What's the best time of year to take a 3-day tour from San Jose?

For Tortuguero tours, plan your visit between July and October to see sea turtles nesting - the temperatures stay between 75-85°F (24-29°C). If you're heading to places like Rincon de la Vieja in Guanacaste, you'll want to go during the dry season from December to April. A recent traveler told us about the Caribbean coast: "The weather can be unpredictable but the wildlife viewing makes it worthwhile." If you're interested in Pacific coast spots like Jaco, the weather is good all year with temperatures around 82°F (28°C).

What are the most popular destinations to visit on a 3-day tour from San Jose?

From San Jose, most people head to Tortuguero National Park to see wildlife, Rincon de la Vieja National Park to experience the volcano, Sarapiqui for rafting, or beach towns like Jaco and Samara. Travelers love exploring Tortuguero's canals and spotting animals - you can stay at places like Evergreen Lodge or Pachira Lodge while you're there. If you're visiting Rincon de la Vieja, you'll probably stay at Hacienda Guachipelin, while beach visitors often choose Hotel Sol Samara.

What kind of activities can I expect on a 3-day tour from San Jose?

You'll find lots to do on these tours. You can go rafting on the Sarapiqui River (with class II-III rapids), try zip-lining in Jaco Beach on cables that stretch over 3.5 kilometers, hike around the volcano at Rincon de la Vieja, or take boat tours to spot wildlife in Tortuguero's canals. One happy traveler told us about Tortuguero: "Alex was a great tour guide and we had a blast! The tours provided were really incredible and intimate." The activities work for different fitness levels, mixing adventure with nature watching.

What kind of accommodations can I expect on these tours?

You'll stay in places ranging from jungle lodges to beachfront hotels. In Tortuguero, Laguna Lodge and Evergreen Lodge offer rooms right by the river with views of the jungle. Near Rincon de la Vieja, there's the 4-star Hacienda Guachipelin. If you're heading to the coast, you might stay at Hotel Sol Samara or Club de Mar in Jaco. One traveler recently shared: "The lodge and its facilities were fantastic, clean, and well maintained. The beach was stunning and the amenities were great."

How much free time is available during these 3-day tours?

The amount of free time changes depending on your tour. Beach tours to Jaco and Samara give you plenty of time to relax or do extra activities if you want. If you're on an adventure tour - like rafting in Sarapiqui or hiking at Rincon de la Vieja - you'll have scheduled activities but free evenings. As one traveler put it: "We had a great balance of organized activities and free time to explore or relax by the pool." Most tours leave you at least one afternoon to do your own thing.

How do I get between destinations on these tours?

You'll mostly travel by air-conditioned bus, with some boat rides depending on where you're going. To get to Tortuguero, you'll need to take a boat through the canals. One traveler mentioned: "The bus and boat that we were taken on were both comfortable and safe." It takes about 2 hours to reach Sarapiqui from San Jose, 1.5 hours to Jaco, and for Tortuguero, you'll spend 3 hours on the road plus an hour on a boat.

Best 3 day Tours from San Jose

Have you imagined relaxing in Arenal's natural hot springs, exploring Arenal Volcano's lush surroundings, and sailing through wildlife on a river safari float? Make tortillas with a local Costa Rican family, and cross Arenal Lake and visit Monteverde Reserve. Costa Rica packs adventure into three days brilliantly, and San Jose is the perfect base for a three day adventure.

