Costa Rica Tours from San Jose
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10 best Costa Rica tour packages from San Jose
Compiled by
MelissaCosta Rica travel expert at TourRadar
- Costa Rica Highlights Adventure 8D/7N
- Costa Rica: Ocean Waves & Sunsets
- Essential Costa Rica - Package with Manuel Antonio National Park
- The Best of Costa Rica
- Volcanoes, Nature and Caribbean
- One Week of Bliss in Costa Rica, Small Group Tour
- The Best of Costa Rica, Self-Drive
- Arenal Volcano & Monteverde Cloud Forest Costa Rica, the perfect combination
- Essential Costa Rica - Package with Guanacaste, Self-drive
- Fantasy on Beaches and Volcanoes, Self-Drive
Costa Rica Highlights Adventure 8D/7N
8 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“We had an amazing time in Costa Rica discovering two very different national parks.”
Yvonne, traveled in July
A scenic route from San Jose leads to Tortuguero National Park via Guapiles, continuing to La Fortuna near Arenal Volcano, followed by Monteverde Cloud Forest. The 8-day circuit returns to San Jose, covering 350km through Costa Rica's varied terrain.
Duration 8 days Destinations San Jose, Monteverde, La Fortuna, Arenal Volcano National Park, Tortuguero National Park Age Range up to 99 year olds Operator Bamba Travel From
- NZ$3,611
Costa Rica: Ocean Waves & Sunsets
43 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“Costa Rica is absolutely stunning and we are so lucky to have had the most amazing CEO to guide us!”
Vienna, traveled in April
An 8-day Costa Rican circuit connects 3 major destinations from San Jose. Local bus transport reaches La Fortuna (3-5 hours), continuing to Santa Teresa via van and ferry. The route returns to San Jose by 8-hour local bus through volcanic and coastal regions.
Duration 8 days Destinations San Jose, La Fortuna, Playa Santa Teresa Age Range 18 to 39 year olds Operator G Adventures From $1,359
25% Off- NZ$1,019You save $340
Essential Costa Rica - Package with Manuel Antonio National Park
126 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“The tour was very well organized and provided an exciting experience.”
Martin, traveled in February
This 10-day Costa Rican adventure covers 740km from San Jose's capital. Boat rides through Tortuguero's canals, drives through Braulio Carrillo National Park's mountains, and a final transfer from Manuel Antonio back to San Jose showcase diverse landscapes and ecosystems.
Duration 10 days Destinations San Jose, Tortuguero National Park, Arenal Volcano National Park, Monteverde, Manuel Antonio National Park Age Range 10 to 99 year olds Operated in English, Spanish Operator Destination Services Costa Rica From $3,361
15% Off- NZ$2,857You save $504
The Best of Costa Rica
9 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“The friendly and professional service was the icing on the cake. Nice to stay two nights at each location.”
hans, traveled in February
This 10-day Costa Rican adventure spans 632km from San Jose. Modern shared transportation links five destinations, featuring a boat crossing at Lake Arenal and convenient airport transfers.
Duration 10 days Destinations San Jose, Tortuguero National Park, Arenal Volcano National Park, Monteverde, Tortuga Island Age Range up to 99 year olds Operated in English, Spanish Operator Destination Services Costa Rica From $2,885
10% Off- NZ$2,597You save $289
Volcanoes, Nature and Caribbean
6 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“We were extremely pleased with the TourRadar package we purchased to tour Costa Rica. We highly recommend this tour to anyone wanting to see that beautiful country.”
Stephen, traveled in October
A 9-day Costa Rican circuit covers 800km from San Jose's Juan Santamaria Airport. The itinerary includes Arenal Volcano National Park, Tortuguero National Park via Guapiles, and concludes with a return to San Jose from Puerto Viejo.
Duration 9 days Destinations San Jose, Arenal Volcano National Park, Guapiles, Tortuguero National Park, Puerto Viejo de Talamanca, Cahuita Age Range 10 to 99 year olds Operated in English, Spanish Operator Destination Services Costa Rica From $2,843
10% Off- NZ$2,559You save $284
Duration 8 days Destinations San Jose, Arenal, Monteverde, Puntarenas Age Range up to 99 year olds Operated in English, French, Spanish Operator Destination Services Costa Rica From $3,947
10% Off- NZ$3,552You save $395
The Best of Costa Rica, Self-Drive
3 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“It was Awesome Tour and tourradar support was available at any point of time with quick response.”
Deepak, traveled in January
A 10-day, 632km Costa Rican circuit from San Jose reaches Tortuguero National Park via Guápiles, Arenal Volcano region, and Monteverde Cloud Forest. Highlights include a catamaran trip to Tortuga Island and boat rides through Tortuguero's canals.
Duration 10 days Destinations San Jose, Tortuguero National Park, Arenal Volcano National Park, Monteverde, Tortuga Island Age Range up to 99 year olds Operated in English, Spanish Operator Destination Services Costa Rica From $2,872
10% Off- NZ$2,585You save $287
Arenal Volcano & Monteverde Cloud Forest Costa Rica, the perfect combination
12 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“Well organized and good response when needed a change in itinerary. I would especially like to commend on his friendly and professional organization.”
Wendy, traveled in November
This 5-day Costa Rican route covers 3 major destinations from San Jose. Shuttle transfers reach Arenal Volcano National Park, cross Arenal Lake by boat, and return to San Jose, with optional transfers to Manuel Antonio or Papagayo Gulf.
