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
- Classic Costa Rica (including Arenal Volcano National Park)
- Costa Rica Highlights Adventure 8D/7N
- Premium Costa Rica
- Costa Rica: Volcanoes, Cloud Forests & Zip-Lines
- Costa Rica Classic 12 Day - One Life Adventures
- Tropical Costa Rica 5 Days, Short Break
- Treasures of Costa Rica
- Volcanoes Adventure in Costa Rica
- Costa Rica Experience (8 destinations)
- Costa Rica & Manuel Antonio 7 Days, Self-Drive
Classic Costa Rica (including Arenal Volcano National Park)
60 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“Very well organized! His in depth knowledge on Costa Rica's bio diversity, culture, history, agriculture and wildlife was impressive.”
Vanessa, traveled in August
This 15-day Costa Rican adventure connects 8 cities from San Jose. Private vehicles and boats take you through Tortuguero National Park, Santa Rosa de Pocosol, and Tenorio Volcano, before reaching Manuel Antonio, covering approximately 170 miles.
Duration 15 days Destinations San Jose, Tortuguero National Park, Santa Rosa de Pocosol, Tenorio Volcano National Park, La Fortuna, Arenal Volcano National Park, Monteverde, Manuel Antonio National Park Age Range Ages 15+ Operator Intrepid Travel From $3,755
15% Off- NZ$3,192You save $563
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 Ages 10+ Operator Bamba Travel From
15% Off- NZ$3,779
Premium Costa Rica
3 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“A wonderful way to explore Costa Rica. The hotels all had amazing views from the balcony, and the food was really tasty.”
Catherine, traveled in July
A 9-day circuit through Costa Rica connects 4 major destinations from San Jose. Private vehicles wind around Lake Arenal to La Fortuna, the cloud forests of Monteverde, and Manuel Antonio's coastal paradise. Round-trip transfers from San Jose International Airport complete the journey.
Duration 9 days Destinations San Jose, La Fortuna, Monteverde, Manuel Antonio National Park Age Range Ages 15+ Operator Intrepid Premium From $6,075
10% Off- NZ$5,468You save $608
Costa Rica: Volcanoes, Cloud Forests & Zip-Lines
43 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“I had an amazing time in Costa Rica and wish I could have stayed longer! The accommodation and transport were decent quality and convenient.”
Miriam, 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 trip was well organised, making us able to see all the stunning locations in Costa Rica.”
Emily, 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 $4,056
15% Off- NZ$3,447You save $608
Tropical Costa Rica 5 Days, Short Break
14 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“Everything ran on time and the vans and shuttles arrived exactly when they were supposed to.”
William, traveled in August
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 $1,607
15% Off- NZ$1,366You save $241
Treasures of Costa Rica
9 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“It was my first through a tour company and I did not know what to expect. It turned out great.”
Allison, traveled in July
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 $1,737
15% Off- NZ$1,476You save $260
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 $3,533
15% Off- NZ$3,003You save $530
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 $2,370
10% Off- NZ$2,133You save $237
Costa Rica & Manuel Antonio 7 Days, Self-Drive
3 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“It was great experience. Very recommended.”
Alena, traveled in May
A 7-day, 546km Costa Rican route from San Jose heads north to Arenal (129km, 4 hours), then to Manuel Antonio National Park (240km, 6 hours), before returning to San Jose (177km, 4 hours). Transport via Daihatsu Bego rental car.
Duration 7 days Destinations San Jose, Arenal Volcano National Park, Manuel Antonio National Park Age Range All Ages Welcome Operator Destination Services Costa Rica From $1,253
15% Off- NZ$1,065You save $188
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!
- 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.
- Costa Rica: Volcanoes, Cloud Forests & Zip-Lines
Great experience, the only parts I'd criticize were that the group was too big (more than 20 people), which made it hard to get to know everyone (the fact that the Whatsapp group wasn't created as soon as the tour began didn't help), and that the schedule was too tight and made some combinations of activities impossible, one more day would have made things easier.
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."