Costa Rica Pura Vida Experience

General information

Destination	Category
San José, Costa Rica	Sightseeing Tours

Program details

Unmask the beauty of contemporary Costa Rican life on this walking tour of San Jose and Escazu. Get hooked up with some of Costa Rica's local legends, freshest food (make your own tortillas, anyone?) and rustic restaurants on this San Jose tour that has you walking in holy footsteps and riding public transport for the ultimate insiders experience!

Setting off from the beautiful National Theatre Building, you’ll instantly fall in love with San Jose’s beauty. Fortunately, this city has so much more to offer, so you still have loads to look forward to! Our San Jose walking tour will go past historical churches like the Cathedral and La Merced, along a path that’s known as the ‘Route of the Churches’ in this city.



You’ll also learn the history behind the graffiti that we’ll will see along the way, giving you a taste of contemporary Costa Rican life. Then, because we think the best way to get to know San Jose is to live it like a local, we’ll do just that, with a visit to the Central Market. You can’t visit San Jose without checking out the market. A place with over a century of history really is a mandatory stop for anyone looking to enjoy typical Costa Rican food. The San Jose Central Market is also the perfect place to learn about local traditions – like herbal medicines and witchcraft – and to grab a freshly roasted cup of that famous Costa Rican coffee. We’ll visit little shops and explore local artisan stalls. The Central Market is always buzzing with energy, and is a truly authentic cultural experience – a must-see in San Jose.



After walking through the Central Market, we’ll board our transportation to one of the oldest cities in Costa Rica, Escazu, which holds a rich history of witches. On our way to the city of the witches, you’ll spot La Sabana Metropolitan Park, which used to be the San Jose international airport. Full of knowledge, secrets, and inspiration, we’ll shift gears to delicious, authentic Costa Rican cuisine. We’ll venture to a 100-year-old restaurant that’s known for its traditional fare, and where you’ll get a real taste of Costa Rica, with a choice of over 20 different Costa Rican tapas! After lunch we’ll taste chicha, a traditional local drink that has been enjoyed for hundreds of years. Our beverage will also prepare us for one of the coolest local traditions: Costa Rican masks and masquerade, and we’re taking you straight to the legends.



We’ll pay a visit to a legendary local master’s house, where three generations of the same family have been making some of the country’s most beautiful masks for celebrations and special holidays. Here we’ll be privy to his creative genius, and he’ll let us in on the family’s secrets for making Costa Rica’s most famous masks.



By the end of this San Jose tour, you’ll feel so much like a local, we bet you’ll be speaking Costa Rican Spanish and everything!

Redeem information
Voucher type: Printed
Printed Voucher. Print and bring the voucher to enjoy the activity. A printed voucher must be handed in prior to departure.

Location
Starting point:
Spain Park
At the North East corner of España Park between 7th Avenue and 11A Street.

End point: National Theatre

Schedule
Opening dates
11:30 - 15:30

Closing dates
Sunday

Duration: 4 Hours

Guiding options
Guiding type: Guide
Group type: Shared
Group size: 12 People