highly recommend this experience!
Response from Host, Jul 2026
What a fantastic way to start our Costa Rica vacation! This was a nice and entertaining opportunity to see main sites and a have a taste of great bites. Marcelo - Chelo was an amazing tour guide, very good explanations, great costumer service, and such a pleasant personality! We never felt rushed. I highly recommend this experience!
Leslie_H, Jun 2026
Very fun and yummy! Angel was a great tour guide. I’ve never tried so many different kinds of fruits. The ice cream, empanadas and coffee were delish!
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Thank you so much for this fun and 'yummy' review! We are absolutely thrilled to hear that you had such a great time exploring San José with Angel. He loves sharing his passion for our culture and local flavors.
Discovering our wide variety of exotic tropical fruits is always a major highlight of the tour, and we are so glad we could introduce you to so many new flavors you've never tried before! Hearing that the traditional market ice cream, your hands-on empanadas, and our signature coffee hit the spot is the best reward for our local team. Thank you for choosing San José Urban Tours, safe travels, and Pura vida!"
Kenneth_B, Jun 2026
Walking tour. Crowded streets of San José. IQw enjoyed the local markets. Good history/food info. I recommend...
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you so much for this great recommendation! We are thrilled to hear that you enjoyed our walking tour and had a wonderful time exploring our local markets.
San José is a vibrant city, and navigating its lively, bustling streets with a local guide is the absolute best way to experience its true energy safely. We are so glad our mix of rich history and delicious food insights hit the perfect mark for you. Thank you for recommending us to the traveler community, safe travels on your next adventures, and Pura vida!"
Kathleen_K, Jun 2026
Wear comfortable shoes since you are literally walking or standing for almost the entire tour.
Our tour guide Angel was excellent-he was upbeat, friendly, inclusive & had a positive vibe & energy about him. He is very proud of his country & was happy to share its history as well as answer questions. His biggest flex in my opinion was his hand hygiene-especially important because he was cutting up & serving all of the delicious fruits to us. I told him I was going to specifically mention that because of my healthcare background & we all talked about it-so A+ to Angel!!
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you so much for this absolutely stellar review and the A+ for Angel! We are thrilled to hear that his upbeat, friendly, and inclusive energy made such a positive impact on your day in San José. He is deeply proud of Costa Rica, and it shows in every story he shares.
As for his 'biggest flex'—we love that you noticed and mentioned his hand hygiene! Coming from a healthcare professional, that is the ultimate compliment. Food safety and pristine handling, especially when cutting up our delicious local fruits, is something we take very seriously, and we are so proud of Angel for setting the gold standard. Thank you also for the excellent tip about wearing comfortable shoes; our immersive walking tour keeps everyone on their toes! Safe travels and Pura vida!"
Carol_U, Jun 2026
Interesting market experience and tour! Best was making the empanadas and having coffee! Deno was a great guide!
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you so much for this wonderful review! We are thrilled to hear that you enjoyed our unique market experience and our cultural journey around the city.
You highlighted our absolute favorite part: rolling up your sleeves to press your own empanadas and pairing them with our rich, local coffee! It’s the perfect way to taste the true flavor of Costa Rica. Deno (Dinora) is an amazing guide, and she will be overjoyed to hear that her passion made your day. Thank you for choosing San José Urban Tours, safe travels, and Pura vida!"
Paul_Q, Jun 2026
The tour meets at a good central location. We had 11 people and Marcello, our guide, had a portable mic to overcome noisy streets and markets. He is enthusiastic and sensitive to individual's needs with regard to food (no pork, veteranian, etc.). The trip through the markets is quick, but it is a great introduction that is helpful if you can return. He is very knowledgeable about the local fruits and vegetables. The fruit tasting and the empanada/coffee demos are the highlight. I recommend this 2 1/2-hour tour and Marcello in particular.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you so much for this wonderful and detailed review! We are thrilled to hear that you enjoyed our central meeting point and that the fruit tasting and empanada/coffee demonstrations were the highlights of your day.
Marcello (Chello) is an outstanding guide, and we are so glad you highlighted his enthusiasm and his dedication to accommodating everyone's dietary needs seamlessly. We also appreciate you mentioning the portable microphone; downtown San José and our vibrant markets can get beautifully loud and lively, so we want to ensure every single guest hears our stories clearly without straining.
