Things to do & places to visit in Province of San Jose, Costa Rica

Province of San Jose #5 destination in Costa Rica 2023. The average rating score is 4.48 based on 22.7k traveler reviews, of 119 attractions. Timezone: America/Costa_Rica, current date and time: Sunday, May 05, 2024, 0:32.

Province of San Jose Weather Statistics view more »

General weather summary in May

81°F - 69°F

Temperature Highs - Lows

Pleasantly warm, humid but cool

Feels like

90%

Chance of rain

1219.0 millimeters

Amount

6.2 mph

Wind speed

93%

Humidity

12.6

Daylight length

5:15 AM

Sunrise

5:49 PM

Sunset

16%

Cloud cover

T-shirt, rain coat and rain boots

What to wear

Top things to do (40)

Top destinations in Province of San Jose 40

See more 28 destinations »

Top places to visit (30 attractions) view more »

5.0 ILT Costa Rica (1.272 reviews)
- Friendly, punctual drivers, comfortable vehicles, faultless organisation!
Sunday: 7:00 AM - 8:00 PM Taxis & Shuttles

Costa Rica's most reliable private transfer service. Our private transfer service offers a safe, convenient, and flexible way to travel anywhere within Costa Rica. See more..
5.0 Costa Rica Shuttle (922 reviews)
- Excellent Service!
Sunday: 6:00 AM - 10:00 PM Spent 1-2 hours Taxis & Shuttles

The easiest and most cost-effective Transportation service to and from the airport or from your home, office or hotel. Costa Rica Shuttle is the nation’s leading Transportation Company, airport shuttle service, providing door-to-door ground transportation to more than 15 thousand passengers per year. Our friendly drivers, comfortable vans and reasonable rates take the hassle out of getting to and See more..
5.0 Morpho Vans (675 reviews)
- Excellent service and great price
Sunday: 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM Spent More than 3 hours Taxis & Shuttles

Morpho Vans provides safe, reliable and flexible Private Transportation for travelers in Costa Rica. Our Private Transfers can be scheduled at anytime you choose. We’ll drive you anywhere you need to go in Costa Rica: airports, hotels, offices, houses, beaches or mountains. See more..
5.0 Vic-Tours (351 reviews)
- Amazing birding boat ride!
Sunday: 12:00 AM - 11:59 PM River Rafting & Tubing • Scuba & Snorkelling • 4WD, ATV & Off-Road Tours • Sightseeing Tours • Nature & Wildlife Tours

We wanted a birding boat tour at the very last minute, and Victor was super communicative and arranged it for us! We’re so grateful, because it was an incredible experience being out on the river and in the mangroves in the early morning — absolutely stunning. Plus, we saw over 50 species of birds with him! He was super helpful and gave us lots of tips about how to enjoy the rest of our time in the area. We even ran into him on the trails of Carara National Park and he gave us some pointers on where to see some specific birds we were looking for. Highly highly recommend this birding boat ride with Victor! See more..
5.0 Cloudbridge Nature Reserve (170 reviews)
- Escape to Paradise
Sunday: 6:00 AM - 6:00 PM Spent 2-3 hours Nature & Wildlife Areas

Cloudbridge is a private Nature Reserve and Research Center protecting the cloudforest next to Chirripó National Park. We offer lovely hiking trails with gorgeous waterfalls and the opportunity to see amazing wildlife. We also offer accommodations for guests, and other services. See more..
5.0 Batsu (122 reviews)
- Amazing Bird Photography
Sunday: 5:00 AM - 7:00 PM Spent 2-3 hours Nature & Wildlife Areas • Gardens

In the Batsú Gardens every detail has been intentionally designed for birding and bird photography. We have created a natural space that combines all the necessary ingredients resulting in a site where you can comfortably observe and photograph birds while adding new species to your life list. See more..
5.0 Copey Estate Winery (119 reviews)
- Love it!!
Private Tours • Wine Tours & Tastings

This is an AMAZING place to visit, it's the first and only place in Costa Rica that makes wine and liquor from Golden Berry. The staff is amazing and the final wine tasting is the best! 100% recommended. You do need good sneakers and be prepared for any kind of weather. See more..
5.0 Pacific Journeys (96 reviews)
- 5 star day, 6 star hosts.
Sunday: 8:45 AM - 3:30 PM Hiking & Camping Tours • Nature & Wildlife Tours

5 star experience led by 6 star guides. Diego & Greta made our very adventurous, soaking wet experience a memory maker for our family of 4 adult sized peeps. His ability to spot the tiniest critter while maintaining a manageable pace was impressive. Our outdoor family loved every step of our day including a waterfall swim, rappel, and cave lunch. Highly recommend to able bodied adventure lovers looking for an unforgettable experience. See more..
5.0 La Iguana Chocolate (85 reviews)
- You have got to see this place!
Sunday: Food Tours

