pura vida passENES

Things to do in San José & Central Valley

80 places and 243 secret spots in San José & Central Valley, with start times, how long each takes, prices as published and practical tips.

Trip Planners

  • Actúa DMCTrip PlannersCosta Rican DMC organizing incentive trips and corporate events since 1985.
  • ARA ToursTrip PlannersSan José-based tour operator for German-speaking travelers, selling round trips, self-drive tours, hotels and transfers.
  • Camino TravelTrip Planners · from $1,842San José inbound tour operator designing personalized trips for families, couples and groups since 1991.
  • Costa Rica DMCTrip PlannersDestination management company for corporate groups and incentive trips, with offices in San José and Liberia.
  • Costa Rica ExpeditionsTrip PlannersLong-established Costa Rican tour operator known for naturalist guides and custom-planned vacations.
  • Costa Rica Sun ToursTrip PlannersFamily-owned Costa Rican tour operator creating countrywide tour programs since 1988.
  • Costa Rican TrailsTrip PlannersSan José DMC founded in 1989, designing luxury tailor-made trips across Costa Rica and Panama.
  • Destinos Tour Operator & DMCTrip PlannersCosta Rican tour operator and DMC since 1993, with offices in Panama for combined itineraries.
  • Ecole TravelTrip PlannersSan José destination management company since 1993, known for sustainable tourism programs.
  • Expediciones TropicalesTrip Planners · from $99San José tour consolidator and transport company running day tours from the capital since 1993.
  • Los Maestros DMCTrip Planners · from $2,360San José DMC building custom Costa Rica itineraries since 2017, sold only through travel advisors and wholesalers.
  • Memorable Costa Rica (Memorable Travel Group)Trip PlannersLuxury DMC that plans tailor-made trips in Costa Rica and Central America, sold only through travel advisors.
  • Swiss Travel Costa Rica DMCTrip PlannersLong-running Costa Rican DMC with offices in Santa Ana (San José) and near Liberia airport.
  • TAM Travel CorporationTrip PlannersOne of Costa Rica's oldest travel companies, handling incentive trips, events, tours and luxury vacations.
  • Travel ExcellenceTrip PlannersCosta Rican tour operator and DMC near San José airport, serving travelers from over 50 countries since 1996.

Transfers & Rentals

  • Adobe Rent a CarTransfers & RentalsOne of Costa Rica's largest local car rental companies, with 16 offices around the country.
  • Alamo Rent a Car Costa Rica (Grupo ANC, also National)Transfers & RentalsLocal operator of the Alamo and National car rental brands, with offices at the airports and in the main tourist towns.
  • Costa Rica Green AirwaysTransfers & Rentals · takes 30 minDomestic airline flying from San José airport to Manuel Antonio, Nosara, Santa Teresa/Montezuma and Puerto Jiménez.
  • InterbusTransfers & Rentals · takes 2.5 h–5.5 hOne of Costa Rica's best-known shuttle companies, with shared minivans linking the main tourist towns for over 30 years.
  • Jumbo Car Costa RicaTransfers & Rentals · from $15Car rental company with offices near San José and Liberia airports, known for low-season rates from about $15 a day.
  • Mapache Rent a CarTransfers & RentalsLocally owned car rental company with offices around the country, including at San José and Liberia airports.
  • Poás Rent a CarTransfers & RentalsCosta Rican car rental company with more than 40 years in business, based next to San José airport.
  • Sansa AirlinesTransfers & Rentals · takes 30 min–1 hCosta Rica's main domestic airline, flying small planes from San José to beach and nature destinations around the country.

