10 Days in San José: A Journey of Tacos, Museums, and Adventure

Youssef Semlali (FaDe)

27 Nov 2023

Embark on a thrilling 10-day adventure in San José, Costa Rica. Discover the city's vibrant culture, indulge in mouthwatering tacos, explore fascinating museums, and immerse yourself in the beauty of nature. Get ready for an unforgettable journey filled with excitement and exploration.

Trip to San José

Tours & Activities

Viator Tours

Day 1Taco Delights and Wildlife Encounters

$87

$ 28

Holiday Inn Express San Jose Costa Rica Airport

Depart from your stay 🏨

23 - 28 min

Directions

7:30 AM - 8:30 AM

•

$16

13 - 20 min

Directions

Small protected area with native forest, plants & birds, plus a historic farm museum with animals.

9:00 AM - 11:00 AM

•

Free

10 - 12 min

Directions

Rehabilitation center offering tours with crocodiles, turtles, snakes, monkeys & other animals.

11:30 AM - 1:30 PM

•

$13

3 - 4 min

Directions

2:00 PM - 3:30 PM

•

$34

7 - 9 min

Directions

7:00 PM - 8:30 PM

•

$24

Day 2Lebanese Flavors and Park Adventures

$66

$ 11

Holiday Inn Express San Jose Costa Rica Airport

Depart from your stay 🏨

23 - 28 min

Directions

7:30 AM - 8:30 AM

•

$22

6 - 9 min

Directions

Natural history museum with animal dioramas, dinosaur replicas & mounted butterflies.

9:00 AM - 11:00 AM

•

$10

15 - 22 min

Directions

This 72-hectare park features the National Stadium & other sports facilities, plus an art museum.

11:30 AM - 2:30 PM

•

Free

13 - 20 min

Directions

3:00 PM - 4:30 PM

•

$12

19 - 28 min

Directions

7:00 PM - 8:30 PM

•

$22

Day 3Local Markets, Cultural Heritage, and Peaceful Parks

$61

$ 22

Holiday Inn Express San Jose Costa Rica Airport

Depart from your stay 🏨

26 - 32 min

Directions

7:30 AM - 8:30 AM

•

$10

1 - 2 min

Directions

Lively, mazelike market with vendors for produce, fish, coffee, hot snacks & traditional crafts.

9:00 AM - 11:00 AM

•

Free

4 - 6 min

Directions

Busy square & meeting spot with park benches & occasional fairs, concerts & other events.

11:30 AM - 12:30 PM

•

Free

4 - 6 min

Directions

1:00 PM - 2:30 PM

•

$22

3 - 4 min

Directions

Centro de Investigación y Conservación del Patrimonio Cultural

2:30 PM - 4:00 PM

•

$13

8 - 10 min

Directions

Large public green space featuring play equipment, trails, lakes & a variety of sports facilities.

4:30 PM - 5:30 PM

•

Free

5 - 6 min

Directions

7:00 PM - 8:30 PM

•

$16

Day 4Coffee, Museums, and Culinary Delights

$83

$ 11

Holiday Inn Express San Jose Costa Rica Airport

Depart from your stay 🏨

25 - 30 min

Directions

7:30 AM - 8:30 AM

•

$16

3 - 4 min

Directions

Circa-1950 covered marketplace filled with sellers of produce, spices, meats & prepared foods.

9:00 AM - 11:00 AM

•

Free

8 - 12 min

Directions

Playful children's museum offering hands-on exhibitions in a castle-style structure.

11:30 AM - 2:30 PM

•

$25

8 - 12 min

Directions

2 ambientes, 2 conceptos que comparten una excepcional cocina basada en ingredientes autóctonos, preparados con técnicas culnarias modernas.

3:00 PM - 4:30 PM

•

$10

4 - 5 min

Directions

7:00 PM - 8:30 PM

•

$32

Day 5Cafés, Zoos, and Ancient Treasures

$121

$ 11

Holiday Inn Express San Jose Costa Rica Airport

Depart from your stay 🏨

28 - 34 min

Directions

7:30 AM - 8:30 AM

•

$20

5 - 8 min

Directions

Long-running botanical garden & zoo with fish, amphibians & reptiles, plus birds & mammals.

9:00 AM - 12:00 PM

•

$25

11 - 16 min

Directions

Sapore Trattoria lo transportará a un lugar donde los deliciosos y auténticos sabores de la comida Italia serán una realidad.

12:30 PM - 2:00 PM

•

$22

2 - 3 min

Directions

Museum displaying anthropological, geological & archeological objects & a large jade collection.