While our market walkthrough is designed to be a dynamic introduction to keep the 2.5-hour pace engaging, we love that it inspired you to return and explore further on your own. Thank you for highly recommending Marcello and our tour. Pura vida!"
Karline_S, Jun 2026
This was a nice tour to see more of San Jose and try some of the local foods and produce. Dinora was a great tour guide and would recommend this tour if you’re ever in San Jose.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you so much for this wonderful review! We are absolutely delighted to hear that our experience gave you a great overview of San José and allowed you to discover our amazing local foods and fresh produce.
Dinora is an exceptional guide, and she loves sharing the vibrant flavors and history of our city with so much passion. We will gladly pass your kind words along to her—she will be thrilled! Thank you for your high recommendation to anyone visiting San José. Safe travels on your future adventures, and Pura vida!"
Lucy_f, Jun 2026
Really enjoyed our experience. All the food was amazing and we got to try things we never would have found on our own. Dino our guide was excellent, she was so patient and fun and it was lovely to see San Jose through her eyes.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you so much for such a wonderful review! We are absolutely thrilled to hear that you enjoyed the flavors of San José and discovered those hidden culinary gems with us. Dino is indeed an amazing guide, and she was so happy to hear your kind words—she loves showing the authentic side of our city through a local's eyes. We hope the rest of your time in Costa Rica is unforgettable. Pura vida!"
KaJa_J, Jun 2026
10/10 tour of Downtown San José!!! Our guide Óscar was incredibly kind and knowledgeable about CR history and culture, and was happy to answer the many questions our group had (lol). I booked this excursion last minute because my flight got significantly delayed and I'm so so glad I did. We also got to eat a delicious traditional Costa Rican dinner and even made our own empanadas! I did go by myself, but ended up meeting the kindest family from my home state and we even went bowling together after! Overall, just a beautiful, unforgettable, and affordable experience. Even if you just have a long layover, it's not too far from the airport, so definitely reccomend to anyone staying for more than a few hrs in San José! My only disclaimer would be that, if you're planning to shop at the central markets, you should book a tour that ends before 5pm when they start to close or plan to shop before your tour begins. Also, come with an empty stomach because there's plenty of food for you here!!!
Response from Host, Jun 2026
"Thank you so much for this incredible 10/10 review! We are absolutely thrilled that we could turn a stressful flight delay into an unforgettable night in San José!
Óscar is going to be over the moon when he reads your comments. He truly loves sharing Costa Rican history and culture, and he always welcomes a group with lots of curiosity and questions!
We are so glad you got to experience our evening vibes—from the bustling markets before they wound down, to rolling up your sleeves for the hands-on empanada workshop and enjoying a hearty traditional dinner at our private space inside Mr Sloth Coffee Shop. Coming with an empty stomach is definitely the number one rule around here!
It’s also beautiful to hear how our tour brought people together. Traveling solo can be an adventure in itself, but finding a family from your home state and ending the night bowling together is just pure magic.
Thank you for highly recommending us to anyone with a long layover or a first night in Chepe, and thank you for the excellent tip about the market closing times! Safe travels on all your future adventures, and remember you always have a home here in San José.
Pura vida!
Karen_R, Jun 2026
We arrived in front of the bank where the little green men were. We never saw the tour guide. I asked the guards at the bank if they had seen a tour guide. I asked people hanging out if they’d seen a tour guide. Nobody saw a tour guide or a group.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Hello, we are very sorry to read about this confusion, but we would like to clarify the situation, as our guides are always at the meeting point early and ready for our guests.
Because travelers often juggle busy itineraries, it is actually quite common for guests to accidentally mix up the date, time, or even the month of their reservation. To prevent this, our team has a strict and proactive communication protocol: we always reach out to our guests in advance via email, WhatsApp, and phone calls to coordinate and confirm all details.
We have checked our records, and unfortunately, we did not receive any call, WhatsApp message, or email from you on that day indicating you were at the meeting point or having trouble finding the guide. We are always highly responsive, and a quick message or call to any of our direct contact numbers would have allowed us to immediately check your booking and assist you.
We highly recommend double-checking the exact date and time on your original booking confirmation. Please feel free to contact us directly through the channels provided in your ticket so we can review your specific reservation and clear up this confusion.
Best regards,
Eric & the San José Urban Tours Team"
Daniel_H, Jun 2026
It was extraordinary. The tour guide knew what he was doing. Very friendly and approachable. It was worth the money and loved it!