Food & Coffee

  • Alojamiento y Mirador Bosque Alegre (restaurant above Laguna Hule)Food & CoffeeA simple country restaurant and lodge on the rim above Laguna Hule, the deepest natural lake in Costa Rica.
  • Bocadito de CieloFood & CoffeeMountaintop restaurant on the road to Turrialba with panoramic views and old photographs of Cartago on the walls, serving Costa Rican plates with a coffee and crafts store at the back.
  • Café KahawaFood & CoffeeCozy garden café in San Gerardo de Dota, popular after hikes in the Savegre valley for trout dishes, a trout and cream cheese sandwich, desserts with fresh fruit and good local coffee, with quetzals sometimes seen from the tables.
  • Café RojoFood & CoffeeSmall, much-loved café-restaurant in Barrio Amón with a Vietnamese-inspired menu of noodle bowls and rolls and good vegan and vegetarian choices.
  • CafeotecaFood & CoffeeSpecialty-coffee house in Barrio Escalante that serves Costa Rican beans from eight growing regions by the cup and by the bag, with a daytime menu of brunch plates, salads and pastries.
  • Cafetería 1743 & SouvenirFood & CoffeeCozy café-restaurant by the sports plaza in Orosí village, named after the 1743 colonial church nearby, serving coffee from the valley, cheese tortillas, sandwiches, pasta and homemade pastries, with a garden terrace.
  • Cevichera Junior (Mercado de Alajuela)Food & CoffeeEstablished seafood stall-restaurant inside the Alajuela market, praised for shrimp ceviche, breaded fish, paella and rice with seafood at low prices and big portions.
  • El Toledo Coffee Tour (organic coffee farm)Food & Coffee · from $30Small organic coffee farm in the hills above Atenas where a family walks you through the plantation, then roasts, brews and serves coffee and tropical fruit; coffee wine tasting is an add-on and farm lunches can be arranged.
  • Foodie Tours Costa RicaFood & CoffeeSmall-group food walks in San José: a contemporary Costa Rican tasting route and a farm-to-table tour through Barrio Escalante, a city culture and coffee-workshop walk, and a day trip to a farm in Sarapiquí.
  • Hacienda Alsacia (Starbucks Coffee Farm)Food & CoffeeStarbucks' working coffee farm and research centre on the slopes of Poás: guided tours (reserve online) walk through the nursery, plantation and processing, and end with a tasting, with a café overlooking the farm.
  • Hacienda DokaFood & Coffee · takes 1 h · from $14Historic coffee estate on the slopes of Poás Volcano offering guided tours of its plantation and traditional water-powered mill.
  • La Casona de mi TierraFood & CoffeeOld-house restaurant in San Pablo, about 15 years old, serving home-style Costa Rican food such as chifrijo, gallo pinto breakfasts and casados in rooms filled with antiques.
  • La Casona del Cafetal (restaurant on Lake Cachí)Food & CoffeeLakeside restaurant (part of a small hotel) on a coffee estate above Cachí reservoir, with a large covered terrace over the water and traditional Costa Rican cooking such as gallo pinto.
  • La CriollitaFood & CoffeeLong-running Costa Rican restaurant in central San José serving generous plates of meat, chicken or fish with rice, beans and salad, Tico-style ceviche, chicken soup and daily specials, with a covered patio.
  • La Tortillería (Cartago)Food & CoffeeCartago branch of a tortilla-based restaurant: freshly made tortillas topped or stuffed Costa Rican style, from tortilla de queso and chorreadas to the torticasado and pintortilla with gallo pinto.
  • Las Delicias del MaízFood & CoffeeCorn-focused Costa Rican restaurant west of Alajuela with casados, beef-rib soup served with corn cakes, vegetarian choices and a refreshing pineapple-mint drink; an English menu is available.
  • Lolo Mora's Ice CreamFood & CoffeeTiny stall in the central market that has long sold one thing: a cinnamon-vanilla ice cream served in cups.
  • Miriam's QuetzalsFood & CoffeeFamily-run restaurant and bird-watching stop in San Gerardo de Dota: gallo pinto breakfast, casado or whole fried trout for lunch, and a garden with hummingbirds and visiting quetzals.
  • Rancho de CeciFood & CoffeeRustic, wood-trimmed family restaurant on Route 141 in Laguna, just north of Zarcero, serving home-style Costa Rican food for over 50 years — recommended by locals.
  • Restaurante ChubascosFood & CoffeeGarden restaurant on the way up to Poás volcano known for typical Costa Rican plates such as gallitos chubascos, strawberry juice and smoothies from local farms, hammocks and a pretty garden.
  • Restaurante El Mirador (San Juanillo de Naranjo)Food & CoffeeRoadside restaurant on Route 141 between Naranjo and Zarcero, running for over 30 years: big windows over coffee farms and the Central Valley, generous typical plates and fair prices.
  • Restaurante El ParquecitoFood & CoffeeFamily-run, very cheap buffet right across from Zarcero's topiary park, opened in 2019 — a warm spot to eat local food when the mountain fog and drizzle roll in.
  • Restaurante Mirador del ValleFood & CoffeeHillside restaurant above Alajuela with sweeping Central Valley views, a big buffet-style spread of Costa Rican food, plenty of parking, and a pleasant lit-up terrace at night; close to the airport.
  • Restaurante Nuestra TierraFood & CoffeeRustic, folkloric-themed Costa Rican restaurant near the National Museum with big homemade plates, live music at times and late hours.
  • Sueños del IrazúFood & CoffeeTraditional restaurant on the way up to Irazú volcano with views of nature and a nearby river, known for hearty homemade soups, beef soup and fried fish.
  • Truchas Selva MadreFood & CoffeeMountain trout farm and restaurant off the Interamericana toward Cerro de la Muerte where you can catch your own trout or order it fried, with hiking trails to a waterfall and camping.

