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SAN JOSE
The Most Popular One Day Tours.
Nestled between mountains and coffee-covered hills, the Central Valley blends daily Costa Rican life with easy access to volcanoes, waterfalls, rainforests, and the Pacific coast. Each destination is within 2 hours of the city.
The following are located in Jacó area (~1.5 hours from San José) and can be easily mixed & matched.
Canyoning
Surfing Lessons
Crocodile River Cruise
OUR TOP TOURS
Poás Volcano
Poás Volcano National Park
Begin with a scenic drive through the Central Valley, passing coffee plantations, dairy farms, flower nurseries, and strawberry fincas. As we ascend into the cool highlands, reaching 2,708 meters above sea level, the air turns misty and the forest thickens.
Inside the park, a 600-meter (10-minute) paved trail leads to the main crater lookout, Laguna Caliente, where plumes of vapor rise from sulfur fumaroles and the lake below glows with vivid turquoise hues. Continue along cloud-forest trails to Laguna Botos, an extinct crater lake with emerald water surrounded by native trees and orchids.
On the way, stop for fresh strawberries, regional cheese and locally grown coffee, or a meal at a local soda.
Home to one of the world’s largest active craters, Poás Volcano offers a rare glimpse into Costa Rica’s volcanic heart.
La Paz
La Paz Waterfall Gardens & Wildlife Rescue
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Walk among waterfalls and meet rescued wildlife in a lush cloud-forest setting.
Highlights:
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3.5 km of rainforest trails
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Five waterfalls
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Bird sanctuary with toucan feeding
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Sloths, jaguars, pumas, ocelots, monkeys + more
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Hummingbird garden (26+ species)
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Butterfly observatory
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Snake and frog exhibits
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Orchid and heliconia gardens
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Petting zoo & traditional oxcart
Tucked in the cloud forest near Vara Blanca, La Paz Waterfall Gardens spans over 70 acres of dense terrain and forest trails leading to stunning waterfalls and wildlife sanctuaries that allow you to experience the biodiversity of Costa Rica up close.
Guests can opt for a buffet lunch featuring Costa Rican dishes, salads, soups, and fresh fruit, or stop at a local soda on the way.
Poás + La Paz
Combo: Poás & La Paz
Begin the morning at Poás Volcano National Park, where a short walk leads to Laguna Caliente — one of the world's largest active craters and most acidic crater lakes. Continue through the cloud forest to Laguna Botos, an emerald lagoon surrounded by native flora.
Afterwards, explore La Paz Waterfall Gardens, where forest trails connect five waterfalls and a renowned wildlife sanctuary with monkeys, sloths, toucans, jungle cats and more.
This full-day trip combines the volcanic highlands and rainforest wildlife of Costa Rica, with private transport, a bilingual guide, and stops for fresh strawberries, local cheese, coffee, and lunch.
Volcano · Waterfalls · Rainforest · Wildlife
Hacienda Doka
Doka Coffee Estate
Delve into Costa Rica’s coffee tradition on the slopes of Poás Volcano.
Highlights:
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Family-run working coffee estate (70+ years of history)
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1940s wet mill in operation — declared National Heritage Site
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Seed-to-cup guided tour: seedbeds, varieties, harvest, processing, roasting
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Coffee tasting of different roasts + coffee liqueur and chocolates
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Butterfly, bonsai, and hydroponic gardens
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Hands-on coffee picking during harvest season
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Breakfast or lunch buffet overlooking the plantation
Hacienda Doka is recognized for preserving Costa Rica’s traditional coffee process. The guided tour walks you through each stage—from seed to cup—while learning about the region’s history and tasting award-winning roasts. Visitors can explore the gardens, enjoy a meal at the plantation restaurant, and take home freshly roasted coffee as the perfect souvenir.
Volcano · Coffee · Culture
Poas, Doka, Sarchí & Grecia
Begin the morning at Poás Volcano National Park, where a short walk leads to Laguna Caliente — one of the world's largest active craters and most acidic crater lakes. Continue through the cloud forest to Laguna Botos, an emerald lagoon surrounded by native flora.
Next, visit Hacienda Doka, a family-run coffee estate on the slopes of Poás. Estate guides walk you through seedbeds, the 1940s National Heritage wet mill, and the roasting house, ending with tastings overlooking the plantation. The buffet lunch features fresh, traditional dishes.
After lunch, explore the Central Valley’s towns of Grecia and Sarchí. In Grecia, visit the red steel church and stroll Central Park. Then head to Sarchí, an artisan town known for hand-painted oxcarts and colorful woodwork.