This family is truly inspiring. We had such a lovely time and great learning experience. Mariana was our guide. Not only was the tour about chocolate but also so many other things you wouldnt even expect to find in nature. Buy the lunch! Its an extra $10 home made from local foods and I cant say enough about how delicious it was. Made by Marianas mother who should probably open a restaurant! I am excited for this family to do big things in the future ❤️ Pura vida! See more..
5.0 Café Don Emilio (57 reviews)
- Best day trip ever
Sunday: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM Spent 2-3 hours Speciality & Gift Shops

We are a family brand founded in 2015 in the community of San Luis Bocana Pérez Zeledón by Don Emilio and Doña Rita, both farmers who along with their children have been harvesting coffee since the mid-nineties. We are committed to providing our customers with quality coffee prepared through a slow and careful artisanal method. And when you visit us and share a cup of coffee with us, we will make you feel at home and show you the artisanal culture of coffee from the perspective of an authentic peasant family. Tradition and a landscape adorned by the beautiful view of Bahía Ballena are the perfect setting to live the experience of coffee production as our grandparents taught us at the beginning of the century. See more..
5.0 Airborne Arts (55 reviews)
- Great experience!!
Sunday: 7:00 AM - 7:00 PM Lessons & Workshops

Exhilarating Flying Trapeze and aerial classes open to the public! Retreats and accommodations also available. Come experience an adrenil-filled 2 hour class with our professional staff. All ages and experience levels welcome. We are located above Dominical, Costa Rica overlooking Diamante Falls, Costa Rica's tallest waterfall and near Nauyaca Falls! More information is available on our website - please call ahead to verify class times. See more..
5.0 Del Rio Spa (50 reviews)
- One of the best massages ever
Sunday: 10:00 AM - 8:00 PM Spent 2-3 hours Spas

Exuberant cloud forest surroundings, a unspoiled river that is known to be the cleanest in all of Central America, and an abundance of wildlife all adorn our gardens and are just a part of what makes Del Rio Spa one of a kind. We guarantee an experience of complete relaxation and comfort that cannot be equaled. So, allow yourself to take advantage of the pristine surroundings, immerse in total relaxation and revitalize your well-being.Our wide range of therapeutic services, high quality of personnel, exquisite location and our completely natural products create a perfect combination your body will thank you for.Choose among our collection of relaxing treatments:• Massages• Exfoliations and body wraps• Facial treatments• Hydrotherapy sessionsDel Rio Spa... because exploring nature deserves a retreat. See more..
5.0 Hacienda Ébano (41 reviews)
- Private, Stunning and Authentic CR
Sunday: 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM Spent More than 3 hours Farms

Hacienda Ebano is a Natural Reserve, Rainforest, Waterfalls, Hiking trails, Ocean and mountains views, also Farming. Located in Baru Costa Rica - close to Dominical Beach. Come and enjoy our Safari Tropical Tour, an exploration of the rainforest, waterfalls and mountains, also learn about the Costa Rica culture and the typical cuisine. See more..
4.5 Teatro Nacional Costa Rica (3.598 reviews)
- Really beautiful!
Sunday: Spent 1-2 hours Historic Sites • Theaters

Since 1897, this elegant theater has been a source of pride. See more..
4.5 Pre-Columbian Gold Museum (2.459 reviews)
- awesome place
Speciality Museums

A large collection of indigenous gold art. See more..
4.5 Museo Nacional De Costa Rica (1.486 reviews)
- Fantastic Museum
Sunday: 9:00 AM - 4:30 AM History Museums

This 19th-century building contains a well-organized exhibits on Costa Rica's history and culture. See more..
4.5 Jade Museum (1.361 reviews)
- Engaging and inspiring
Sunday: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM Spent 1-2 hours History Museums

The Jade Museum and of precolumbian culture is positioned as an innovative state-of-the-art cultural proposal in the protection and conservation of archaeological heritage in Central America. Located in the center of Costa Rics's capital, the building was especially constructed to house the museum's collection, its architecture evoking a cut jade block. Its five levels exhibit objects crafted by artisans specialized in solving their daily subsistence needs, their spiritual and political world. See more..
4.5 Nauyaca Waterfalls Nature Park (836 reviews)
- Stunning waterfall
Nature & Wildlife Areas

Truly beautiful waterfall, a great place to see in real life and spend time at. The water was so refreshing to swim in. An amazing location. The walk to the falls is 4km, mostly gentle uphill with some steeper sections. In the heat, take it slow and carry water. You have to book a reservation online as they limit numbers, and then pay at their office just before the turnoff to the car park which is a further 2km down a tarmac road. Take that slow, as its not the widest road if you meet any oncoming traffic. See more..
4.5 Carara National Park (803 reviews)
- Great Wildlife Viewing in a Relaxed Quiet Environment
National Parks

Carara National Park is south of the Rio Tarcoles and 15 km north of Jaco Dentral. It boasts of a large population of breeding scarlet macaws, capuchin monkeys, anteaters, parrots, aracaris, kingfishers old growth forest and is a transistional forest supporting both Amazonian and Mesoamerican habitats. See more..
4.5 Museo de los Ninos (438 reviews)
- Lots for kids to se and do - burn them out :-)
Children's Museums

