Private day tour from San José
Poás Volcano and La Paz Waterfall Gardens Private Day Trip from San José
The crater of Poás and the waterfalls of La Paz, in a private day.
9hfrom€450private tour
Private half-day tourSan José Private City Tour: National Theatre, Central Market and Barrio Amón
4h, from 07:00
Up to 16 people
Your hotel or apartment in San José (the centre, Escazú, Santa Ana, Heredia and Alajuela)
Free cancellation, 24h
Four hours through the centre of Costa Rica's capital: the National Theatre, the cathedral, the Central Market, the old Bellavista barracks and the coffee-era houses of Barrio Amón.
The day
The centre is small and best seen partly on foot. Your driver drops you and waits close by.
Start
Your hotel
Collected at 07:00 or 13:00, whichever you booked.
+20m
The National Theatre
The theatre on the Plaza de la Cultura, opened in 1897 and paid for with a tax on coffee exports.
Entrance not included
+1h
Metropolitan Cathedral and the Central Avenue
The cathedral facing Central Park, then a walk along the pedestrian avenue that crosses the old centre.
+1h 45m
The Central Market
A covered market open since 1880, with narrow lanes of coffee, spices, leather and small counters serving lunch.
+2h 30m
National Museum
Housed in the Bellavista Fortress, the old army barracks, with bullet marks from the 1948 civil war still on its walls. Costa Rica abolished its army that same year.
Entrance not included
+3h 15m
Barrio Amón
A quiet district of houses built by coffee growers around 1900, many of them now galleries, cafés and small hotels.
+4h
Back to your hotel
Or to a restaurant in the centre. Tell your driver on the day.
Photos by César Badilla Miranda, Robin Canfield on Unsplash
In the price
- Private vehicle and driver for four hours
- Fuel, tolls and parking
- Itinerary changed on the day
Not in the price
Entrances to the theatre and the museums, food and drinks are not included.
Before you book
- Going inside
- On the 07:00 tour most buildings are seen from outside. Choose 13:00 if you want time inside the theatre or a museum.
- Pick-up
- Any hotel or address in the centre, Escazú, Santa Ana, Heredia or Alajuela.
- Best for
- A first look at San José, or a short day before a flight from the airport in Alajuela.
- Start time
- Starts at 07:00 or 13:00, every day. Every tour is customisable: a different start time, extra stops, more time where you like it, or a longer day. Tell us when you book.
- Language
- Guided in English. Other languages on request, if we have notice.
- Cancellation
- Free up to 24 hours before, refunded in full.
Questions
Yes. The tour is private, and the price depends on how many of you travel, starting from €260. Choose the number of people when you book.
Yes. It is under the Plaza de la Cultura, next to the theatre. Tell your driver and we will make time for it.
Yes. Our Poás Volcano, Irazú Volcano and Manuel Antonio days all leave from San José.
Two vehicles travelling together, on one booking. Message us and we will price it.
Yes. Every tour is customisable: a different start time, extra stops, more time where you like it, or a longer day. Tell us when you book.
Message us and we'll move it if we can — we work with several drivers, so there is usually room. More than 24 hours ahead costs nothing.
More in Costa Rica
Private day tour from San José
Irazú Volcano, Cartago and the Orosi Valley Private Day Trip from San José
Irazú Volcano, Cartago and the Orosi Valley, in a private day.
9hfrom€360private tour
Private half-day tour from San José
Coffee Farm, Grecia and Sarchí Private Tour from San José
A coffee farm, Grecia and the oxcarts of Sarchí, in six private hours.
6hfrom€370private tour
Not sure which to pick? Read our guide to day trips from San José