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 Quest
- Costa Rica Experience (8 destinations)
- Costa Rica's Best Beach + Jungle Hikes (ages 21-35)
- Costa Rica Classic 12 Day - One Life Adventures
- Essential Costa Rica - Package with Guanacaste
- Tropical Costa Rica 5 Days, Short Break
- Volcanoes Adventure in Costa Rica
- Treasures of Costa Rica
- Arenal Volcano & Monteverde Cloud Forest Costa Rica, the perfect combination
Costa Rica Highlights Adventure 8D/7N
8 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“The accommodations were great, tours as described, no 'bad surprises'. All transfers were on time.”
Susanne, traveled in June
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 Ages 10+ Operator Bamba Travel From
- NZ$3,844
Costa Rica Quest
318 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“This was a great tour to get to see and experience. A lot of the highlights, both cultural and scenic that Costa Rica has to offer!”
Elisabeth, traveled in May
The colonial streets of San Jose mark the start of this Costa Rican circuit. The route includes La Fortuna near Arenal Volcano, a boat crossing of Lake Arenal to Monteverde, and Manuel Antonio National Park's beaches, showcasing diverse landscapes throughout.
Duration 9 days Destinations San Jose, La Fortuna, Arenal Volcano National Park, Monteverde, Manuel Antonio National Park Age Range Ages 12+ Operator G Adventures From $2,039
30% Off- NZ$1,427You save $612
Costa Rica Experience (8 destinations)
32 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“the whole experience was just wonderful. A nice sampling of several areas of the country”
Laura, traveled in March
This 9-day Costa Rican adventure links 6 major destinations from San Jose. Private vehicles transport you to Santa Rosa de Pocosol, La Fortuna near Arenal Volcano, and Monteverde Cloud Forest, before reaching coastal Quepos, covering approximately 350 km total.
Duration 8 days Destinations San Jose, Santa Rosa de Pocosol, La Fortuna, Arenal, Monteverde, Quepos, Manuel Antonio National Park Age Range Ages 15+ Operator Intrepid Travel From
30% Off- NZ$2,495
Costa Rica's Best Beach + Jungle Hikes (ages 21-35)
14 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“We did all of the optional activities and loved every one of them. It was so great having all the transportation and lodging arranged.”
Shelby, traveled in December
Duration 5 days Destinations San Jose, Playa Hermosa, Manuel Antonio National Park Age Range Ages 21-35 Operator Under30Experiences From
30% Off- NZ$1,768
Costa Rica Classic 12 Day - One Life Adventures
48 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“We got to see a lot of Costa Rica travelling all over and saw great wildlife. Really yummy food and lots of fun activities.”
Molly, traveled in April
Duration 12 days Destinations San Jose, Poas Volcano National Park, Sarapiquí, La Fortuna, Monteverde, Playa Santa Teresa, Manuel Antonio National Park Age Range Ages 18-59 Operator One Life Adventures From $4,088
15% Off- NZ$3,475You save $613
Essential Costa Rica - Package with Guanacaste
41 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“Great tour it was well planned.”
William, traveled in January
A Costa Rican adventure through Braulio Carrillo National Park leads to Tortuguero's canals and Arenal Volcano National Park. The 855km route includes an Arenal Lake crossing to Monteverde's cloud forests and Tamarindo Beach before returning to San Jose.
Duration 10 days Destinations San Jose, Tortuguero National Park, Arenal Volcano National Park, Monteverde, Playa Tamarindo Age Range Ages 10+ Operated in English, Spanish Operator Destination Services Costa Rica From $3,217
15% Off- NZ$2,735You save $483
Tropical Costa Rica 5 Days, Short Break
14 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“We did a lot of traveling over the Costa Rican countryside but saw and experienced so much.”
Derek, traveled in March
This 5-day Costa Rican circuit covers 670km from San Jose. The route includes Arenal Volcano via Sarchi town and Tortuguero National Park, combining land and boat transfers, with convenient airport connections in San Jose.
Duration 5 days Destinations San Jose, Sarchi, Arenal Volcano National Park, Tortuguero National Park Age Range All Ages Welcome Operated in English, Spanish Operator Destination Services Costa Rica From $1,624
15% Off- NZ$1,380You save $244
Volcanoes Adventure in Costa Rica
1 Review by TourRadar travelers“Green World was awesome!”
James, traveled in April
A 272km volcanic tour through Costa Rica awaits from San Jose. Private transfers link San Jose International Airport to three volcanic wonders: Arenal, Rincón de la Vieja, and Poas, with comfortable 2-3 star accommodations throughout.
Duration 9 days Destinations San Jose, Orosi, Irazu Volcano National Park, Cartago, Arenal, Rincon de la Vieja Volcano National Park, Poas Volcano National Park Age Range All Ages Welcome Operated in English, Spanish Operator Green World Adventures From $3,571
15% Off- NZ$3,035You save $536
Treasures of Costa Rica
9 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“Amazing sights and activities, very well organised. Hotels were all lovely.”
Patrick, traveled in April
This 8-day, 650km Costa Rican journey begins at Juan Santamaria International Airport. Air-conditioned bus transport reaches Arenal (130km), Monteverde (160km), Manuel Antonio (180km), before returning to San Jose (180km). Private airport transfers included.
Duration 8 days Destinations San Jose, Arenal Volcano National Park, Monteverde, Manuel Antonio National Park Age Range All Ages Welcome Operator Destination Services Costa Rica From $1,882
15% Off- NZ$1,600You save $282
Arenal Volcano & Monteverde Cloud Forest Costa Rica, the perfect combination
12 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“Made us feel like we got the best of every part of the trip.”
Josie-Lynn, 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 All Ages Welcome Operated in English, Spanish Operator Green World Adventures From $1,922
15% Off- NZ$1,634You save $288
What people love about Costa Rica Tours from San Jose
- Classic Costa Rica (including Arenal Volcano National Park)
Great trip. Wonderful tour leader. Many interesting activities. Hikes and a bit physically challenging. Costa Rica not inexpensive. Group was small and congenial.
- Costa Rica Classic 12 Day - One Life Adventures
This was my first group tour, and I couldn’t be happier with the experience. The destinations were thoughtfully selected, offering a perfect blend of adventure, wildlife, and relaxing beach time. My highlights included the kayaking tour, where we also helped clean up the ocean, and cooking with a local family. A huge thank you to our wonderful guides, Amber and Josué, who were not only helpful but also great conversationalists throughout the journey. Josué, our local guide, had an impressive knowledge of the country and its wildlife. I highly recommend this trip!
- Costa Rica Experience (8 destinations)
This was an excellent trip, Edgar the tour guide was very knowledgeable of the area and helped with the wildlife spotting and made the transfers entertaining. This tour is lower cost than other tours in Costa Rica so you get a lot of optional activities. We found that the quality of the options was excellent and you have a real choice of what to do including zip lining, coffee tours, hanging bridges tours, volcanic hot springs etc. Edgar made this work really well everything was slick even when the group split up to do different activities and then we'd always have dinner arranged at a nice place to re-group in the evening. Definitely recommended.
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."