Optional stops for fresh strawberries, local cheese, and coffee along the route.
Active Volcano · Coffee Tour · Sarchí Oxcarts
Blue Falls
The Blue Falls & Catarata del Toro
Nestled in the mountains north of San José, Bajos del Toro is one of Costa Rica’s most spectacular yet lesser-known destinations. Here, springs from Poás Volcano feed a network of seven turquoise-blue waterfalls scattered through highland cloud forest. You’ll find forest paths, rocky river crossings, natural pools for swimming, and beautiful photo stops.
Across the road, Catarata del Toro makes a striking contrast: a 90-meter waterfall plunging into an ancient volcanic crater surrounded by orchids, hummingbirds, and cool mountain air.
We can tailor routes to all activity levels.
A Hidden Oasis.
San José City
Cultural Walking Tour
Discover the history, flavors, and daily rhythm of Costa Rica’s capital on a private walking tour shaped around your interests.
Central Market
Wander through the lively maze of produce stands, spices, coffee, florists, artisan stalls, and classic sodas.
Landmarks, Parks & Public Art
Discover historic plazas, shaded parks, and neoclassical landmarks filled with local life.
Colorful Neighborhoods & Cafés
Stroll through charming barrios lined with murals, terraces, and colonial homes.
Museums
Explore Costa Rica’s past — choose from the Pre-Columbian Gold Museum’s underground galleries, the Jade Museum’s five floors of jade and stone, the National Museum’s archaeology exhibits and butterfly garden, or the interactive Children’s Museum set in a former penitentiary.
Chocolate Workshop
Visit La Casa del Cacao — an artisan shop with bean-to-bar sessions near the theatre.
Markets & Food
Savor local flavors — fruit, juices, coffee, chocolate, ice cream, empanadas, and other Costa Rican classics. On Saturdays, visit Feria Verde, an organic market with local produce, artisan foods, crafts, and live music. Enjoy lunch at a traditional soda or an international spot.
Irazú Volcano
Irazú Volcano National Park
Begin with a scenic drive through rolling farmland and dairy country. At 3,432 m (11,260 ft), Irazú reveals a dramatic world of ash plains, mineral-streaked slopes, and páramo vegetation. From the parking lot, a short paved walk leads to viewpoints of the main crater and the smaller Diego de la Haya. For the highest view, drive or hike to the summit mirador, where clear mornings can reveal both the Pacific and Caribbean.
After visiting the craters, descend through Cartago to stop at the Basílica de los Ángeles, Costa Rica’s main pilgrimage site, and enjoy coffee, fresh strawberries, or lunch at a mountain soda.
If you’d like more walking, the nearby Prusia Sector offers mystical forest trails through tall pines and native elfin woods.
Stand above the clouds and walk the moonlike slopes of Costa Rica’s highest active volcano.
Irazú + Orosi Hot Springs
Volcano • Valley • Hot Springs
Begin the morning above the clouds at Irazú Volcano National Park, exploring the lunar landscape of Costa Rica’s highest active volcano.
Descend through farmland into the lush Orosi Valley, one of the country's oldest coffee-growing regions. Stop in Cartago to visit the Basílica de los Ángeles, Costa Rica's main pilgrimage site.
Continue to Hacienda Orosi, a peaceful hot spring retreat surrounded by green hills and coffee slopes. Soak in seven mineral pools (34–39°C / 93–102°F) with valley views, birdlife, and a quiet, uncrowded atmosphere. Enjoy a fresh, organic lunch or coffee tasting, visit the farm animals, and wander gardens filled with orchids and coffee plants.
For plant lovers, a visit to Lankester Botanical Gardens can be added — home to more than 3,000 species of orchids and tropical plants.
Irazú + Ruins
Irazú Volcano, Cartago, Ujarrás & Cachí Lake
Begin the morning above the clouds at Irazú Volcano National Park, exploring the lunar landscape of Costa Rica’s highest active volcano.
Descend through farmland into Cartago, the country’s former capital, to visit the Basílica de los Ángeles, a pilgrimage site and home to Costa Rica’s patron saint, La Negrita.
Continue through the Orosi Valley to Ujarrás, where the ivy-covered ruins of a 17th-century stone church sit among flowering gardens — one of Costa Rica’s earliest colonial towns.
End the day at Lake Cachí, surrounded by green hills, coffee farms, and walking trails along the shore. Enjoy lunch at La Casona del Cafetal, a terrace restaurant with lake views.
