San Jose Bites & Sights: City Walking Tour & National Museum

4.8 (28 reviews) 5 hours Free cancellation

out of 5

28 reviews

4.8

San Jose Bites & Sights: City Walking Tour & National Museum — Photos: the activity supplier, via Viator

San Jose Bites & Sights: City Walking Tour & National Museum, photo 2 — Photos: the activity supplier, via Viator

About this activity

The ultimate San José combo! Taste authentic flavors at Central & Borbón markets, then dive into Costa Rica’s rich history at the National Museum. The perfect blend of food, culture, and heritage.

Unmask the beauty and culture of contemporary Costa Rican life on this San Jose walking tour. Enjoy exotic, fruits, in the Borbon Market. We’ll take a stroll through the vibrant Central Market, tasting local ice cream, Lolo Mora is over 100 years old. Seeing diverse sites the Cathedral, National Theater, the beautiful Central and Morazan parks will help you get to know the country and its rich history and from this experience. For the end visit Mr. Sloth Coffee where you will find coffees and chocolates, in this special place tasting and learn to prepare Cafe Chorreado, enjoy coffee tasting, picadillo, tamal cooked by local families and wrapped in a banana leaf, make your own plantain empanadas with cheese, try our famous Agua de Sapo make with ginger, sugar cane and lemon.

Day Trips Half-day Tours Private and Luxury Cultural Tours Historical Tours Walking Tours Archaeology Tours Excellent Quality

At a glance

Duration: 5 hours
Confirmation: Instant confirmation
Ticket: Mobile or paper ticket accepted
Group: Up to 15 people
People per booking: 1–15
Guide: English, Spanish
Operated by: San Jose Urban Tours

Ages: Adults (10–75 years)

What is included

Included

Included: National Museum: Skip the lines and dive deep into Costa Rica’s history and pre-Columbian mysteries.
Included: Two Iconic Markets: Uncover the secrets of Mercado Borbón and the 120-year-old Central Market.
Included: Local Guide: Turn everyday city sights into an unforgettable cultural storytelling experience.
Included: Perfect First-Stop: The ultimate introduction to San José’s food, culture, and heritage.
Included: Enjoy a feast of exotic fruits, authentic empanadas, picadillo, typical tamal and local coffee.

Not included

Not included: Additional food and drinks
Not included: Souvenirs and personal shopping
Not included: Tips/gratuities for your guide

Itinerary

Stop 1

30 min

The Borbon Market, is a true sensory experience of sights and smells, and you might catch the daily hand-truck race among the workers. The focus is on produce, though it sells a bit of everything. is an old building with a basement, known where local people buy their vegetables and fruits,We will have the opportunity to share and interact with people who have worked in the market for generations, and we will try all kinds of fruits of the time, it is a unique experience, they are fruits very much from the market itself.
Central Market (Mercado Central)

30 min

The San Jose Central Market is an important cultural site in Costa Rica as it is one of the oldest and most representative places of San Jose, the capital city of the country. The market opened in 1880, making it one of the oldest landmarks in Costa Rica as the country declared independence in 1821.
Parque Central de San Jose

10 min

One of the attractions is the bandstand in the centre of the park, striking for its arches, and the Carmen Lyra Library, a library specialised in children.
Metropolitan Cathedral of St. Joseph of Costa Rica

10 min

The Metropolitan Cathedral is the main church in San Jose Costa Rica. This Catholic cathedral stands superbly with neoclassical posture overlooking Central Park and the crowded streets and avenues of the capital city.
Teatro Nacional Costa Rica

10 min

Is include a visit to the entrance hall of Costa Rica’s National Theater. In the heart of San Jose, the National Theatre (Teatro Nacional) remains one of the capital city’s most popular tourist attractions.” The ornate Neo-Classical theatre is considered the finest historic building in San Jose, and is known for its exquisite interior decorated with lavish furnishings and beautiful murals.
Stop 6

one hour

We will visit this cafeteria that is very beautiful, where we will learn about coffees and chocolates, and we will have the opportunity to try caldosas, tamales in the Costa Rican style and also take classes on how to make our own empanadas de platano con queso, we will also be able to enjoy local drinks such as famous toad water, will also enjoy a coffee tasting.
Morazan Park

10 min

Named in honor of Francisco Morazán, head of state of the country during 1842 and leader of the Central American Union, it stands out for its neoclassical Temple of Music, built by the Costa Rican architect and painter José Francisco Salazar and declared Historical Architectural Heritage.
National Museum Of Costa Rica

2 hours Admission included

After enjoy: coffee tasting, tamal and empanada, we’ll visit a National Museum Housed in the barracks of the Bellavista Fortress, displays indigenous and pre-Columbian artifacts, religious artwork, and geological and archaeological pieces linked to Costa Rica’s rich history since 1950.

Meeting point and pickup

Everyone meets at the meeting point.

Meeting point

At the Los Presentes Monument in front of the Central Bank of San Jose, in between Avenue 1 and Avenue Central

End point

After the museums we will visit Mr sloth to enjoy authentic food like tamales and classes to cook banana empanadas. we will also enjoy preparing Costa Rican-style drip coffee and tasting authentic soft drinks such as toad water.