Top Central Valley Walking Tours

Sample a wide variety of Costa Rican flavors while learning about the country's cultural heritage with this San Jose walking tour. You'll shop for fruits and veggies at the Mercado Central and the Mercado Borbón, visit the National Theater and La Laguna Plaza, and try all sorts of local treats along the way.

Combine three adventurous activities in a single tour: a hike to Arental Volcano, visit to the Hanging Bridges, and exploration of La Fortuna Waterfall. This full-day tour from La Fortuna, perfect for nature lovers, includes hiking and swimming amidst Costa Rica's beautiful natural scenery. Hotel pickup and drop-off included.

Discover the natural beauty of the La Fortuna region on an action-packed full-day tour that is ideal for people who enjoy outdoors activities. Go on hikes through lush rain forest; visit a butterfly garden and Maleku Indian village; take a dip at La Fortuna waterfall; look for wildlife; and view the Arenal Volcano. Top off the day with a cocktail and a relaxing soak in a natural hot water river.

Get a taste of San Jose’s culture and cuisine on this 3-hour walking tour. Explore Costa Rica’s capital accompanied by an expert guide and learn about the city’s history, architecture and flavor. Explore the produce stalls of two traditional markets and discover what makes Costa Rican coffee so delicious as you sample some local brews. The tour is capped at 12 people for a personalized small-group experience.

Chocolate lovers flock to this incredible tour from La Fortuna that includes the sweetest rainforest experience and unearths the hidden secretes of local chocolate production. Visit a farm where cocoa is grown, processed and produced. This hands-on experience lets travelers eat as much chocolate as they want while learning about history, culture and traditions of this popular Costa Rican sweet.

Get a taste of Costa Rica’s famed biodiversity without straying too far from the city with this all-access day pass to La Paz Waterfall Gardens Nature Park. Featuring hiking trails through the cloud forest, cascading waterfalls, a rescued jungle cats educational program, and numerous specialty wildlife exhibits, La Paz Waterfall Gardens guarantees good fun for the whole family. This pass can be redeemed anytime during the park’s normal operating hours and is good for accessing all of the exhibits.

Explore the Costa Rican capital’s rich history, landmark buildings, and modern culture on a combo bus and walking tour of San Jose. Get a great introduction to city highlights like the National Theater and Art Museum, and stop to walk through bustling markets and public plazas to feel the pulse of this modern Central American metropolis. Get an extra boost of Costa Rican culture by listening to traditional folkloric music onboard the bus.

Slip into a natural thermal pool with a full day pass to La Fortuna’s hot springs, with the option for an onsite lunch or dinner. Explore a lush tropical garden between visits to the steaming pools and waterfalls, relax in a shady private hut or try a luxurious hydro-massage. Enjoy clean, well-appointed facilities and a full range of body treatments, and take in stunning views of the Arenal volcano while you relax in this tropical haven.

Zipline through Costa Rican rain forest on a canopy tour that goes over the spectacular La Fortuna Waterfall—an opportunity not offered on similar excursions. Between cables, take in views of Arenal Volcano and Cerro Chato and talk to your guides about the La Fortuna area. Your tour ends with a trip to the Maleku Cultural Resource Center for a chance to wind down before hotel drop-off.

Discover San Jose’s hidden delights with this unique evening tour of the Costa Rican capital. Get up close and personal with the nightlife in San Jose, starting with the Morazán Park where we will learn post-colonial Costa Rican history. From there, our appreciation for San Jose’s historical architecture continues, with a walk by the Metallic Building, then on to Spain Park for a fantastic view of the Yellow House (now the Ministry of Foreign Affairs). We’ll continue to charming Barrio Escalante, one of the oldest residential areas in San Jose. Finish the night with a 3-course meal and wine or beer pairings at a gourmet Costa Rican restaurant.

Take the stress out of eating and drinking at night in a new city with this fun-filled dinner and nightlife experience. Explore markets, check out neighborhoods you might otherwise miss, and indulge in a delicious three-course gourmet dinner with wine pairings. Learn about local food and culture from your guide throughout the evening.

See more of the Arenal Volcano region with the convenience of a full-day tour from San Jose. Take a scenic route to Arenal with views of farms, rain forest, and small towns, and stop at a coffee plantation where you can sample coffee and traditional snacks. Stop at a waterfall, look for wildlife, then have the afternoon to soak in hot springs set in a lush garden near the Arenal Volcano.

