Best 3 day Tours from San Jose
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10 best 7-day tour packages from San Jose
Compiled by
MelissaSan Jose travel expert at TourRadar
- Corcovado Classic Experience, Short Break
- Arenal and Monteverde, Short Break
- Tortuguero National Park Tour – 4-Day Independent Adventure
- EXPLORE TORTUGUERO – 3 DAYS OF PURE TROPICAL MAGIC
- Monteverde Cloudforest Essences, Short Break
- Arenal Volcano Getaway, Short Break
- Samara Beach, Short Break
- Sarapiqui with White River Rafting, Short Break
- Uvita Beach, Short Break
- Jaco Beach, Short Break
Your journey starts in San Jose with a morning flight to Palmar Sur and a 30-minute boat ride to Osa Peninsula. The itinerary covers San Pedrillo Station and Caño Island before returning via Palmar Sur to San Jose.
Duration 4 days Destinations San Jose, Corcovado National Park, Cano Island Age Range up to 99 year olds Operated in English, Spanish Operator Destination Services Costa Rica From $4,725
15% Off- NZ$4,016You save $709
Arenal and Monteverde, Short Break
2 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“Wonderful variety. I loved listening to the sounds of the river and the wind blowing through the trees.”
Matthew, traveled in March
The 150km route from San Jose's Juan Santamaria Airport leads to La Fortuna near Arenal Volcano, continuing 70km to Monteverde via pontoon boat. The return to San Jose features thermal springs and Cloud Forest Reserve visits.
Duration 4 days Destinations San Jose, La Fortuna, Arenal Volcano National Park, Monteverde Age Range up to 99 year olds Operated in English, Spanish Operator Destination Services Costa Rica From $2,106
15% Off- NZ$1,790You save $316
Tortuguero National Park Tour – 4-Day Independent Adventure
16 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“The lodge was great- good variety of food, beautiful pool, clean rooms. I would do this tour again!”
Allyson, traveled in May
Your route from San Jose winds through banana plantations to Tortuguero National Park. This 4-day adventure includes road and boat transfers, stays at a jungle lodge and city hotel, with 8 meals and expert naturalist guidance.
Duration 4 days Destinations San Jose, Tortuguero National Park Age Range up to 90 year olds Operator G Adventures From
15% Off- NZ$1,249
Duration 3 days Destinations San Jose, Tortuguero Age Range 5 to 99 year olds Operated in English, Spanish Operator Receptivo Aborigen Tours From $824
10% Off- NZ$742You save $82
From San Jose's Juan Santamaria Airport, a 125km (3.5 hours) ride takes you to Monteverde Cloud Forest. The 3-day stay features guided walks through the Biological Reserve's trails, with nights at either Monteverde Country Lodge or El Establo Hotel.
Duration 3 days Destinations San Jose, Monteverde Age Range up to 99 year olds Operated in English, Spanish Operator Destination Services Costa Rica From $1,011
15% Off- NZ$860You save $152
A 120km route from San Jose International Airport brings you to La Fortuna village. The three-day trip showcases Mistico Park's hanging bridges and La Fortuna Waterfall, with two nights near Arenal Volcano.
Duration 3 days Destinations San Jose, La Fortuna, Arenal Volcano National Park Age Range up to 99 year olds Operated in English, Spanish Operator Destination Services Costa Rica From $1,230
15% Off- NZ$1,046You save $185
A 220km journey from San Jose's Juan Santamaria Airport leads to Samara Beach. Two nights at Hotel Sol Samara or Hotel Leyenda include breakfast and guided activities.
Duration 3 days Destinations San Jose, Samara Age Range up to 99 year olds Operated in English, Spanish Operator Destination Services Costa Rica From $1,418
15% Off- NZ$1,205You save $213
A 90km northeastern route from San Jose's Juan Santamaria Airport takes you to Puerto Viejo de Sarapiqui. This three-day escape includes lodging, rafting thrills, and nighttime wildlife walks before returning to San Jose.
Duration 3 days Destinations San Jose, Puerto Viejo de Sarapiqui Age Range up to 99 year olds Operated in English, Spanish Operator Destination Services Costa Rica From $1,290
15% Off- NZ$1,097You save $194
A 210km route from San Jose's Juan Santamaria Airport leads to Uvita. The three-day adventure features a Caño Island snorkeling excursion, with shared transfers and local guides, returning to San Jose by early afternoon.
