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San Jose Walking Tour: Food, History and Architecture

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San José, Costa Rica
San Jose Walking Tour: Food, History and Architecture
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San Jose Walking Tour: Food, History and Architecture
Pedestrians stroll past a church rising above a main street in San Jose, Costa Rica.
Fresh seafood is on display at a restaurant in San Jose’s central market.
Turtle eggs in salsa are for sale at a seafood restaurant in the central market.
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From $38.00

Price varies by group size

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Number of travelers
1 Adult2 Adults3 Adults4 Adults5 Adults6 Adults7 Adults8 Adults9 Adults10 Adults11 Adults12 Adults0 Children1 Child2 Children3 Children4 Children5 Children6 Children7 Children8 Children9 Children10 Children11 Children12 Children0 Infants1 Infant2 Infants3 Infants4 Infants5 Infants6 Infants7 Infants8 Infants9 Infants10 Infants11 Infants12 Infants
Free cancellation
Up to 24 hours in advance. Learn more
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Safety measures
icon3 hours  (Approx.)
Mobile ticket
iconOffered in: English
Good for avoiding crowds

Overview

Get a taste of San Jose’s culture and cuisine on this 3-hour walking tour. Explore Costa Rica’s capital accompanied by an expert guide and learn about the city’s history, architecture and flavor. Explore the produce stalls of two traditional markets and discover what makes Costa Rican coffee so delicious as you sample some local brews. The tour is capped at 12 people for a personalized small-group experience.
  • San Jose walking and food-tasting tour
  • Explore the city on foot with a local guide who shares insider knowledge
  • Wander through San Jose’s Borbón Market and view its famous stands
  • Stroll through the Central Market and sample Costa Rican food while you sip its legendary coffee
  • Small-group tour with a maximum of 12 people ensures a personalized experience
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From $38.00

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Local English speaking guide
Food samples
Visit Borbons and Central market
Hands-on lesson on exotic plants, fruits, vegetables
Hotel pickup and drop-off
Additional food and drinks
National Theatre of Costa Rica , Teatro Nacional de Costa Rica, 1, Catedral, San José, Costa Rica
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Front entrance of the National Theatre, Avenida 2, calle1, Catedral, San José, Costa Rica

8:30 AM
Central Avenue , Av Central, Los Yoses, San José, San Pedro, Costa Rica
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Central Avenue, San Jose

Awaken your taste buds on this flavorful walking tour of San Jose. Start the morning off right with an aromatic cup of Costa Rican coffee when you meet your local guide at the local Mercado Borbón. Explore the stalls of this traditional market and discover the agricultural history of the produce and medicinal products you see. Sample fresh tropical fruit and stop by a coffee stand to learn about traditional bean roasting and brewing methods.

Your next stop is the historic Central Market, which has been providing fresh produce and local goods to San Jose residents since 1882. Wander through the maze of vendor stalls and sample from the incredible variety of fresh produce and other Costa Rican kitchen specialties while your guide discusses the history of the market.

Finish your tour with a visit to a local cantina to taste traditional snacks and drinks another cup of rich Costa Rican coffee. You can then continue to explore the market and shop for tasty treasures on your own.
Itinerary
Stop At:  
Mercado Borbón
Your San Jose food tour starts with a morning pick-me-up cup of coffee in a café located in the Borbons market where you’ll get to know your guide and relax into your surroundings. From here, we’ll take a stroll through the vibrant market, tasting local fresh fruits while learning about the agricultural history of the area.
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Duration: 30 minutes
Admission Ticket Free
Stop At:  
Central Market (Mercado Central)
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.
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Duration: 30 minutes
Admission Ticket Free
  • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
  • Minimum age is 6 years
  • Not wheelchair accessible
  • Stroller accessible
  • Service animals allowed
  • Near public transportation
  • Casual clothing is appropriate for this tour, and we advise you wear comfortable shoes. Hats, sunglasses, and sunscreen may need to be worn if the weather is hot.
  • We can accommodate vegetarians and other dietary restrictions. Please notify us in advance if you have any dietary requests.
  • Effective Sept 1, 2021, travellers 18+ must show proof of COVID-19 vaccination. Children 6-17 must present a negative COVID-19 test (PCR or lateral flow) conducted maximum 72 hours prior, proof of recovery dated up to 9 months or proof of vaccination.
  • Most travelers can participate
  • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 12 travelers
  • OPERATED BY Urban Adventures - Latin America
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
  • For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
  • If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
  • Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
  • Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.

