San José City Tour
Overview
San José is easy to skip on the way to the volcanoes and beaches, but a half day with a guide shows the capital at its best. The tour starts at the National Theatre, finished in 1897 and paid for by a tax on coffee exports, with its marble staircase, gilded balconies and painted ceilings.
Next door, beneath the Plaza de la Cultura, the Pre-Columbian Gold Museum holds more than 1,600 gold pieces made by the peoples of Costa Rica before the Spanish arrived: frogs, eagles, jaguars and shamans hammered and cast in gold. The tour continues past the Metropolitan Cathedral and the city's main avenues to the Central Market, opened in 1880, a warren of stalls selling coffee, spices, leather and wooden crafts, and small sodas serving lunch.
It's a good way to spend your first full day in Costa Rica while you get over the flight.
Highlights
- The National Theatre, Costa Rica's finest building
- Gold treasures at the Pre-Columbian Gold Museum
- The Metropolitan Cathedral
- Coffee, spices and crafts at the Central Market
- A local guide and hotel pick-up
What's included
- Return transport from San José hotels
- Bilingual guide
- Gold Museum entrance
- National Theatre entrance, unless stated by the operator
- Lunch and drinks
- Tips
Location
Request this tour
Send us your dates and a SkyRay advisor will confirm availability and price.
Itinerary
Frequently asked questions
Yes. It's a gentle half day that helps you get over the flight, and it shows sides of Costa Rica, its history and its coffee wealth, that you won't see in the national parks.
Access varies between sites and vehicles. Tell us your needs and we'll check with the local operator before booking.
