Free tour

Welcome to Costa Rica!! Historical and Cultural Walking Tour

4.93

Excellent (451 ratings)

San José

Duration: 3 hours and 30 minutes

Languages: English

Guru: Jules

PRO

Verified quality

Registered on 21 June 2022

Hello travelers! Welcome to San Jose! My name is Jules. I was born here in Costa Rica and raised in the United States. Experiencing both cultures has deeply broadened my perspectives of the world in a meaningful way. With more than 15 years of living in Costa Rica, I can truly say I have adopted the “Pura Vida” lifestyle – from excursions deep into the jungle to experiencing the music and food unique to the country. And as an avid reader and cultural buff, it’s been a fascinating journey to learn about the history that surrounds this amazing city. It will be my pleasure to be your guide! Let me share the stories that can open your eyes to the wonders that are in front of you as we take a journey from the past and see things in the present in a fresh way as we walk through history and its ties to the present – and beyond! This tour is tips based – so just know your tour is incentivized for the highest quality and enjoyment! The idea is to provide you with more than just a standard walking tour. I was an ESL teacher for many years so I know the value of keeping a group engaged and interested.

Free booking and cancellation

Pay-what-you-wish tour, no set price, booking and cancellation are free

Tour description

Join our tour and come along with fellow travelers as we explore the concrete jungle of San Jose (but don’t worry, there will be plenty of green as well). The tour is designed for maximum scenic views of the city. Each location will offer its unique flavor to the landscape. There will be plenty of stories and fun facts to keep kids/adults of all ages entertained and informed.

Did you know that San Jose was not originally the Capital of Costa Rica? What events brought it to be? How did old pirates in the Caribbean influence decisions of new settlers? How did Costa Rica go from a forgotten outpost of the old “New Spain” territory to the modern country that blends simple life in the country with contemporary comforts in modern cities? What the heck does Napoléon have to do with all of this? Explore the area on a guided 3 and 1/2 hour tour that will show how the past has shaped the present as we move into the future.

Some of the places we will visit:

Teatro Nacional
Paseo de los Estuadiantes
Plaza de la Democracia
Parque Nacional
La Casa Amarilla
Parque Morazan

We know that your time is valuable. The idea is to provide you with a fun and often interactive circuit through the city that highlights the themes and stories of old San Jose. Breathe some fresh air into your San Jose vacation and see the city with new eyes. One of the benefits of the tour is that you will be able to share many unique and interesting stories with your friends, family, and companions. Impress them with fun anecdotes about the culture and history that you may not find in any guidebooks.

Highlights

What will we see on this tour?

Meeting point:

Gran Hotel Costa Rica, Plaza de la Cultura, Catedral, San José, Costa Rica

The meeting point will be right in front of the National Theater, by the main entrance, near the statue of Juan Mora Fernandez. I will have a sign with the GuruWalk logo and be wearing a PURA VIDA baseball cap.

Outside visit

National Theater of Costa Rica

How much does this tour cost?

Free tours don't have a set price, instead, each person gives the guru at the end the amount they consider appropriate (amounts usually range from €10 to $50 depending on satisfaction with the tour).