Parks & Wildlife

  • Aquiares Coffee & Community ExperienceParks & Wildlife · from $38A large historic coffee estate near Turrialba that offers a two-hour coffee tour, a full-day estate program, horseback rides through the plantation and bird-watching walks.
  • Bitzü Coffee TourParks & Wildlife · from $30Small-group boutique coffee farm tour at the foot of Poás volcano: seed to cup, a look at the plantation, roasting and a live tasting with valley views.
  • Blue Falls of Costa Rica (Cataratas Las Gemelas)Parks & Wildlife · from $20Private forest reserve next to Catarata del Toro with a chain of milky-blue waterfalls and pools colored by volcanic minerals; you can swim at any of them.
  • Botanical Orchid Garden La GaritaParks & Wildlife · from $6Small botanical garden near the airport with a self-guided path through the grounds, an orchid showroom with hundreds of blooms and koi ponds.
  • Britt Coffee TourParks & Wildlife · from $25Walk through Café Britt's working coffee farm near Barva volcano, from cherry to roast to a guided tasting, with a butterfly garden and a lunch restaurant on site.
  • Cascadas Pozo Azul (Caída Nieve y Paz)Parks & WildlifeFarm trail that drops past blue swimming holes and a natural slide to Caída Nieve y Paz, the tallest waterfall around Bajos del Toro at about 155 m.
  • Catarata Río Agrio, Pozas Celestes & Dino LandParks & WildlifeFamily-run property where the acidic Río Agrio drops about 50 m into a steep canyon; the ticket also covers a lookout and the Pozas Celestes, cold baby-blue river pools down the road.
  • Catarata Tesoro EscondidoParks & WildlifePrivately run waterfall on the edge of Bajos del Toro with its own lookout; large signs on Route 708 point the way.
  • Finca Cristina (coffee farm and store)Parks & Wildlife · from $25Family coffee farm above the Orosi valley with a 90-minute plantation tour and tasting three days a week, a farm store, and a conservation area known for birds and other wildlife.
  • Jardín Botánico Else KientzlerParks & WildlifeBotanical garden in Sarchí with winding trails among bamboo, palms, bromeliads and unusual trees, a plant nursery and a café, on Finca La Evita.
  • Jardín Botánico Lankester (University of Costa Rica)Parks & WildlifeUniversity of Costa Rica botanical garden founded in 1973, famous for its orchid and epiphyte collections, plus a Japanese garden, bromeliads, heliconias and palms along shaded paths.
  • La Marta Wildlife RefugeParks & Wildlife · from $10Private cloud-forest refuge with trails, a river, an old hydro-plant zone and guided day and night walks.
  • La Paz Waterfall Gardens Nature ParkParks & WildlifePrivate cloud-forest park with a trail down past five waterfalls, plus a large wildlife sanctuary (cats, birds, frogs, snakes), a butterfly garden and a hummingbird garden.
  • Rescate Wildlife Rescue Center (formerly Zoo Ave)Parks & Wildlife14-hectare wildlife rescue and rehabilitation sanctuary near the airport with birds, cats, monkeys and reptiles that are treated and released when possible; visits help fund the rescue work.
  • Spirogyra Butterfly GardenParks & WildlifeSmall, shaded butterfly garden inside the city, with native species flying free in a netted forest garden, a pupae display, and a trail along the river corridor.
  • Tirimbina Rainforest CenterParks & WildlifePrivate biological reserve of over 900 acres on the Sarapiquí River, known for its hanging bridges, guided night walks and a chocolate tour, with a small lodge and a research station.