Duration 5 days Destinations San Jose, Arenal Volcano National Park, Monteverde Age Range up to 75 year olds Operated in English, Spanish Operator Green World Adventures From $1,958
15% Off- NZ$1,664You save $294
Essential Costa Rica - Package with Guanacaste, Self-drive
4 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“Great guides and we especially loved the boat ride out to Tortuguero.”
Ingrid, traveled in January
A 10-day, 915km Costa Rican adventure from San Jose's capital showcases diverse landscapes. Transport includes a 4-hour drive to Tortuguero, 5-hour journey to Arenal, and 4.5-hour return to San Jose, combining shuttle services and self-drive sections.
Duration 10 days Destinations San Jose, Tortuguero National Park, Guapiles, Arenal Volcano National Park, Santa Elena, Monteverde, Playa Tamarindo Age Range up to 99 year olds Operator Destination Services Costa Rica From $2,915
10% Off- NZ$2,624You save $292
The 646km Costa Rican circuit includes airport transfers from San Jose. A 4-hour drive takes you to Arenal Volcano National Park, followed by 4.5 hours to Playa Tamarindo, and 5 hours back to San Jose, staying at Sleep Inn Hotel and local 3-star accommodations.
Duration 7 days Destinations San Jose, Arenal Volcano National Park, Playa Tamarindo Age Range up to 99 year olds Operator Destination Services Costa Rica From $2,079
10% Off- NZ$1,871You save $208
What people love about Costa Rica Tours from San Jose
- Costa Rica Quest
Very nice tour, good amount of time in each place, lovely to visit Tortuguero as well which isn't included in most of the other ones. Really amazing experience there.
We had an amazing time in Costa Rica discovering two very different national parks (Monteverde - one out of 4 cloud forests in the world & Tortuguero - a real jungle experience). We loved the biodiversity in Tortuguero (we saw so many howler monkeys, spider monkeys, all different types of birds, a cayman, sea turtles laying their eggs, and even a dolphin). Our guides were fantastic. Especially Kevin in Tortuguero was very knowledgeable and entertaining. The tour had a good mix of freetime and guided tours. Moving from A to B worked perfectly fine except for the airport pick-up. The trip info is partially outdated. For example, there is no Grayline office at the airport anymore. Hopefully, Bamba is going to fix that. There are daily departures which means that you might end up on your own. In our case we met some other travelers on the shared shuttle buses and on the tours in Tortuguero but most of the time we were on our own. All in all, we enjoyed the trip a lot just that we would go for a better accommodation level.
Costa Rica Highlights Adventure 8D/7N
- Costa Rica: Ocean Waves & Sunsets
Overall the tour was great, it provide opportunity to explore costa rica in a short period of time. It would be more enjoying if private transportation was provided instead of public bus.
What our customers ask about Costa Rica Tours from San Jose
What accommodation options are available in San Jose for the first night?
San Jose's hotel scene spans three distinct tiers catering to different budgets and preferences. The Standard category includes the practical Sleep Inn Hotel. Moving up the comfort scale Superior options feature the Holiday Inn Escazu while the Deluxe tier presents the Real Intercontinental. Guest feedback reinforces the convenience factor with one TourRadar traveler noting: "The Sleep Inn Hotel was comfortable and conveniently located for tour departures."
What are the common pickup locations for tours starting in San Jose?
Tour operators in San Jose concentrate their pickups around three key points: Juan Santamaria International Airport the downtown hotel district (including Sleep Inn Hotel and Holiday Inn Express Forum) and the Escazu area where Park Inn by Radisson stands. According to a recent TourRadar traveler: "We were greeted at the airport by the representative and assisted with hotel transfer to Sleep Inn Hotel which was just 15 minutes from the airport."
What should I explore in my free time starting in San Jose?
San Jose's cultural heart reveals itself through several noteworthy spots. The bustling Mercado Central houses more than 200 local vendors while the Metropolitan Church stands as an architectural landmark. The Pre-Columbian Gold Museum offers historical context and Barrio Amón presents well-preserved colonial architecture. Both Country Inn & Suites and Park Inn provide easy access to these sites. A TourRadar traveler adds: "The central avenue is a place where you can interact with locals and learn about their way of living."
What's the average length of tours starting in San Jose Costa Rica?
Most San Jose-based tours run between 8 and 15 days with 10-day itineraries proving most popular among travelers. These routes typically include stays at upscale properties like the Real Continental while covering major attractions from Arenal Volcano to Manuel Antonio National Park. One TourRadar traveler reflects: "The 10-day itinerary was perfect - giving us enough time to explore each location while keeping a good pace through the country."
How long are the transfers from San Jose to the first destinations?
Travel times from San Jose hotels to initial destinations generally take between 3 and 5 hours. The journey to Tortuguero involves a 4-hour road trip followed by a 2-hour boat ride. A TourRadar traveler shares: "The drive from San Jose through Braulio Carrillo National Park was scenic making the long transfer enjoyable."
What are the most popular destinations visited on tours starting from San Jose?
Standard tour routes from San Jose encompass Costa Rica's natural highlights including Arenal Volcano National Park Monteverde Cloud Forest Tortuguero National Park and Manuel Antonio National Park. Most itineraries head northwest to Arenal (4 hours) or northeast to Tortuguero (5-6 hours). A TourRadar traveler reflects: "The itinerary from San Jose covered all the highlights - from volcanoes to cloud forests to beaches giving us a perfect mix of Costa Rica's diverse landscapes."