7 best day trips from San José

Day trips compared

The day trips

55 km · About 1.5 hours by road

1.Poás Volcano

An active volcano with one of the world's largest craters, where a viewing platform looks into an acidic turquoise lake when the clouds part. Visits are time-limited, and access depends on volcanic activity, which can close the park at short notice.

Getting there

Tour or car via Alajuela

Best for

First-timers, Families

55 km · About 1.5 hours by road

2.Irazú Volcano

Costa Rica's highest active volcano rises to about 3,400 metres, with a lunar landscape of craters and, on clear mornings, views towards both the Caribbean and the Pacific. It is cold at the top, so bring warm layers.

Getting there

Tour or car via Cartago

Best for

First-timers, Families, Quiet stays

60 km · About 1.5 hours by road

3.Cartago and the Orosi Valley

Cartago, the former capital, is home to the Basílica de Nuestra Señora de los Ángeles, the country's main pilgrimage church. Beyond it, the Orosi Valley has coffee plantations, a colonial church still in use in the village of Orosi, the ruins of the Ujarrás church and hot springs.

Getting there

Car, tour or bus via Cartago

Best for

Culture, Quiet stays, Couples

60 km · About 1.5 hours by road

4.La Paz Waterfall Gardens

A private nature park on the slopes of Poás with trails and stairways past five waterfalls in the cloud forest, plus a hummingbird garden, a butterfly house and animal exhibits. It is popular with families.

Getting there

Tour or car

Best for

Families, First-timers

50 km · About 1 hour by road

5.Sarchí

A craft town in the coffee hills known for the hand-painted oxcarts that are a national symbol, with workshops where you can watch artisans paint the intricate patterns. Its central park displays a giant painted oxcart.

Getting there

Car, bus or tour via Grecia

Best for

Shopping, Culture, Families

90 km · About 1.5–2 hours by road

6.Carara National Park and the Tárcoles River

A transitional forest between the dry north and the humid south, Carara is one of the best places to see scarlet macaws. Nearby, the bridge over the Tárcoles River is known for the large crocodiles that bask on its banks, and boat tours run on the river.

Getting there

Car or tour via the Pacific highway

Best for

Families, Quiet stays

160 km · About 3–3.5 hours by road

7.Manuel Antonio

The small Pacific national park combines rainforest trails with white-sand beaches, where sloths, monkeys and iguanas are often seen. It is a long day from San José, and most visitors stay at least one night.

Getting there

Shuttle, bus or car

Best for

Beach, Families, Couples

Day-trip tips

• Leave early: most trips are more relaxed with a morning departure and a return before dinner.
• Ask your hotel which terminal serves your destination; there is no single central bus station.
• Commuter trains link San José with Heredia, Cartago and other suburbs, mainly at peak times on weekdays.
• For trips over about 150 km, an overnight stay or an organised tour saves a lot of travelling.

Questions travellers ask