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: Volcanoes, Cloud Forests & Zip-Lines
- Costa Rica Classic 12 Day - One Life Adventures
- Mountain & Volcano Costa Rica Tour
- Costa Rica Express - 7 days
- Essential Costa Rica - Package with Guanacaste
- Tropical Costa Rica 5 Days, Short Break
- Treasures of Costa Rica
- Volcanoes Adventure in Costa Rica
- Supersaver | Costa Rica Essentials Plus & Manuel Antonio Extension, 10 Days
Costa Rica Highlights Adventure 8D/7N
8 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“We saw far more than we would have ourselves. Once you are okay with that then you will have an amazing time.”
Daniel, traveled in August
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$3,854
Costa Rica: Volcanoes, Cloud Forests & Zip-Lines
43 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“The places we visited, the hostels we stayed at and the activities we did were perfect. The variety and freedom to spend my time as I wanted was great.”
Allison, traveled in April
San Jose's vibrant San Pedro neighborhood marks the start of this 6-day Costa Rican circuit. Private vehicles transport you to Poas Volcano and La Fortuna, followed by a boat crossing of Lake Arenal to reach Monteverde's cloud forests, spanning 150 kilometers of diverse terrain.
Duration 6 days Destinations San Jose, La Fortuna, Arenal, Monteverde Age Range Ages 18-35 Operator G Adventures From $899
10% Off- NZ$809You save $90
Costa Rica Classic 12 Day - One Life Adventures
48 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“The group felt like family so quick. And it was the perfect mix of adventure, exploring and time to relax!”
Stephanie, 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
Mountain & Volcano Costa Rica Tour
6 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“We especially loved the activities, and appreciated the way we never had to worry about our transfer transportation.”
Emily, traveled in July
The 7-day route encompasses 5 major Costa Rican destinations from San Jose. Shared vans (14-person capacity) connect Monteverde Cloud Forest, La Fortuna, and Tortuguero National Park, with boat transfers included for complete access.
Duration 7 days Destinations San Jose, Monteverde, La Fortuna, Arenal Volcano National Park, Tortuguero National Park Age Range Ages 15+ Operated in English, Spanish Operator Marvelus Travel From
15% Off- NZ$2,137
Costa Rica Express - 7 days
1 Review by TourRadar travelers“Country is stunningly beautiful. I enjoyed exploring nature and saw a lot of wildlife.”
Natia, traveled in November
Duration 7 days Destinations San Jose, Tortuguero, Tortuguero National Park, Guapiles, La Fortuna, Arenal, Arenal Volcano National Park, Manuel Antonio National Park Age Range All Ages Welcome Operator On The Go Tours From
15% Off- NZ$3,965
Essential Costa Rica - Package with Guanacaste
41 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“The lodging at Tortuguero and Arenal are amazing. Our guide in Tortuguero is top notch.”
Lisa, traveled in May
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 $3,230
15% Off- NZ$2,746You save $485
Tropical Costa Rica 5 Days, Short Break
14 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“The itinerary, guides, and organization of our entire trip was remarkable!”
Kristen, traveled in April
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 $1,630
15% Off- NZ$1,386You save $245
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 $1,762
15% Off- NZ$1,498You save $264
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 $3,585
15% Off- NZ$3,048You save $538
Supersaver | Costa Rica Essentials Plus & Manuel Antonio Extension, 10 Days
10 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“Hotels were great, transfers went perfectly and guides on tours were wonderful. We didn't want to leave.”
Fiona, traveled in February
The route winds through Costa Rica's varied terrain from San Jose to Tortuguero's canals, Arenal Volcano, Monteverde's cloud forests, and Manuel Antonio's beaches. The 745km journey concludes with shared service airport transfer.
Duration 10 days Destinations San Jose, Tortuguero National Park, Arenal Volcano National Park, Monteverde, Manuel Antonio National Park Age Range All Ages Welcome Operated in English, Spanish Operator Destination Services Costa Rica From $4,085
15% Off- NZ$3,472You save $613
What people love about Costa Rica Tours from San Jose
- 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!
- 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 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."