Sarapiquí
Sarapiquí River
Originating on the slopes of Poás Volcano, the Sarapiquí River winds north through tropical lowlands toward the Nicaraguan border. This vibrant corridor is one of Costa Rica’s most biodiverse regions, home to monkeys, sloths, tropical birds, rainforest rapids, and peaceful drifts.
White-Water Rafting or Inflatable Kayak
Ride Class I, II, II–III or III–IV rapids with ICT and International Rafting Federation–certified guides, surrounded by rainforest views. Stop for fresh Sarapiquí pineapple and a swim in crystal-clear pools.
Inner Tubing
A fun, guided float through gentle rainforest currents and tunnels of green.
Motor Boat Tour
Glide silently downriver in a low-emission boat with a naturalist guide, spotting monkeys, sloths, iguanas, caimans, crocodiles, river birds, and even otters.
Waterfall Hike + Zipline
Cross the river by canopy cables, hike through the jungle to a hidden waterfall for a swim, then zipline back across.
Afterward, enjoy a local lunch or combine your visit with nearby attractions: aerial tram ride, horseback riding, birdwatching, hanging bridges, or pineapple or chocolate farm tours.
Travel Note: Saraquipí is a convenient stop between La Fortuna and San Jose.
Braulio Carrillo Rainforest
Aerial Tram & Zipline
Glide over ancient rainforest, zip through the canopy, and explore the forest floor below.
Drive into Braulio Carrillo National Park, a vast primary forest where the Caribbean lowlands meet the Central Valley. Begin with a peaceful one-hour aerial tram ride above the treetops, with chances to spot wildlife among the dense canopy. Continue to the zipline circuit (10 cables, 14 platforms) and a short guided nature walk.
Afterward, visit the butterfly and orchid gardens, sloth rehabilitation center, and snake and frog exhibits.
The tram is wheelchair accessible, and activities can be booked separately.
Volcán Barva
Braulio Carrillo Hike
Hike to one of Costa Rica’s least-visited volcanoes, where moss-covered trees and cool mist surround an ancient emerald crater lake.
Situated between Irazú and Poás, Braulio Carrillo National Park holds dense cloud forest, rare ecosystems, and abundant birdlife. We’ll hike through the forest to reach Laguna de Barva, viewing it first from the shore and then from a lookout above.
La Casa del Alto
Rural Family Farm Tour
Tucked in the hills above Atenas, this is not a typical tour — it’s a visit with a local family who warmly welcomes you into their home and daily life. Walk through sugarcane and coffee fields, press fresh cane juice, make handmade tortillas, and enjoy a wood-fired lunch prepared from farm ingredients. Sip the family’s own coffee on the open deck, surrounded by mountain views.
Led by the Rodríguez family, descendants of “Abuela” who still lives on the land, this visit offers a glimpse into Costa Rican hospitality, rural traditions, and small-scale sustainable farming.
Optional: Pair with an Organic Coffee Farm Tour or the Atenas Farmers Market (Thursdays & Fridays).
Experience Costa Rican family life, flavor, and tradition in the green hills of Atenas.
San José Countryside
Santa Ana & Ciudad Colón
About 30 minutes west of San José, this is Lucas’s hometown — green hills & local life beneath the valley sun.
University of Peace Park
Established by the United Nations, this peaceful reserve features easy forest trails, lakes, wildlife (birds, monkeys, butterflies) + BBQ and picnic areas.
Horseback Riding or Mountain Biking
Visit a local ranch with horses and farm animals, ride lush riverside trails, or explore by bike.
Mantra Trail
Hike through coffee-covered hills with views of the San José mountains, passing sculptures like the Buddha, Blue Morpho, and oxcart before reaching the iconic Hand of La Chimba. You can also ride by 4×4, visit the Coffee Village, or enjoy fresh coffee, gelato, and a meal in the forest.
Coffee Experience
Step into the 1920s. Stroll cobblestone paths through coffee fields and gardens past a farmhouse museum, chapel, and koi pond, then visit the eco-friendly mill to see how Arabica beans are harvested, processed, and roasted. Finish with tastings of Café La Chimba and a visit to La Boleta for coffee-flavored soaps, liqueurs, and souvenirs.
Anfiteatro de Villa
A one-of-a-kind architectural site built into the mountainside, featuring 14 themed caves inspired by world cultures such as Greece, Egypt, and Mexico. Explore art and light displays, gardens, and lookout points, then stay for dinner as the sun sets over the valley.
Ziplining
A quick canopy adventure above the green hills of Santa Ana.
Markets, Cafés & Local Life
Browse farmers markets, visit cozy sodas or cafés, and relax at local parks. Stop by a tiki bar run by a Caribbean Tico family, known for the best rondón, oxtail, & agua de sapo.
