Often overlooked by travellers eager to head to the beaches and forests of Costa Rica, San José is worth visiting for a day or two to learn about the culture and history of the country.
If you’re staying a few more days in the capital mix up your museum visits with a few day trips from San José for a complete experience of art and the outdoors. Costa Rica is one of those magical places where you can find it all within a few hours.
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These are the best day trips from San Jose, Costa Rica.
Table of Contents
Guess the Shapes of the Cypresses at the Topiary Gardens in Zarcero
When sculptor Evangelisto Blanco accepted the job of creating a garden in front of the main church of the town of Zarcero, he had in mind something special.
He conceived a different garden with cypress trees instead of stones or metal, and scissors and ropes instead of hammers and chisels.
Walk below an arch alley and pose next to green dinosaurs, elephants, and birds. Or guess what other animals and fantastic figures you can find in the sculpted shrubs while you sit among colourful flowers looking at the verdant mountains in the distance.
Check out the San Rafael Arcángel church, built in 1895.
From a distance, you’ll think that gray bricks contrasting with the red roof cover the exterior wall, but if you take a closer look you’ll find out they’re painted.
Talking about paint, the ones inside the church are beautiful.
Other than this there’s not much more to do here. You may want to combine this trip with a visit to Catarata del Toro (more about that below) or make it a stop on your way to La Fortuna or Arenal.
Best Way to Get to Zarcero from San José
The best way to get to Zarcero from San José is by car.
There is a direct bus from San José’s Coca-Cola Bus Terminal to Zarcero that departs approximately every three hours, and it takes around 1.5 hours.
From the same terminal, there is another one that departs more frequently (and earlier) but takes longer and stops working early afternoon.
However, as lovely as the gardens and the church are, it’s something that you can easily see in one hour. From here you can go to Catarata del Toro (see next section) or/and the Blue Falls.
But you can’t get there by bus. You’ll need to drive or take a taxi and ask the driver to wait for you to bring you back (a half-day affair).
We decided to rent a car after balancing cost, time and convenience.
See Catarata del Toro: One of Costa Rica’s Most Beautiful Waterfalls
The first thing that wowed me when I arrived to this site, located in the Bajos del Toro area, was the insane number of hummingbirds (my favourite bird) buzzing around the feeders and dazzling with their iridescence.
This was the appetizer for the second delightful course: the view of Catarata del Toro from the top.
As you stand on the rim of the extinct volcano, you see how this tall and powerful waterfall pours nearly 90 metres down, surrounded by a glorious landscape.
Make your way to the third course by taking the 350+ steps to the crater while spotting many birds and enjoying the views of the forest and the falls. Some steps are on the tall side and when it’s wet (most of the time especially during the rainy season) it may be a little bit slippery. You’ll reach the bottom in about 30 minutes, depending on your speed and the number of stops.
A short walk through wet stones will place you in front of the star: Catarata del Toro.
The waterfall is so powerful that it creates a mist. Bring a poncho if you don’t want to get soaked, and protect your camera.
Like the side dishes complement the flavour of the main ingredient, the tapestry of bright green moss, ferns, and elephant-ear-looking leaves the size of a big elephant ear against the black, clay and beige rocky wall circling the waterfall works like a perfect recipe.
Go up the steps a hike about 1.5 Kms for your dessert: a garden designed to be a bird’s paradise. More than 200 birds have been recorded in the area; don’t leave your camera and binoculars at home.
My highlight here was seeing a tiny baby hummingbird. So tiny we thought it was a bumble bee!
And if all this has left you hungry, you can have a bite to eat at the on-site restaurant.
The best time to visit Catarata del Toro is in the morning. If possible, arrive no later than noon at the latest. The later it is, the cloudier it gets. We got there shortly after noon and had a wonderful view of the waterfall from the first lookout. By the time we left, close to 4PM, you couldn’t see a thing from the same spot as the clouds engulfed everything.
Can you Swim at Catarata del Toro?
No, swimming isn’t allowed and there is a barrier you should not cross. The current is strong and there’s a risk of fallen logs.
How to Get to Catarata del Toro from San José
There are no buses to Catarata del Toro.
