Weekend & Day Trips from San Jose, Costa Rica

Nestled in the heart of the Arenal Tilaran Conservation Area in Costa Rica’s fertile northern lowlands, the Arenal National Park (Parque Nacional Volcán Arenal) is home to both the Arenal Volcano and the dormant Chato Volcano, the tranquil Lake Arenal and a plethora of unique fauna and flora. The perfectly symmetrical Arenal Volcano has been Costa Rica’s most active volcano since 1968, spewing enormous amounts of lava, gas, and ash regularly, attracting visitors from around the world to witness this spectacle. Since 2010, however, the volcano has entered an indeterminate resting phase, so visitors have had to make do with the rest of the beautiful sights, sounds, and activities the park has to offer.

Arenal National Park, Arenal Conservation Area, Costa Rica

Surrounded by densely forested hills and endless coffee and sugarcane plantations, Atenas is a small town that exudes traditional Costa Rican culture. Located less than an hour outside the bustling city of San José, Atenas is the capital of the Atenas canton in the province of Alajuela and is one of the region’s top coffee-growing areas. The town is situated on the Historic Oxcart Trail, which was once the primary route for transporting coffee beans from the Central Valley to Pacific and Caribbean ports in the 1800s. Today, fragrant aromas of coffee still linger in the air, and Atenas is an excellent place to try some of the country’s best coffee beans.

Atenas, Atenas Canton, Alajuela, Costa Rica

Nestled in the foothills of the Irazu Volcano in the Central Valley, the city of Cartago is one of the oldest towns in the country. Once the capital of Costa Rica, Cartago was partially destroyed by a volcanic eruption in 1732 but remains one of the largest cities in the country. The city is home to many beautiful old buildings, historic and cultural sites and exciting attractions, including La Negrita, the Black Madonna shrine at Our Lady of the Angels Basilica; Las Ruinas de la Parroquia; the Santiago Apostól Parish Ruins; the Lankester Botanical Garden; and the Tapantí Macizo de la Muerte National Park.

Cartago, Costa Rica

Catarata del Toro is a private ecological reserve that is committed to the conservation of the surrounding natural environment. Located in the remote mountains north of Costa Rica’s Central Valley near the tiny town of Bajos del Toro, Catarata del Toro is home to Costa Rica’s most impressive waterfall of the same name that tumbles 270 feet into an old volcanic crater. The ecological reserve is also home to a diverse array of fauna and flora from tiny hummingbirds to Oropendola Montezuma, toucan, hawks, vultures, and black turkey.

Bajos Del Toro Amarillo, Sarchi, Costa Rica, Phone: +506-24-76-08-00

Escazu is a luxurious hillside suburb about five miles west of the downtown San José area that dates back to Colonial times and is a popular destination for wealthy expatriates and travelers. Upscale yet charming, Escazú is home to grand residences, deluxe hotels, elegant restaurants, buzzing bars, and one of the best shopping malls in San José. Foodies will delight in the many gourmet restaurants in the area serving a wide range of cuisine from French to Spanish, and recreational activities in the area include hiking and visiting the old town of San Rafael in the mountains of Escazú.

Escazu, Costa Rica

Nestled in the foothills of the Cordillera Central mountain chain, Grecia is a small picturesque farming community with spectacular natural scenery and several interesting attractions. Located north of the city of Alajuela city, the village is surrounded by densely forested mountains and rolling farmlands and is home to several attractions such as the magnificent Cathedral de la Merced, the family-friendly Butterfly Farm, the World of Snakes, and the Grecia Regional Museum, which documents the history of the town and the surrounding region.

Grecia, Cordillera Central, Costa Rica

Irazu Volcano is an active volcano in the Cordillera Central near the city of Cartago. Derived from the indigenous word for ‘thunder and earthquake mountain,’ Irazú last erupted in 1994, and although it is still deemed ‘active’ can still be visited by tourists. The 11,260-foot high volcano is the highest active volcano in Costa Rica and has several craters, one of which is named after the man who documented the first eruption in 1723 - Diego de la Haya. Based in the Irazu Volcano National Park, the Diego de la Haya crater features a bright green 985-foot-wide lake that can be reached on a challenging but rewarding hike.

Cordillera Central, Costa Rica

Jaco is a charming coastal town on the Pacific coast with a beautiful beach that is known for its wealth of water activities and buzzing nightlife. Hit the beach to enjoy an array of water-based activities, ranging from swimming, surfing, and deep-sea fishing to boating, sailing, kayaking, and rafting, or stay on land for hiking, horseback riding, mountain biking, ATV tours, waterfall rappelling, and canopy zip-lining. Attractions slightly out of town include the Carara National Park set on the Tárcoles River and the Pura Vida Park, which features lush rainforests and the impressive Bijagual Waterfall.

Jaco, Costa Rica

La Paz Waterfall Gardens is a private ecological reserve that features a series of five beautiful waterfalls, dense cloud and rain forests, an animal sanctuary with over 100 species of animals, and some of the best hiking near San José. Nestled on the slopes of the Poas Volcano, the 70-acre reserve is made up of 40 acres of cloud and rainforests and a variety of nature-based attractions, including an aviary with numerous species of birds, a butterfly observatory, a hummingbird garden with 26 documented species, an insect exhibit, and a serpentarium. Capuchin (white-faced) and black-handed spider monkeys swing through the surrounding forests, which offer excellent hiking trails.

126, Heredia Province, Costa Rica, Phone: +506-24-82-27-20