Duration 3 days Destinations San Jose, Uvita, Cano Island Age Range up to 99 year olds Operated in English, Spanish Operator Destination Services Costa Rica From $1,909
15% Off- NZ$1,622You save $286
An 85km route from San Jose's Juan Santamaria Airport brings you to Jaco Beach. Club de Mar Hotel serves as base for three days, featuring Central Pacific's longest zipline at 2400ft.
Duration 3 days Destinations San Jose, Jaco Age Range up to 99 year olds Operated in English, Spanish Operator Destination Services Costa Rica From $1,173
15% Off- NZ$997You save $176
Reviews of 3 day Tours from San Jose
- Arenal and Monteverde, Short Break
Great trip. Wonderful variety. The safari float was relaxing. I loved listening to the sounds of the river and the wind blowing through the trees.
- Tortuguero National Park Tour – 4-Day Independent Adventure
Hello, Fernando our tour Gaudí was great and very knowledgeable. The weather however was pouring rain, and impossible to see anything. The cabins were clean, but old, the humanity was high and made it hard to sleep. The Sesteó Hotel had a very old rooms, but lots of space. The room smelled like it used to be an smoking room sometimes in the past. Overall, this hasn’t been a best tour that I have gotten compare with the price paid, but was okay.
- Tortuguero Jungle Expedition, Short Break (On Request)
The tour was very well organised, the tour guide was knowledgeable, Laguna lodge was comfortable and lovely and the food was great. The only thing I can highlight as negative is that they recommend to do the Turtle tour (not included in the tour) the first day and the times can't be chosen, so you have a 5am wake up and you finish the turtle tour at around midnight.
What our customers ask about Best 3 day Tours from San Jose
What's the best time of year to take a 3-day tour from San Jose?
For Tortuguero tours, plan your visit between July and October to see sea turtles nesting - the temperatures stay between 75-85°F (24-29°C). If you're heading to places like Rincon de la Vieja in Guanacaste, you'll want to go during the dry season from December to April. A recent traveler told us about the Caribbean coast: "The weather can be unpredictable but the wildlife viewing makes it worthwhile." If you're interested in Pacific coast spots like Jaco, the weather is good all year with temperatures around 82°F (28°C).
What are the most popular destinations to visit on a 3-day tour from San Jose?
From San Jose, most people head to Tortuguero National Park to see wildlife, Rincon de la Vieja National Park to experience the volcano, Sarapiqui for rafting, or beach towns like Jaco and Samara. Travelers love exploring Tortuguero's canals and spotting animals - you can stay at places like Evergreen Lodge or Pachira Lodge while you're there. If you're visiting Rincon de la Vieja, you'll probably stay at Hacienda Guachipelin, while beach visitors often choose Hotel Sol Samara.
What kind of activities can I expect on a 3-day tour from San Jose?
You'll find lots to do on these tours. You can go rafting on the Sarapiqui River (with class II-III rapids), try zip-lining in Jaco Beach on cables that stretch over 3.5 kilometers, hike around the volcano at Rincon de la Vieja, or take boat tours to spot wildlife in Tortuguero's canals. One happy traveler told us about Tortuguero: "Alex was a great tour guide and we had a blast! The tours provided were really incredible and intimate." The activities work for different fitness levels, mixing adventure with nature watching.
What kind of accommodations can I expect on these tours?
You'll stay in places ranging from jungle lodges to beachfront hotels. In Tortuguero, Laguna Lodge and Evergreen Lodge offer rooms right by the river with views of the jungle. Near Rincon de la Vieja, there's the 4-star Hacienda Guachipelin. If you're heading to the coast, you might stay at Hotel Sol Samara or Club de Mar in Jaco. One traveler recently shared: "The lodge and its facilities were fantastic, clean, and well maintained. The beach was stunning and the amenities were great."
How much free time is available during these 3-day tours?
The amount of free time changes depending on your tour. Beach tours to Jaco and Samara give you plenty of time to relax or do extra activities if you want. If you're on an adventure tour - like rafting in Sarapiqui or hiking at Rincon de la Vieja - you'll have scheduled activities but free evenings. As one traveler put it: "We had a great balance of organized activities and free time to explore or relax by the pool." Most tours leave you at least one afternoon to do your own thing.
How do I get between destinations on these tours?
You'll mostly travel by air-conditioned bus, with some boat rides depending on where you're going. To get to Tortuguero, you'll need to take a boat through the canals. One traveler mentioned: "The bus and boat that we were taken on were both comfortable and safe." It takes about 2 hours to reach Sarapiqui from San Jose, 1.5 hours to Jaco, and for Tortuguero, you'll spend 3 hours on the road plus an hour on a boat.