Private San Jose Bites and Sights Tour

About this experience

Unmask the beauty and culture of contemporary Costa Rican life on this San Jose walking tour that takes you through the busy streets, bustling markets, and tranquil parks. Discover a side to this city only heard from the mouths of locals, while indulging in typical cuisine and one of Costa Rica’s most delectable exports – coffee.

Highlights

• Discover the secrets behind handicrafts, herbal remedies, and fresh produce at at Mercado El Registro and San Jose Central Market
• Become a mixologist of natural Costa Rican drinks and an expert on more than 30 local exotic fruits and vegetables
• Savor several tasty seasonal samplings of Costa Rica as well as its famous organic coffee
• See a side of San Jose known only by locals and not found in guidebooks

What's included

• Local English
• speaking guide
• Local fruit samples at the market (expect: pejibaye, guanabana or cashew fruit)
• Coffee with small pastry
• Local drink (Fresco)
• Artisanal Ice Cream

How to use

1. Show Mobile Ticket
2. At Meeting Point
3. If you need to contact your local guide on the day of your tour, please call the local phone number listed on your voucher or at the very bottom of this email
4. Please present your voucher to the local guide at the beginning of the tour

What to expect

Get your cameras ready because you don’t want to miss a single moment of this colourful local experience. On this San Jose tour you’ll get up close and personal with Costa Rican life, through local food, history, and even the herbal remedies of folk medicine. Enjoy a hands-on lesson on exotic plants, fruits, vegetables, and the smoothies they can create in the midst of the vibrant city markets. Nothing could get you closer to authentic San Jose than strolling through the streets with a local as they show you the ins and outs of daily life. Take a wander through the city with us on this tour that takes typical San Jose and turns it into a local experience you’ll never forget. Your San Jose food tour starts with a morning pick-me-up cup of coffee in a café where you’ll get to know your guide and relax into your surroundings. From here, we’ll take a stroll through the vibrant market Mercado El Registro, tasting local fresh fruits while learning about the agricultural history of the area.  Coffee and markets play a very important role in the history of San Jose and you’ll get the inside scoop on what they mean to the city and its citizens. Your San Jose market tour continues along local roads towards the Central Market. Seeing the diverse sites of these markets will help you get to know the country and its rich history and on this tour, you’ll be another sense – taste – to get more in tune with San Jose.  There’s no better place to experience local cuisine than the Central Market, a 120-year old building full to the brim with typical Costa Rican food and drink. Here you can sample local delicacies, learn about the herbs used in local medicines, and enjoy artisan ice cream. The Central Market is an experience that no visitor the San Jose should miss, and with a local guide by your side you’ll unearth all the secrets behind this San Jose treasure. After all the colours of the market, we will pass by two more interesting stops, The Central Post and Telegraph Building and Edificio Steinvorth. Your tour will end at the Plaza de la Cultura close to the main National Theatre of Costa Rica giving you the full San Jose experience that is sure to be a highlight of your time in this vibrant city. We reserve the right to change both the route and places visited within the tour. Food inclusions are subject to change, dependent on availability on the day. Suitable for all fitness levels, but please note that this tour covers 1.6 km (1 mile) of walking.

Things to note

• Shared tours accommodate a maximum of 12 passengers to maintain a high-quality group experience
• Private tours require a minimum of two participants

Terms & conditions

For more information, please see our full booking conditions and Privacy Policy
Urban Adventures Day Tours - Special Booking Conditions: No deposit is required; full payment is due at booking for standard tours, while private tours require payment upon itinerary confirmation
Child rates apply at travel time, not booking time - proof of age must be shown on the tour day or the difference between adult and child rates is payable
Standard tours: cancel up to 24 hours before departure for a refund or credit
Custom (Create Your Own) trips: refund minus unrecoverable costs up to 48 hours prior; within 48 hours, 100% credit only
Multi-City Pass: a no-show without 24-hour cancellation notice may void the pass and cancel future tours without refund
Cancellations by the company (Force Majeure): refund minus unrecoverable costs
Amendments: customers must cancel and rebook at the new price; custom itinerary changes require 14 days' notice plus a $75 USD administrative fee per change
Prices exclude tips, personal items, and local taxes/fees