Response from Host, Jun 2026
"Thank you so much for the extraordinary review! Hearing that your experience was worth every penny and that you absolutely loved it means the world to our entire team.
We take great pride in working with guides who are not only highly knowledgeable experts on San José's history and culture, but also warm, friendly, and approachable. Making you feel right at home while exploring the market and hanging out at our private workshop at Mr Sloth is exactly what we aim for!
Thank you for choosing San José Urban Tours to kick off your time in Costa Rica. We wish you safe and amazing adventures on all your future travels!
Pura vida!
— Eric & the San José Urban Tours Team"
Deborah_S, Jun 2026
Good overview of San Jose and yummy tastings at the beginning and end. Marcello was informative and upbeat and kept us on track
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you so much for sharing your experience with us!
We are incredibly proud to have Marcelo on our team, and we will definitely pass your wonderful words along to him. He loves keeping the energy high, sharing the vibrant history of our city, and making sure everyone has a fantastic (and perfectly timed!) experience from start to finish.
We are also thrilled that you loved the flow of our tastings! Designing the tour to feature delicious bites at both the beginning and the end—especially wrapping things up for our final workshop and coffee tasting inside our private space at **Mr Sloth Coffee Shop**—is our favorite way to make sure our guests get a true, comforting taste of Costa Rican hospitality.
Thank you for choosing to explore San José with us, and we wish you nothing but safe and wonderful adventures on all your future travels!
Pura vida!
— Eric & the San José Urban Tours Team
Whitney_A, Jun 2026
I loved this whole experience. It wasn’t so long you get super tired and so short you feel like you saw nothing. The guides are super knowledgeable and the food was sooooo unexpectedly good.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you so much for the incredible review!
We always say that finding that "Goldilocks" sweet spot for a tour's length is an art form—we want you to experience the absolute best of San José's culture and history without needing a massive nap right afterward!
Our guides pour their hearts into sharing the deep roots of Chepe, so we are thrilled to hear their passion and insights hit the mark. And as for the food being *“sooooo unexpectedly good”*—that is music to our ears! We take massive pride in stepping away from the predictable tourist spots to serve authentic, high-quality local flavors fresh from our market spot and private workshop at Mr Sloth Coffee Shop.
Thank you for trusting us with your time in Costa Rica. We wish you safe, exciting, and delicious future travels wherever the road takes you next.
Pura vida!
— Eric & the San José Urban Tours Team
Susan_G, Jun 2026
Its a little of walking, which is fascinating -- Sights & sounds. Loved the central market and all the smells and noise and products. Lived learning to make empanadas. Loved walking with the crowds of people.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you so much for sharing your wonderful experience! We absolutely love how you described the energy of our tour—San José is a city full of vibrant sights, sounds, and life, and walking right through the heart of the crowds is the best way to truly feel it.
The Central Market is a sensory wonderland, and we are thrilled that you enjoyed diving into its unique smells, noise, and local products. Also, a huge thumbs up for mastering the empanada-making class! It’s always one of our favorite ways to connect our guests with true Costa Rican flavors.
Thank you for choosing us to explore Chepe. We wish you safe and amazing travels on all your next adventures. Pura vida! — Eric, Founder"
Grace_L, Jun 2026
This tour makes for a great first day activity! The food and drinks were delicious and our tour guide was so sweet.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you so much for the wonderful review! We are absolutely thrilled that you had such a great time with us.
### 🗺️ The Perfect First Day Activity
You hit the nail on the head! We always say that booking this tour for your **first day** is the absolute best way to kick off a trip. It gives you a perfect layout of the city, a crash course in our vibrant history, and plenty of inspiration for the rest of your time in Costa Rica.
### 🍹 Delicious Flavors & A Sweet Guide
We are so glad you loved the traditional food and drinks! Sampling those authentic local flavors is the ultimate way to connect with our culture. We will also be sure to pass your lovely compliments along to your tour guide—she will be absolutely delighted to hear that her sweet and welcoming energy made your day so special!
Thank you again for choosing us to start your Costa Rican adventure. Enjoy the rest of your journey!
**Pura Vida!**
Emily_W, Jun 2026
This was an awesome tour! Angel was great and really informative and was an excellent guide. We really enjoyed trying so many different foods and even getting the chance to make our own empanadas.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you so much for the awesome review! We are absolutely thrilled to hear that you had such a fantastic time exploring with us.