Great for kids under 12. Lots to see and play with. Took 6 kids and by the time they got back to the hotel, they could barely walk....skipped dinner, took a bath and crashed. Thank Goodness :-) See more..
4.5 Multiplaza (408 reviews)
- Great Shopping Experience
Sunday: 10:00 AM - 8:00 PM Shopping Malls

What a beautiful mall. Interesting mix of stores and food options. We used valet parking which was free as their card machine was broken (3 visits ) We visited During December and January and it was pretty crowed Clean , Safe and multi levels of great stores It’s still a little hard to get used to 23% tax Can’t wait to go back Highly recommend See more..
4.5 Museo de Arte Costarricense (369 reviews)
- Fantastic & free. Plan to visit!
Sunday: 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM Art Museums

This museum displays works by local artists. See more..
4.5 Parque Nacional Braulio Carrillo (334 reviews)
- Mysterious but lovely animal
Nature & Wildlife Areas • Hiking Trails

We were celebrating our wedding anniversary and wanted to visit a different national park in Costa Rica and close to San Jose. We decided to visit Braulio carillo and chose the second entrance of this park which is the easiest and most popular the Zurqui ranger station. It is just 12 miles (20 km) northeast of San Jose along the Guapiles Hwy (32) and we surprised with a mysterious but lovely animal (An anteater) that was hidden in a tree, this was the first time we ever saw an anteater in the wild such a lovely animal. See more..
4.5 Galeria Namu (212 reviews)
- Authentic Costa Rican art
Art Galleries

Galeria Namu is a fair trade art gallery for local and indigenous artists from Costa Rica and surrounding Central America countries. Established in 1998 at this same location, visitors to Costa Rica's capital city of San Jose can find us easily behind the Holiday Inn (across from Parque Morazan).Knowledge and passion for the artists and their work is what makes a visit to Galeria Namu special; the owner, Aisling, and her son Conall, along with their support staff love to share with visitors the background of the tribe or individual artisans and the remarkable collection of unique and very special pieces available for purchase. For the past 15 years, Galeria Namu has nurtured a relationship with the artists who create folk art, gold and jade replicas, handwoven baskets, originals paintings, tagua carvings and jewelry and much more. Visit the website for hours and a sampling of what you will encounter. Be prepared to catch their enthusiasm for fair trade with these local arts and crafts. See more..
4.5 Universidad de Costa Rica (198 reviews)
- Education Superb
Universities & Schools

We saw the University many times and it looks very good, however our friend who we stayed with her daughter is studying medicine there. Having seen the volume of work she does at home i could see the university expect 110% comittment from student's, i am retired from the UK Health Service so i understood many of her assignments and i have yet to visit a country that turns out more doctors and dentists as they do in Costa Rica so much so they have too many and some have to practice overseas, i wish the UK had this problem. I assume this is the result of not having Armed Forces and that money is directed to Education. See more..
4.5 Pueblo Antiguo (193 reviews)
- Must Go To Attraction
Amusement & Theme Parks

Great dinner, great show and dancing, it is a brief view into the past of the country and dances and customs of the past. Nicely put together and not just touristy stuff, this is worth visiting twice even. They pick up and bring you back to your hotel. Loved it. See more..
4.5 Puentes Colgantes del Arenal (177 reviews)
- Pretty cool place full of wildlife
Nature & Wildlife Areas

Everyone said this would be super touristy, but honestly I loved it. It was full of wildlife. Our guide was great (I can't remember his name, Nochi?). We saw many different birds, wild boars, monkeys and a pit viper snake. There are some beautiful waterfalls too. The bridges are scary but awesome. See more..
4.5 Chirripo National Park (171 reviews)
- beautiful place for hikers
Mountains

we went the first day to base Crestone's, I imagen a small wood house, but not it is a big place with excellent service good and big amount of food, extremely cool douches so I didn't shower, there you have a sleeping bag we brought and extra of our own, now to walk you need fresh clothes by walking you warm up to fast, sun hat, warm clothes, sunblock, mosquito repellent, headlamp, and extra batteries. we start to walk at 2 am, absolutely recommended, arrive at Crestones base 10 am sleep for 2hous, then rest until the next day we started to walk at 1.30 am to see the sunrise. before the sun comes is extremely cold, I had two merino shirts, sweaters, winter jacket, thermal pants, two merino socks in each food and I was frizzing, once the sun comes out it is not that cold. going up and down are both difficult. it is a long walk. but that is what we went for, the challenge and the adventure so was great. See more..
4.5 San Luis Waterfall (131 reviews)
- Put this on your list of things to see in MonteVerde!
Sunday: Waterfalls

This is a must see if you are in the area. Make sure to walk all the way to the really big falls. We took a cab from our hotel (Hotel Belmar), and the cab waited for us while we hiked it (maybe 45 minutes one way, 15 minutes swimming) - $40. Also there was a $10 per person fee to the trail. The hike was not very strenuous, but was scenic. See more..
4.5 Rio savegre Waterfall (124 reviews)
- Must see the waterfalls
Spent 2-3 hours Waterfalls

Must take this hike, its a bit difficult but worth every single step of the way. Exceptionally beautiful See more..