You can either ride a (really early) bus from San José to Zarcero and then hire a taxi to take you here (1-hour drive), wait for you at least 2.5 hours so you have time to hike, hang out, take pictures, etc., and drive you back to town (another hour). Kind of complicated.
Or you can rent a car from San José (what we did) and stop at Zarcero on your way in or out. Although the road is quite windy, it’s paved so you don’t need a 4 x 4.
Check rental car rates in Costa Rica with Rental Cars
You can also add this experience to your road trip to La Fortuna or Arenal.
Can you Stay at Catarata del Toro?
There used to be rooms available for rent at the property. Not anymore. Another alternative is to stay in Zarcero, in the town of Bajos del Toro, or somewhere in between. Check out the map below for options:
Catarata del Toro
6 Kms. north of Bajos del Toro on road 708; Open Mon.-Sat.: 7AM-5PM; General Admission: US$ 14
If you want to visit Bajos del Toro and go to waterfalls where you can swim this tour arranges everything for you:
Full-day Bajos del Toro Hiking Experience: guided hike through a 4-mile (6.5-km) trail of moderate difficulty where you can swim in one of the waterfalls. Transportation, breakfast, lunch, water, trekking poles, and snacks included. 8 people max.
Book your hike to Bajos del Toro, with 100% 5-star rating based on 19 reviews.
Have a Beach Day in Puntarenas: Jacó Beach, Playa Hermosa and Playa Herradura
If you feel the call of sand and waves, head to the nearby province of Puntarenas for some beach time.
On my day trip from San José, I visited three beaches on the Pacific Coast. I’ll start with the most famous: Jacó.
Jacó Beach
Jacó is famous for three main reasons:
-It’s the closest largest beach to San José
This makes it a popular destination for josefinos (people from San José) whenever they want a quick beach escape. This also means that weekends are crowded. It may not be the most beautiful beach in Costa Rica, but its location is convenient.
For a more relaxed experience go on a weekday. Want to also explore the rugged mountains surrounding Jacó Beach? Try this 3-hour ATV Jungle Waterfall Adventure that takes you off-road around the rainforest, with a 4.9/5 rating based on nearly 600 reviews.
-It’s a surfing beach
Windsurfers and kitesurfers flock to Jacó as the powerful waves lure them like an octopus to a shell. This also means that it’s not the best beach for swimming, especially after you add riptides to the mix.
The day we visited it was on the calmer side, but that’s not the norm.
It’s more of a “let’s take a walk on the beach” rather than a “let’s go for a swim” beach. However, it’s a great pick if you want to learn to surf in paradise:
Surf Lesson in Jacó Beach: whether you’re an absolute beginner or more advanced, professional instructors will teach you the basics and beyond to take your skills to the next level.
Book your surf lesson, with a 98% 5-star rating based on more than 370 reviews.
-It’s a resort/party town
There are tons of restaurants and bars in the area, including traditional eateries where you can sample local dishes and drinks. It’s a lively spot to take a fun food tour with a scenic beach backdrop.
Traditional Food Tour in Jacó: stroll through the town streets and the beach (and hopefully enjoy a great sunset) while tasting Costa Rican food and learning about the local culture.
Join this food tour, with 5/5 rating based on more than 85 reviews.
There are many condos and hotels and bars and nightclubs and tourists in the area. Sometimes with that comes the shady guys trying to take advantage of people so you have to be vigilant, especially at night (avoid the beach after dark).
You can find some quiet spots if you go on a weekday, during the low season.
Another thing Jacó is famous for is its street art. You’ll find tons of beautiful murals inspired by Costa Rica’s nature and culture.
To see tons of murals and learn how this vibrant art transformed this town you can take this guided walking street art & graffiti tour, with a 5/5 rating based on more than 35 reviews.
Jacó is a lively place so if you’re painting in your head a picture of a wild deserted beach á la Costa Rica, grab a big eraser right now. Is that what you’re looking for? Keep reading below.
Hermosa Beach (Playa Hermosa)
Truly hermosa (beautiful in Spanish).
This is the beach for you if you want a way quieter experience than Jacó.