### 🌟 Five-Star Guiding with Angel
**Angel** is going to be so happy to read your kind words! He loves sharing the deep history and vibrant culture of San José, and we are delighted to hear that his informative, excellent guiding made your experience so memorable.
---
### 🥟 Empanada Masters!
We are also glad you loved the culinary side of the adventure! Trying so many different local foods is always a highlight, but there is definitely something extra special about rolling up your sleeves and **getting to make your own traditional empanadas**. You can now officially take those Costa Rican cooking skills back home with you!
Thank you again for joining us, and we hope the rest of your travels are filled with even more delicious *Pura Vida* discoveries!
**Pura Vida!**
Steven_S, Jun 2026
Always a great experience! Our tour guide was amazing!
We got a lot of history and a lot of fun food facts, his experience was spot on
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you so much for the fantastic review! We are absolutely thrilled to hear that you had such a great time with us.
### 🌟 Spot-On Experience & Amazing Guiding
We will be sure to pass your wonderful compliments along to your guide! Our team works incredibly hard to bring the city to life, and hearing that his experience was **spot on** and that he made the day so amazing means the world to us.
### 📜 History Meets Fun Food Facts 🍍
We love that you enjoyed the balance of the tour! We always aim to blend deep, meaningful local history with **fun, surprising food facts** as we navigate the markets and streets. Getting to understand the culture through the context of what people eat is truly the best way to get to know the heartbeat of San José.
Thank you again for choosing to explore with us. We hope you have a wonderful rest of your journey!
**Pura Vida!**
Mark_G, Jun 2026
We had a wonderful tour and appreciated the effort put in to making it the best possible. The really fun part was the sampling of the fruits and tamales!
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you so much for this wonderful review! We truly appreciate you recognizing the heart and effort our team puts into making every single tour the absolute best experience possible.
The tropical fruit tasting and savoring authentic Costa Rican tamales are definitely huge highlights for us too! There is nothing quite like introducing our guests to those traditional, comforting flavors that define our culture.
Thank you again for choosing San Jose Urban Tours and for sharing your feedback with the travel community. We wish you amazing and safe travels on all your future adventures! Pura vida! — Eric, Founder"
Christa_D, Jun 2026
When I travel to other countries or even the US, I often look for food tours so I was excited to do one here in San Jose. And it did not disappoint! I loved seeing the chaos of the real markets and being able to taste some new kinds of fruit. The prepared food at the end was delicious and I am so glad I had the chance to try these authentic Costa Rican foods. Oscar was a wonderful guide weaving together information about the food, culture and history of his city. The final stop at Mr. Sloth Coffee was a perfect end of the tour. Thank for this wonderful experience!!
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you so much for this incredible and thoughtful review! Knowing that you frequently look for food tours around the world and in the US makes your high praise mean the absolute world to us. We are thrilled that San José stood out and delivered an unforgettable experience!
We love introducing our guests to the vibrant, authentic 'chaos' of our local markets and watching them discover new tropical fruits—it is the truest way to experience the pulse of our city. I’m so glad you enjoyed the authentic Costa Rican dishes at the end!
Oscar is a master at weaving history, culture, and gastronomy together, and I will surely pass your wonderful words along to him—he will be over the moon! We are also very proud of our partnership with Mr. Sloth Coffee, and we agree it is the absolute perfect spot to wrap up the journey with a world-class Costa Rican brew.
Thank you again for choosing San Jose Urban Tours and for sharing your journey with the travel community. We wish you many more amazing food adventures across the globe! Pura vida! — Eric, Founder"
Tamari_D, Jun 2026
Perfect introduction to San Jose! We tried different fruits, a lot of variation of plantain tortilla, and got to make our own empanadas. Our guide was amazing; I would highly recommend her! I would say in my personal opinion Costa Rican food is not the most special so the food part of the tour was fine, but it was a great way to see the city and I would definitely recommend!
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you so much for taking the time to share such a wonderful and detailed review! We are absolutely thrilled to hear that making your own empanadas, tasting our tropical fruits, and exploring the plantain tortilla variations gave you the perfect introduction to San José.
I will definitely pass your compliments along to your guide—she is truly passionate about showing the best of our city, and she will be happy to know she made your day so special!
We completely understand your perspective on Costa Rican cuisine! Traditional Tico food is deeply rooted in humble, farm-fresh ingredients and simple comfort flavors rather than intense spices. We actually love that contrast, as it serves as the perfect, authentic gateway to explore the history, culture, and vibrant life of the city streets, just as you mentioned.