Tortuga Island
Isla Tortuga Catamaran
During the 90-minute cruise, watch for dolphins, sea turtles, and manta rays, and in migration season, humpback or pilot whales.
Part of the Negritos Island Wildlife Refuge, Tortuga is also home to wild peccaries, tropical birds, and volcanic rock reefs teeming with fish. The island is maintained as a protected forest and has earned the Ecological Blue Flag for more than five years — a recognition given to Costa Rican beaches whose waters remain free of contamination. Its unique geography gives the surrounding bays their vivid turquoise color, making them perfect for swimming. Once on shore, you can snorkel, join a banana-boat ride or guided forest walk, or simply relax beneath the palms with a drink in hand.
Included:
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Light breakfast on the catamaran
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Open bar: rum punch, margaritas, soft drinks, water
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Buffet lunch on the island (grilled chicken, spring rice, sautéed potatoes, fresh salads)
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Beach chairs and umbrellas
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Snorkeling, banana boat, eco-hike
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Bilingual guide, insurance, marine safety equipment
Contact for private charters & other boat tours.
Sail across the Gulf of Nicoya to Tortuga Island, a tropical haven of turquoise bays, calm swimming waters, and soft white sand.
Waterfall Explorer
Jaco Waterfall Adventure
After a traditional Costa Rican meal at base camp, ride 4×4 safari vehicles up over 1,000 feet into a private mountain reserve. Stop for sweeping ocean views before beginning your rainforest walk.
A short downhill trail leads into a secluded river canyon surrounded by cascading waterfalls and lush jungle. Follow the river across rustic bridges to reach hidden pools fed by mountain springs. Swim beneath the falls, float in emerald water, or leap from safe rock ledges ranging from 4 - 25 ft.
Explore a canyon of waterfalls & jungle pools tucked in the mountains above Jacó.
Pacific Adventure Combo
Full Day Jacó Adventure with Group Transport
Two classic Costa Rican adventures + buffet lunch at a discounted rate.
Depart San José and head west, enjoying mountain scenery along the way. Stop at the Tárcoles River bridge, known for its giant crocodiles, before continuing to a private adventure reserve tucked between rainforest hills and the Pacific coast.
Choose any two of the following:
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Zipline through the canopy
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ATV tour to private waterfalls
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Horseback ride to natural jungle pools
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Surf lessons on Jacó Beach
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Chocolate Experience
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Mountain biking adventure
Enjoy a fresh buffet lunch between activities, featuring Costa Rican dishes made with local ingredients.
ATV / Buggy
ATV Jungle Trails · Waterfalls · Rivers · Ocean Views
After a short safety briefing and test ride, your bilingual guide leads you through jungle trails, river crossings, and farm roads to a private waterfall, with scenic ocean viewpoints along the way.
2 hr: Jungle · Waterfalls · Ocean views
3 hr: 2 hr route + special Jacó beach lookout
4 hr: 2 hr route + Bijagual town & Doña Martha’s Soda
6 hr: 3 hr route + Pacayal Waterfalls
Zipline
Pacific Canopy Zipline
Climb the mountain by tractor, then glide through 12 platforms and 10 cables stretching 3.5 km — including one of Costa Rica’s longest ziplines at 2,400 ft.
The course combines ocean panoramas, dense jungle, and a cool mountain breeze for the perfect mix of thrill and scenery.
Fly above the rainforest with views of Herradura Bay, the Gulf of Nicoya, and forested mountains alive with scarlet macaws, toucans, and white-faced monkeys.
Horseback
Jaco Horseback Riding
Jungle & Natural Pools
Ride through a private forest reserve surrounded by lush greenery and wildlife. After about 45 minutes on horseback, take a short walk to a series of natural pools where you can swim in clear mountain water before heading back. 2 hours
Finca & Beach Ride
Start at Finca La Garabata, a working farm with chickens, cows, and horses. Follow flat trails toward the north end of Jacó Beach, pausing for photos by the shoreline. Look for sloths, monkeys, macaws, and iguanas along the way.1.5–2 hours
Bijagual Waterfall Adventure
For the more adventurous, combine horseback, hiking, and waterfall swimming in the mountains above Jacó. Ride along trails and river crossings to a panoramic lookout before beginning a 40-minute guided hike to Bijagual Waterfall — one of Costa Rica’s tallest. After taking in the views, continue to a natural waterfall pool where you can swim and jump from the rocks before returning on horseback. 3.5 hours
Horses are well-kept and guides adjust to all experience levels.