2:00 PM - 3:30 PM

•

$30

3 - 4 min

Directions

7:00 PM - 8:30 PM

•

$24

Day 6Art, Music, and Pizza

$89

$ 17

Holiday Inn Express San Jose Costa Rica Airport

Depart from your stay 🏨

26 - 32 min

Directions

Inspirar y nutrir el espíritu humano: una persona, una taza de café y una comunidad a la vez.

7:30 AM - 8:30 AM

•

$24

1 - 2 min

Directions

Popular public square with a fountain & some greenery sitting atop the Museum of Pre-Columbian Gold.

9:00 AM - 10:00 AM

•

Free

4 - 5 min

Directions

10:30 AM - 11:30 AM

•

Free

5 - 8 min

Directions

Indoor-outdoor museum showcasing contemporary art & design from Central America & around the world.

12:00 PM - 1:30 PM

•

$13

16 - 20 min

Directions

2:00 PM - 3:30 PM

•

$24

4 - 5 min

Directions

Featuring a statue from San José's Japanese twin city, this park offers sports fields & gardens.

3:30 PM - 4:30 PM

•

Free

3 - 4 min

Directions

7:00 PM - 8:30 PM

•

$28

Day 7Nature, Argentine Cuisine, and Craft Markets

$54

$ 11

Holiday Inn Express San Jose Costa Rica Airport

Depart from your stay 🏨

28 - 34 min

Directions

7:30 AM - 8:30 AM

•

$10

5 - 8 min

Directions

Established in 1895, this iconic park features the bronze National Monument of Costa Rica.

9:00 AM - 1:00 PM

•

Free

7 - 10 min

Directions

1:30 PM - 3:00 PM

•

$28

4 - 6 min

Directions

Souvenirs like colorful masks, folk art & carved wood items in an indoor craft market.

3:00 PM - 5:00 PM

•

Free

7 - 10 min

Directions

7:00 PM - 8:30 PM

•

$16

Day 8Coffee Culture, Gold Treasures, and Historical Gems

$112

$ 11

Holiday Inn Express San Jose Costa Rica Airport

Depart from your stay 🏨

25 - 30 min

Directions

7:30 AM - 8:30 AM

•

$14

3 - 4 min

Directions

Museum featuring historic gold artifacts, including figures & coins, in a modern, underground space.

9:00 AM - 11:00 AM

•

$38

8 - 11 min

Directions

Cultural center with theaters & a museum housed in a 19th-century former liquor factory.

11:30 AM - 1:00 PM

•

Free

14 - 21 min

Directions

1:30 PM - 3:00 PM

•

$24

3 - 4 min

Directions

Historical Museum Dr. Rafael Angel Calderon Guardia

Museum since 1991 with tours & a permanent exhibit on former Costa Rican President Calderón Guardia.

3:00 PM - 4:30 PM

•

$20

4 - 5 min

Directions

7:00 PM - 8:30 PM

•

$16

Day 9Cultural Gems, Vegan Delights, and Artistic Heritage

$65

$ 17

Holiday Inn Express San Jose Costa Rica Airport

Depart from your stay 🏨

21 - 26 min

Directions

7:30 AM - 8:30 AM

•

$20

4 - 6 min

Directions

Indoor-outdoor museum in a historic building showcasing the works of Latin American artists.

9:00 AM - 11:00 AM

•

$15

21 - 26 min

Directions

Cultural center in a restored 1800s building offering concerts, lectures, workshops & more.

11:30 AM - 1:30 PM

•

Free

5 - 8 min

Directions

2:00 PM - 3:30 PM

•

$16

7 - 10 min

Directions

7:00 PM - 8:30 PM

•

$14

Day 10Sodas, Thrilling Rides, and Historical Wonders

$145

$ 22

Holiday Inn Express San Jose Costa Rica Airport

Depart from your stay 🏨

17 - 21 min

Directions

7:30 AM - 8:30 AM

•

$22

11 - 14 min

Directions

This amusement park with rides for adults & kids gives its profits to a children's hospital.

9:00 AM - 1:00 PM

•

$50

26 - 32 min

Directions

1:30 PM - 3:00 PM

•

$34

3 - 4 min

Directions

Museo Histórico Cultural Juan Santamaría

Exhibits on Costa Rica's military & cultural history housed in a former barracks & prison building.

3:00 PM - 5:00 PM

•

$13

4 - 5 min

Directions

7:00 PM - 8:30 PM

•

$26

Budget breakdown: $1040 In total

Activities & Food:$881

Transport:$160