Thank you again for highly recommending us and for choosing San Jose Urban Tours. We wish you incredible and safe adventures on the rest of your travels! Pura vida! — Eric, Founder"
Eleanor_B, Jun 2026
A wonderful experience! We walked the streets of San Jose and got a picture of what the city life is like. I like touring markets when I travel so I get to see their food and culture. The fresh fruits tasting was great. Fruits were fresh. I loved the sapote. We then walked to a coffee shop's second floor where we had a huge sample of their tamales...sooo good! And then we made empanadas for dessert...yum! Then they took us back downstairs to sample more coffee. It was such a wonderful experience that my family went back to the central market the next day to purchase more things.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you so much for sharing your wonderful experience! We are thrilled to hear that you and your family enjoyed walking the streets of San Jose and discovering our local food and culture. The Central Market is truly the beating heart of our city, and we are so glad you got to taste the sapote fruit—it’s a true tropical gem!
Our team takes great pride in designing these interactive moments, and we love that you enjoyed the traditional tamales on the coffee shop's second floor, followed by the hands-on empanada-making session for dessert and our world-class Costa Rican coffee. Hearing that your family felt confident enough to return to the Central Market the next day to explore and shop on your own is the ultimate compliment for San Jose Urban Tours!
Thank you for choosing us to be a part of your Costa Rican adventure. Safe travels! — Eric, Founder"
Teri_M, May 2026
Lot of walking in high humidity , bring water. Great trip and lots of local fruit and food. Our guide was great
Response from Host, May 2026
It is wonderful to hear that your guide did such a great job keeping the energy high and navigating the city avenues with you. We will be sure to pass your compliments along to the whole team!
Thank you again for joining us, and we hope the rest of your travels are full of wonderful Pura Vida memories!
Rachel_W, May 2026
Pros:
-Guides were on time and split us two groups (9 in ours, a few more in the other) which made it easier to get around together—more on this later
-We did this tour after a two week tour of the country, so I was afraid we might not taste anything new—but we did!
Cons:
-Even though we split up to move from place to place, we ended up having the tastings together and that took a long time. A lot of waiting for the other group.
-It felt like we rushed through the markets without much help for navigating either the markets nor the city.
Overall, maybe I expected too much (it WAS decent for the price), but I didn’t feel like it was special and wouldn’t likely recommend it.
Response from Host, May 2026
Thank you so much for taking the time to share such detailed and constructive feedback. We genuinely appreciate both your compliments and your honesty, as analyzing reviews like yours is exactly how we refine and improve our experience.
We are thrilled to hear that our guides were punctual and that, even after a two-week journey through Costa Rica, we were still able to surprise you with some new flavors and fruits you hadn't tasted before! That is always one of our favorite goals.
However, we also take your 'Cons' very seriously. Our intention in splitting the groups is to ensure an intimate and agile experience, and we are truly sorry that the logistics at the tasting stops caused unnecessary waiting time and made you feel rushed through the vibrant markets. We want our guests to feel guided and comfortable navigating the bustle, not overwhelmed. We are already sharing your comments with our operations team to better coordinate group pacing and ensure the market navigation feels seamless and educational, rather than rushed.
While we are glad you found the tour to be a decent value for the price, our ultimate goal is always to make it feel special. We are sorry we missed that mark for you, but we are incredibly grateful for your insights, which will help us elevate the experience for future travelers.
We wish you the very best on all your future adventures!
Pura Vida!
Kamelya_B, May 2026
It is a fantastic tour. Get to know the local shopping areas, local food. I learned a lot. Worth every penny. Try it!!!
Thank you to Dino and Eric, our guides. You were wonderful. The lunch was amazing, and the coffee as well😋😋😋
Response from Host, May 2026
Thank you so much for this glowing review! We are absolutely thrilled that you had such a fantastic time and found the tour to be worth every penny.
Dino and Eric are going to be over the moon when they read your kind words! They are a wonderful team and take immense pride in sharing the history, layout, and daily rhythm of our local shopping areas. We love hearing that their passion helped you learn so much about the heart of San José.
From $35.00
per personup to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
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Current
San Jose: Bites and Sights Walking Food Tour including Markets
1,899
3 hours 30 minutes
Free Cancellation
From
$35.00
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