Happy San José: City, Nature, People, and Pure Flavor
Joined 2025
Be ready to explore the vibrant heart of Costa Rica with the Happy City of San Jose walking tour. This joyful journey will take you through the city’s lively pedestrian streets, urban parks, and colorful markets to discover the stories, traditions, and flavors that make this capital special. We’ll stroll beneath the trees, learn about plants, and experience the rhythm of daily life in San José, You’ll taste authentic Costa Rican dishes, local coffee, and learn how traditional foods are prepared.
Itinerary
This itinerary can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Send me a message with your requests!
Meeting Point
At your hotel or your prefered location
- I will go to pick you up at your hotel
Central Market
Walk inside the colorful Central Market, where every aisle is bursting with life, flavor, and tradition! As we wander through the narrow passageways, you’ll see stalls stacked high with tropical fruits, fragrant spices, hand-crafted souvenirs, and herbal remedies. We’ll meet friendly vendors, hear local stories, and stop to taste delicious Costa Rican treats like empanadas, tamales, or many other delicious foods. It’s a sensory adventure that captures the true soul of the city!
Pedestrian Streets from West to East
After leaving the lively Central Market, we’ll walk mostly by pedestrian boulevards of San José, walking from west to east through the beating heart of the city. Along the way, we’ll pass colorful street vendors, catch the sounds of local musicians, and admire the unique mix of historic architecture and modern life. You’ll experience Costa Rican daily life up close, full of movement, surprises, and smiles.
Any Local Restaurant
We’ll take a tasty break at a local restaurant, where you can relax, enjoy a delicious Costa Rican meal, and recharge before continuing our adventure through the city.
Urban Parks
Our walk continues through San José’s beautiful urban parks, where we’ll slow down and enjoy the refreshing green spaces with tropical trees, colorful plants, and birdsongs. It’s the perfect moment to connect with nature in the middle of the city and learn about the native flora that thrives in Costa Rica’s rich biodiversity.
National Monument
We’ll end our journey at the scenic National Park, right in front of the iconic National Monument, where we’ll pause to reflect on its powerful history and the heroes it honors, wrapping up the tour with a touch of national pride and a great photo opportunity.
Your hotel
We could also end the tour at your preferred location
Ending Point
At your hotel or your preferred location
Want to personalize this tour?
This tour can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Click below to send me a message with your requests.
Inclusions & Exclusions
* Private Bilingual Tour Guide
* Bottles of water during the tour
* Cup of Coffee
* Transport
* Meals
* Entrance fees (if necessary)
Tour Important Information
* Use comfortable clothes, shoes, and a light jacket in case of rain
* This tour is wheelchair accessible
* This tour is private and flexible, that way you can decide how much to walk and your own pace
On Sundays, the Central Market remains closed, then we could visit a souvenir and crafts Market instead (during December, the Central Market will also be open on Sunday)
Important message from the supplier
Available at all times
Cancellation Policy
- Free cancellation - 8 days prior to meeting time
- 50% Refund - 3 to 7 days prior to meeting time
- No Refund - Within 2 day(s) prior to meeting time
Joined 2025
About Tour Guide Alejandro C.
From a young age, Alejandro's parents instilled in him a love for exploring and learning about the environment. Over the course of 25 years, he has conducted research, developed teaching modules, and implemented initiatives for youth and adults that focus on new technologies aimed at protecting the planet, such as solar energy, sustainable agricultural practices, culturally respectful tourism, and ecotourism.
Alejandro is a certified tour guide in English and Spanish, licensed by the Costa Rican Institute of Tourism. He has had the opportunity to work as a tour guide in various countries including Hawaii, Israel, Colombia, Panama, among others, which has provided him with international experience and insights into the tourism industry. Since early 2020, Alejandro has also ventured into the field of real-time virtual tours, making him one of the pioneering tour guides in the world to professionally offer Live Virtual Tours.
$130/ per group