Surf, Boats & Diving

  • Costa Rica Pura Vida RaftingSurf, Boats & Diving · from $50Whitewater rafting on the Río Sarapiquí in class II-III or III-IV, as half-day or full-day trips, with private departures and a gentler safari float.
  • Sarapiquí Outdoor CenterSurf, Boats & Diving · from $85Established rafting and kayaking base on the Río Sarapiquí with half- and full-day trips in class II-IV, a gentle wildlife safari float, and day trips to the Pacuare River.

Stays

  • El Silencio Lodge & SpaStaysCloud-forest eco-lodge in Bajos del Toro, between Juan Castro Blanco and Poás Volcano national parks, with private waterfalls and a spa.

Tours & Adventure

  • Fábrica de Carretas Eloy AlfaroTours & AdventureTraditional oxcart workshop and store in Sarchí where artisans hand-paint oxcarts and wooden pieces; visitors can watch the work, walk through the old factory and buy crafts.
  • Museo del Jade y de la Cultura PrecolombinaTours & AdventureMuseum of the Instituto Nacional de Seguros with one of the largest jade collections in the Americas, plus ceramics, gold and stone sculpture in five themed permanent rooms and two rooms for temporary shows.
  • San José Free Walking TourTours & AdventureGuided walk through central San José covering the main squares, the National Theater area and the historic centre, advertised as a free tour, with morning and afternoon departures and a Spanish-language tour.

Sodas & Local Food

  • Restaurante Doña MarlenSodas & Local FoodSmall family soda in San Gerardo de Dota praised as one of the country's best: trout casados and whole fried trout, a succulent garden, fair prices and a famous house cocktail.
  • Restaurante Típico Toro Amarillo (Yellow Bull)Sodas & Local FoodVillage restaurant on Route 708 in Bajos del Toro cooking on a wood-fired stove; travel writers rate its breakfast gallo pinto among the best they've had.
  • Soda El KoraSodas & Local FoodTiny, spotless roadside soda in La Virgen where the street-food-style plates, especially tacos al pastor and tostadas con carne, and fresh batidos get near-perfect reviews.
  • Soda Tala #1 (Mercado Central)Sodas & Local FoodSoda Tala is a no-frills counter soda inside San José's Mercado Central, the 1880 market on Avenida Central, and it has been feeding locals for more than five decades.
  • Soda TapiaSodas & Local FoodRetro 1950s-style corner diner beside La Sabana park, open very late, known for fried chicken, grilled sandwiches, casados and milkshakes and sundaes.
  • Soda Yogui'sSodas & Local FoodFamily-run neighborhood soda near the university with simple decor, big casados and a long daily menu, known for the casado with carne en salsa and fresh cas juice.

Day Passes & Hot Springs

  • Selva Verde LodgeDay Passes & Hot Springs · takes 2 h–4 h · from $35Pioneer eco-lodge in the Sarapiquí lowlands, about two hours from San José, with a 500-acre rainforest reserve and trails.
  • The Retreat Costa RicaDay Passes & Hot Springs · takes 10 h · from $99Boutique wellness resort in the hills of Atenas, about 35 minutes from San José airport, with daily yoga, a spa and three restaurants.

Yoga & Wellness

  • Termales Hacienda OrosiYoga & WellnessThermal pools at different temperatures set in a coffee estate above the Orosi valley, with day and night passes, a restaurant, a small farm and a self-guided coffee trail.

Secret spots in San José & Central Valley