Visiting San Jose’s markets with a guide turns an everyday scene into a rich cultural experience as your guide tells you the stories behind the markets’ offerings and takes the guesswork out of deciding what’s worth a try. After visiting top San Jose markets, head to the Pre-Columbian Gold Museum to take a look at the city’s early history. Highlights: Discover the secrets behind handicrafts, herbal remedies, and fresh produce at Borbon and San Jose Central Market Visit top markets to learn about local culture through food Lots of fruits, empanada, ceviche and coffee tastings included, plus museum entrance Good way for first-time visitors to learn about San Jose history and culture

Discover the beautiful natural attractions of Costa Rica on this all-day tour from San Jose. Fly over the rainforest canopy via a zipline course and rappel down 150 feet (50 meters) at an adventure park. Visit two waterfalls and admire the local wildlife including iguanas. Stop at a coffee plantation where you'll learn how it's cultivated and harvested. Finally, relax in thermal mineral hot springs at the base of Arenal Volcano.

See how La Fortuna transforms after sunset with this guided walking tour. Your guide will take you and your party into a natural area, where you'll learn about local crepuscular and nocturnal creatures and maybe see some yourself, such as owls, snakes, and colorful frogs—if you’re lucky, you may even spot a red-eyed tree frog.

You will absolutely love San José after this experience. Guided by young biologists you will discover nature hiding in the middle of Costa Rica's largest city. You will get to experience with all your senses, wildlife you wouldn't have imagined existed minutes away from downtown. We are an organization called Oropopo Experience, looking to change the way tourism is done in Costa Rica while supporting young scientists, researchers, and local entrepreneurs. Additional notes: ** From May to November we recommend booking the morning slot, however, afternoons are also great. • The only San Jose walking nature tour. • Explore one of the last green patches inside the city on foot with a local biologist. • See, smell, taste, touch, and listen to nature. • Find colorful birds, edible plants, and a wild sloth population. • A percentage of the earnings goes to Funga Conservation, a non-profit foundation. • Small-group tour with a maximum of 7 people ensures an intimate experience

Whether you’re an art collector or enthusiast, you’ll enjoy this tour that explores the contemporary Costa Rican art scene. Visit galleries featuring indigenous works, fashion, paintings, sculptures, furniture, and more, and possibly meet the artists. Along the way, you’ll also catch sight of the local graffiti and learn about the history of the city and its current events.

Hike Arenal Volcano National Park with a guided tour from La Fortuna, and discover lava formations, lush forests, and thriving wildlife. Watch for the monkeys and sloths that live within the park’s protected zone as you walk along the active, western edge of the volcano, then take a rainforest trail to Arenal’s most recent lava flow. Enjoy views of Arenal Lake and the rugged volcanic landscape, catch a glimpse of glowing fresh lava, then finish your day with an optional stop at a thermal hot spring (entrance fee not included).

You don’t need to venture deep into the rain forest to see Costa Rica’s spectacular wildlife on this guided nature walk in a La Fortuna nature center. On this tour, a guide accompanies you on an easy, kid-friendly walk through the forest, pointing out wildlife like sloths, birds, and tree frogs along the way.

Learn all about the coffee growing and making process on this private tour of the Starbucks chain’s Hacienda Alsacia Coffee Farm. Explore the farm on a guided tour where you’ll visit the tree nursery, wet mill, drying patio, and roasting machine. Learn about sustainable farming practices, and about the people who produce the coffee you drink every day. An educational tour that travelers with a range of interests will enjoy.

This activity will take you to discover the wonderful nocturnal secrets of the tropical rain forest accompanied by a guide certified by the Costa Rican Institute of Tourism (I.C.T) with more than 15 years of experience. We will visit the trails of one of the best areas of La Fortuna for the observation of the local flora and fauna at the foot of the Arenal Volcano in the Mirador El Silencio. We will enter the forest in search of the hourglass frog, the Blue Jeans frog, the largest frog in the country, the “Rana Come Pollos” and the most beautiful in Costa Rica, the red-eyed tree frog. Also in this place it is possible to observe some species of leaf insects, stick insects, snakes, such as the eyelash viper, snails, Terciopelos, La Víbora Mano de Piedra and coral snakes, some mammals such as sloths, possums and anteaters.

From La Fortuna, you'll meet at Tifakara Lodge then walk through a frog sanctuary with red-eyed frogs, and look for all the other species of amphibians and more as you make your way through the jungle at night with your guide. This will take a little over an hour. You'll see lots of surprises along the way, and at the end, enjoy a complimentary cocktail, beer, or wine.

Explore the rain forest of Arenal at three different speeds with a combo tour that has something for everyone. Get a good view of exotic birds and waterfalls on the Sky Walk suspended bridges, and glide up a mountain reserve on the Sky Tram gondola. There, the real fun begins as you fly back down on a thrilling Sky Trek zipline course. In between bursts of adrenaline, enjoy fantastic views over the treetops of Arenal Volcano and Lake.

Hear the sounds of the rainforest at night during this short, small-group, guided walking tour in Arenal’s wild frog sanctuary. See what nocturnal animals do while the rest of the world sleeps and visit with some of the 28 species of frog who live here. Learn how this private nature reserve is cared for by the Rojas Bonilla family as you hike the trails to chorus of noisy frogs.