San Jose Walking Tour: Culture and Cuisine

Embark on a walking food tour in San Jose to uncover the beauty and culture of contemporary Costa Rican life. Taste local delicacies, explore historical sites, and learn about traditional remedies and exotic plants. Get a true sense of San Jose through its flavors!

Duration: 3 hours, 30 minutes
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • Los Presentes - The tour begins at the Monumento de los Presentes, where the enduring spirit of the city and its culture amidst numerous changes is introduced. This monument embodies the typical city dwellers, who face the threat of disappearing due to modernization. These figures stand resolute and serious, symbolizing a quiet defiance against…
What's Included
  • Enjoy local ice cream at the Central Market from a shop over 100 years old.
  • Savor Costa Rican-style tamales, wrapped in banana leaves, crafted by local families.
  • Indulge in traditional Caldosa corn chips, Green banana or pejibaye.
  • Try fresh, seasonal fruits at the Borbón Market.
  • The tour is capped at 12 people for a personalized small-group…
What's Not Included
  • Transportation: if you need to quote transportation service, write to us.
  • Alcoholic beverages
Additional Information

Discover the beauty and culture of modern Costa Rican life on this San Jose walking tour. Experience the local food, history, culture, and even the herbal remedies of folk medicine up close. Delight in exotic fruits at the Borbon Market. Take a leisurely walk through the lively Central Market, where you can taste local ice cream from a shop that has…

Location
Los Presentes
Calle 4
Between Avenue one and Central Avenue on street 4, we have the Central Bank of Costa Rica, in front of the main entrance we have a Monument with several small green people, this monument is known as the Monument de los Presentes, there is where the we will be waiting to start the tour.
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.9
(1375 Ratings)
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Odyssey37077738666
Mar 28, 2025
Yummy and fun! - The tour was very fun and interactive. The samples offered were all fresh and delicious. My favorite was the full sized CR authentic tamale we got to eat. Very yummy. A must tour to try.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Lasaun_d
Mar 27, 2025
Wonderful way to see the capital and learn its history. - Wonder way to see and learn about the capital at ground level. The tour through the various markets was insightful and very interesting. It was a very nice tour with a delicious tasting of tamales, empanadas and coffee at the end. We throughly enjoyed the tour.
Review provided by Viator
Jason_g
Mar 27, 2025
Guide was on time,... - Guide was on time, knowledgeable and very friendly. Great tour to do to get familiar with the area..
Review provided by Viator
Rachelle
Mar 27, 2025
Interactive food tour - We enjoyed our food tour with our lovely guide Andrea. We experienced new fruits, amazing Costa Rican tamales and was taught the art of making a a proper pour over of local coffee. This tour takes you around the hustle and bustle of the central market. We stopped at an ice cream vendor for a unique flavored ice cream. The only flavor they have been selling since the early 1900s. It was delicious. This tour also includes stops at a couple of historical spots such as the cathedral and national theater. Time well spent for an afternoon.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Ann_g_112348990
Mar 26, 2025
Pool - We had a great time! Our room was great. Josue at the bar was awesome! He was friendly and made our trip!! An awesome server that kept us going and having fun!!! So fun!!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
559essencea
Mar 25, 2025
bites and sites was out of sight !!! - guide was great, so muh fun to do the activity in the sloth guy coffee house ! Ladies, be aware if you wear revealing clothes into the marketplace. There are wandering eyes sometimes. Its close quarters.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Karlafelisag
Mar 24, 2025
I can't lose you! - It is a very good tour, I highly recommend taking it, you know more on this tour than doing it alone, the 10/10 guide and recommends places where if you can walk more safely, the whole team is very patient and friendly.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
454biancaw
Mar 24, 2025
You’ll be happy you took the tour - Daniel was an excellent guide and I really enjoyed the tour. He was knowledgeable about Costa Rica and the food! I felt safe
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Deena_a
Mar 25, 2025
Chilly but warm hearted tour - The walking tour was a very nice tour. We were underdressed so for anyone planning to take this tour it can get chilly. Our tour guide was Andrea, and she was very knowledgeable. She told us about all of the other countries, trade, imports and exports of goods related to food for/in Costa Rica. She was a warm hearted person and connected with each of us on the tour. At sometime, it was very fast paced, and the markets were very busy. Because the tour is in the central city area, the walk includes passing a bit of poverty amongst the day-to-day of the markets, which was heartbreaking. The fruits we tried were amazing and my favorite part of the tour was the agua de zapo and seeing the beautiful theatre. Definitely worth a stop during a trip to this country, it’s very different from the coasts. Also, the coffee is amazing.
Review provided by Viator
Erolclay_m
Mar 23, 2025
Enjoyed walking tour.... - Enjoyed walking tour. Good local and historical information and got to sample 8-10 local fruits and tortillas and empanadas.
Review provided by Viator
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up to 15 guests
1 Adult
March 2025
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