Learn more about cancellations.

The answers provided below are based on answers previously given by the tour provider to customers’ questions.
Q:
What is the policy on sanitization during San Jose Walking Tour: Food, History and Architecture?
A:The policy on sanitization is:

  • Transportation vehicles regularly sanitized
See all safety measures taken by San Jose Walking Tour: Food, History and Architecture.
Q:
What is the social distancing policy during San Jose Walking Tour: Food, History and Architecture?
A:The policies on social distancing are:

  • Social distancing enforced throughout experience
  • Contactless payments for gratuities and add-ons
See all safety measures taken by San Jose Walking Tour: Food, History and Architecture.
Q:
What measures are being taken to ensure staff health & safety during San Jose Walking Tour: Food, History and Architecture?
A:The policies on staff health & safety are:

  • Guides required to regularly wash hands
  • Paid stay-at-home policy for staff with symptoms
See all safety measures taken by San Jose Walking Tour: Food, History and Architecture.

Traveler Photos

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Traveler Tips

  • "This is a great way to get your bearings when you arrive to Costa Rica!" See review
  • "Best to go to the southeast corner - corner of Calle 6 (aka Calle Teodorico Quiros in Maps.Me) and Avenida Central (aka Avenida Rogelio Fernandez Guell in Maps.Me)." See review

Reviews

5.0
star-5
186 Reviews
5 stars
164
4 stars
15
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4

Reviews by Viator travelers

Showing 1-10 of 186 reviews
star-5
It was so informative and...
mac_g
, Nov 2021
It was so informative and the sites we were taken to really have me a better understanding of San Jose and Costa Rica
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star-5
Excellent tour by Alex
Pamela_L
, Oct 2021
Alec was a wonderful tour guide, very knowledgeable and fun !! I would recommend this tour to other people who travel to San Jose
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star-5
Good intro into Costa Rica!!
Jamie_L
, Aug 2021
Alex the tour guide was very knowledgeable and a pleasure to be around! Fantastic tour! The food was declicious too!
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star-5
Great way to see the city!
Rebecca_L
, Jun 2021
Had a great time on this walking tour! Alex was a fantastic guide and showed me all around the city. This is a great way to get your bearings when you arrive to Costa Rica!
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star-5
Fun tour with Alex
Shruti_S
, May 2021
I had an amazing time with Alex. He was super fun and we got along really well. He made the tour funny and interesting.
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star-5
Good
Kim
, Jan 2021
It was such a great experience trying the different fruits and learning new traditions. The instructor was very attentive, and knowledgeable.
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star-4
Enjoyable tour
Sanford_F
, Dec 2020
It was a good tour and the guide was friendly and knowledgeable. It was limited to the markets and some outdoor places due to the virus. We went to many places for eating and drinking.
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star-5
Learning about witches
Nicholas_S
, Oct 2020
Eric is my tour guide...just me and him! Eric is very professional and is always making sure your ok. This young man is very knowledgeable and pretty much knows everyone....he has taught me a lot about the culture and I really found a new friend.
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star-5
Delicious and informative!
Stephanie_F
, Mar 2020
My friends and I had an excellent time sampling the food and learning about San Jose. Eric was a great guide and we enjoyed the experience!
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star-5
Authentic experience
Nicky_B
, Mar 2020
Great way to explore San Jose and take in the history, sights, sounds and tastes of the city (including chocolate!). Angel our guide was super knowledgeable and simpatico!
... MoreLess

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