San José & the Central Valley Holidays

A half-day walking tour through San José over a busy afternoon offers a glimpse into local life and reveals the city’s architectural and cultural highlights. You’ll be met at your hotel and head to La Merced Church, a striking, neo-Gothic church and celebrated city icon. Experience the energy of the central pedestrian zone on the way to San José’s busy Central Market, where you’ll catch the aromas of herbs and fruit being sold alongside clothes and leather goods. A stop at the National Theatre follows — an architectural beauty of Costa Rica with a neo-Classical façade and impressive marble lobby. Next, the Gold Museum provides a fascinating insight into the pre-Columbian history of Costa Rica in the atmospheric bank vaults. You’ll pass through Democracy Square and the parliament building on the way to the National Museum, where you can admire views over San José from the courtyard. At the Atlantic Rail Station, you’ll see a blend of Victorian, Baroque, and neo-Classical styles before moving on to San José’s Spanish Park for a spot of shade. You’ll see the Metallic School next, said to have inspired Paris’ Eiffel Tower, before your tour concludes at the leafy Morazán Park and you return to your hotel.

• Departs Monday to Saturday from San José
• Operates year-round
• Private experience

Visit the largest, highest active volcano in Costa Rica on a morning tour from San José. The journey takes a couple of hours from San José, and on the way, you’ll pass through small villages in the Central Valley before joining the impressive mountain road for the drive up the Irazú Volcano mountainside. The top of the volcano is 3,432m above sea level, and on a clear day, you’ll have a spectacular view of the Atlantic and the Pacific Oceans. The altitude of the volcano means it can be windy and chilly, so take some extra layers — worth it for the incredible views. You’ll descend to Cartago, stopping to see an earthquake-ravaged church and learn a little about the town’s history, with time to admire the Byzantine style of the Basilica before returning to your hotel.

• Daily departures from San José
• Operates year-round
• Private experience

Explore San José by night, touring local markets and visiting cultural and architectural icons before settling down for a local dinner with wine. Your tour begins at the colourful Central Market, strolling with your local guide and learning how the roots, herbs, and fruit are used in local dishes. After the market, you’ll venture along Central Avenue, learning about the city's history and hearing anecdotes from your guide, stopping to appreciate one of the most architecturally beautiful buildings in San José — the National Theatre. The walk continues through Morazán Park to see the beautiful Metallic Building, then to Spanish Park for a view of the Yellow House that houses the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In this neighbourhood, there are plenty of examples of architecture from the 1800s, including the National Distillery, Paseo de Las Damas, and the Supreme Court of Elections. The walking tour concludes with a visit to an artisan market. The rest of the evening is spent at a local restaurant enjoying a delicious meal with your group with carefully selected wines.

• Departs Monday to Saturday from San José
• Operates year-round
• Group experience