Canyoning
Waterfall Canyoning
Hike, swim, and rappel down waterfalls in a lush rainforest canyon.
Take a short tractor ride and guided hike into the forest, where certified bilingual guides help you descend three Cascading Falls, the tallest over six meters. Enjoy tropical scenery, fresh fruit, and coffee before returning to base.
Chocolate Experience
Cacao · Culture · Tradition
Learn how cacao is harvested, fermented, and transformed into chocolate using traditional, hands-on methods. Walk through a cacao garden with varieties from around the world — the only one of its kind on Costa Rica’s Central Pacific coast. Taste raw cacao fruit, watch the bean-to-bar process, and sample artisan chocolates paired with tropical fruit and hot chocolate, once called the “drink of the gods.” End with a short scenic walk through the property.
From cacao tree to cup — discover the art, flavor, and history of Costa Rican chocolate.
Crocodile Cruise
Tárcoles Motor Boat Safari
Featured on National Geographic and Animal Planet, this cruise explores the river–mangrove corridor where wildlife explodes: 15-ft crocs, scarlet macaws, roseate spoonbills, boat-billed herons, basilisks, iguanas, crabs, and occasional monkeys along the banks. All tours are conducted by experienced naturalist local guides aboard safe, stable boats designed for wildlife viewing.
Cruise the river that's home to some of Central America's largest crocodiles.
Pacific Rainforest Tram
Aerial Tram & Zipline
Open-air gondolas lift you over lush forest with views of hidden waterfalls, streams, and wildlife like scarlet macaws and monkeys. At the summit, ride a 15-cable, hands-free zipline with ocean views and cool mountain breezes.
Also on site are a butterfly garden, medicinal plant garden, and high ropes course. The tram can be enjoyed as a standalone experience.
Glide above the canopy, then soar back down through the rainforest.
Carara
Carara National Park
Carara National Park bridges two worlds — the tropical dry forest of the north and the lush Pacific rainforest to the south. This rare transition zone makes it one of Costa Rica’s most biologically rich regions, home to more than 400 bird species. The park is best known for its scarlet macaws, often seen flying overhead or feeding in the canopy. Trails are well-maintained and easy to walk, ranging from short paved loops to longer forest paths. Monkeys, deer, frogs, and colorful birds like toucans and trogons are common sights along the way.
Where the dry forest meets the rainforest. Home to Costa Rica’s scarlet macaws.
Punta Leona
Playa Blanca & Playa Mantas
Paradise on the Pacific.
Punta Leona is home to two of Costa Rica’s most beautiful beaches: Playa Blanca and Playa Mantas. Set within a private coastal reserve, you’ll find soft white sand backed by lush rainforest, calm turquoise water, and occasional macaw flyovers. Perfect for walks, swimming, and quiet moments under the palms — a hidden gem just minutes from Jacó.
Entrance: Free
Best Time to Visit: Around low tide (you can walk between the two beaches)
Sea Kayak & Snorkel
Playa Agujas
20 minutes from Jacó, Playa Agujas offers calm water and quiet coves ideal for kayaking and snorkeling. After meeting your guides and covering safety basics, paddle along the coast to a secluded beach framed by forest and cliffs.
Once there, swim, snorkel from shore (when conditions allow), or walk along the sand watching for monkeys and birds in the trees. You’ll spot colorful reef fish, rays, and coral formations. Enjoy a light fruit snack and water before heading back to base, where you can shower and change.
Stand-up paddleboarding and kayak fishing trips are also available.
Kayak to hidden coves north of Jacó.
El Miro
Discover Jacó’s iconic viewpoint.
Hike to El Miro Lookout
The Miró Mountain trail winds through rainforest to an abandoned hillside mansion covered in murals and graffiti, a landmark above Jacó. From the upper terraces, take in wide ocean and mountain views; watch for monkeys, birds, and frogs along the way.
A short, easy-to-intermediate hike close to town. The route can be extended to Playa Hermosa for a longer walk.
Entrance: Free
Duration: 45 minutes roundtrip for viewpoint | 1.5–2 hours to Playa Hermosa
Elevation Gain: 200–250 m (gradual incline)
Contact for Prices & Details
Playa Jacó / Surf Lessons
Playa Jacó
Certified bilingual instructors choose the best spot for your level, or rent a board and head out on your own.
From $55 pp | 1.5–2 hours | Group & Private Lessons Available | All include a surfboard, rash guard, and a fresh fruit snack.
A long, dark-sand beach with a relaxed surf-town vibe, Playa Jacó is perfect for seaside walks, beach bars, and year-round surf.