Other than a few hotels and restaurants on the north end of the beach and a few other vacation rentals further south, there is nothing but a gorgeous, long, black sand beach lined up with trees that are the playground of monkeys, macaws, and iguanas (the site is a nature reserve).
The tall and strong waves breaking on the shore are a sight to behold.
Even though this is the picture-perfect wild beach that matches most of the country’s scenery, from my previous sentence you must have guessed that this isn’t a beach for swimming. But it’s great for long scenic walks.
However, if you’re an advanced surfer, you’ll probably love it and you may even want to attend the international competitions that take place right here.
Stop at the viewpoint between Jacó and Playa Hermosa for a great view of the beach.
Note: there is another Playa Hermosa in the province of Guanacaste. A little too far for a day trip!
Herradura Beach
I wasn’t a fan of this beach as it’s a bit on the dirty side, but this is your best bet if you want to go for a swim as it’s the quieter of the three. Who knows, you may go right after a beach cleanup and you may love it. Aim for a weekday to avoid crowds.
Note: on your way to or from the beaches, especially if you’re driving, stop at “Crocodile Bridge”. It goes over the Tárcoles river and, as you can tell from the name of the bridge, it’s a fantastic spot to see tons of big crocs laying lazily on the banks of the river.
But if you want to see them up close you can jump on a boat that takes you so near you can almost touch them. This wild activity and its founder, Jason “The Crocodile Man”, has been featured in Discovery Channel, Nat Geo, Animal Planet, and the BBC.
Jason Crocodile Tour: not only you’ll see big crocs, but you’ll also see birds and learn about the wildlife on the Tarcoles River.
See crocs and wildlife with this tour, with a 98% 5-star rating based on more than 170 reviews.
How to Get to Jacó and Playa Hermosa from San José
If you rent a car (what we did) you take Highway 27 and then Highway 34 (they’re paved and in good condition) and you’ll be there in around 1.5 hours. You can check out the three beaches in one trip as they’re close.
You can also take the bus departing from terminal 7-10 (located downtown at the intersection of Ave. 7 and Calle 10) to Jacó. The trip takes around two hours which may feel like six since, from what I read, there’s no AC. Bring a fan. Then you can catch another bus from Jacó to Playa Hermosa.
There are also private shuttles to and from Jacó you can take if you don’t want to drive.
Visit Sarchí: Art + Nature
This is an easy day trip from San José where you can see the famous decorated oxcarts and huge wheels that are an important part of Costa Rica’s culture. The decorations, consisting of colourful geometric patterns, spread throughout the town making it a delight for art lovers.
In addition to finding unique handmade crafts and checking out a Guinness World Record piece, you can also visit a wonderful botanic garden.
For more details and to know how to get there by bus read my blog post about Sarchí.
Explore the Hiking Trails, Gardens, Volcanoes, and Waterfalls around Grecia
From the lovely town of Grecia (a 1-hour bus ride from San José) with its famous metal church and fabulous farmer’s market you can catch buses to hike among forests, volcano craters and orchid gardens.
Grecia is an excellent option if you want to visit San Jose’s great museums without staying in the city. It’s close enough for a day trip and it has many attractions nearby, accessible by public transit. For more details and to know how to get there by bus read my blog post about Grecia.
Renting a Car in San José
It’s worth staying in San Jose for a full day or two to visit the museums and landmarks in the downtown section.
If you’re staying longer and you’re renting a car to visit other parts of Costa Rica do it right before your trip the day you leave the city, or return your car at the end of your trip before exploring the downtown area.
Traffic in San José is nuts. Spending precious vacation hours fighting your way in and out of downtown is no fun. If you don’t want to deal with it at all you can join tours, hire a shuttle, or stay outside the downtown area (and even stay in the nearby town of Grecia)
If you have time to spare you can do some day trips on your own by bus (for some, like Catarata del Toro, you need a car). But leave early and avoid returning after dark as downtown San José is sketchy at night, which can limit how much you can do in one trip.
Which day trip from San José would you do? If you’re a nature lover it may be hard to decide between the beach, the mountains, the waterfalls, and so on. Maybe you have enough time to do it all!
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