10 best 7-day tour packages from San Jose

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Explorer
Tortuguero Jungle Expedition, Short Break
4.6 (14 traveler reviews)
"Hotel in Tortuguero had lovely buffet food - plenty of options for vegetarians."
Jacquelyn, traveled in March
Duration
3 days
Destinations
San Jose, Tortuguero, Guapiles
Age Range
All Ages Welcome
Operated in
English, Spanish
Operator
Destination Services Costa Rica
15% Off
From $590
US$502per person
Price based on Private Double Room
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Explorer
Tortuguero Trails & Pacuare Rapids 4D/3N
5.0 (1 traveler review)
"Excellent experience, very good value for money."
Desmond, traveled in March
Duration
4 days
Destinations
San Jose, Tortuguero National Park, Pacuare River
Age Range
Ages 10+
Country Region
Costa Rica Caribbean Coast
Operated in
English
Operator
Bamba Travel
15% Off
From
US$823per person
Price based on Private Double Room
Sign up and save up to $41
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Explorer
Puerto Viejo Beach, Short Break
5.0 (1 traveler review)
"The accommodation was lovely. I've had a great trip."
Kristina, traveled in March
Duration
3 days
Destinations
San Jose, Puerto Viejo de Talamanca
Age Range
All Ages Welcome
Country Region
Costa Rica Caribbean Coast
Operated in
English, Spanish
Operator
Destination Services Costa Rica
15% Off
From $851
US$723per person
Price based on Private Double Room
Sign up and save up to $36
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Explorer
Costa Rica Short Break: La Fortuna
Duration
4 days
Destinations
San Jose, Arenal, La Fortuna
Age Range
Ages 15+
Operated in
English
Operator
Intrepid Travel
25% Off
From $1,780
US$1,335per person
Price based on Private Double Room
Sign up and save up to $66
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Explorer
4-Day Botanika Osa Rainforest Experience
Duration
4 days
Destinations
San Jose, Puerto Jimenez
Age Range
All Ages Welcome
Operated in
English, Spanish
Operator
Destination Services Costa Rica
10% Off
From $1,330
US$1,197per person
Price based on Private Double Room
Sign up and save up to $59
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Explorer
2-Day Pacuare Whitewater Rafting
Duration
2 days
Destinations
San Jose, Turrialba, Pacuare River
Age Range
All Ages Welcome
Operated in
English, Spanish
Operator
Destination Services Costa Rica
10% Off
From $495
US$446per person
Price based on Private Double Room
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In-depth Cultural
Monteverde Cloudforest Essences, Short Break
Duration
3 days
Destinations
San Jose, Monteverde
Age Range
All Ages Welcome
Country Region
Monteverde
Operated in
English, Spanish
Operator
Destination Services Costa Rica
15% Off
From $612
US$520per person
Price based on Private Double Room
Sign up and save up to $26
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Explorer
Sarapiqui with White River Rafting, Short Break
Duration
3 days
Destinations
San Jose, Sarapiquí
Age Range
All Ages Welcome
Operated in
English, Spanish
Operator
Destination Services Costa Rica
15% Off
From $781
US$664per person
Price based on Private Double Room
Sign up and save up to $33
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Explorer
Corcovado Classic Experience, Short Break
Duration
4 days
Destinations
San Jose, Corcovado National Park, Cano Island
Age Range
All Ages Welcome
Operated in
English, Spanish
Operator
Destination Services Costa Rica
15% Off
From $2,861
US$2,432per person
Price based on Private Double Room
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In-depth Cultural
Costa Rica Unique Stay at Naranjo, Short Break (On Request)
Duration
3 days
Destinations
San Jose
Age Range
All Ages Welcome
Country Region
Central Valley Costa Rica
Operated in
English, Spanish
Operator
Destination Services Costa Rica
15% Off
From $1,034
US$879per person
Price based on Private Double Room
Sign up and save up to $43
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Explorer
Tortuguero National Park Tour – 4-Day Independent Adventure
4.9 (18 traveler reviews)
"The lodging was lovely. We enjoyed every minute."
Shreya, traveled in March
Duration
4 days
Destinations
San Jose, Tortuguero National Park
Age Range
Ages 12+
Regions
Costa Rica Caribbean CoastTortuguero National Park+1 more
Operated in
English
Operator
G Adventures
15% Off
From
US$739per person
Price based on Shared Room
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Explorer
Tortuguero National Park Adventure 3D/2N
4.0 (10 traveler reviews)
"We have seen a lot of wildlife by boat and hiking! Everything was well organized and the staff was friendly."
Aniek, traveled in March
Duration
3 days
Destinations
San Jose, Tortuguero National Park, Tortuguero
Age Range
Ages 10+
Regions
Costa Rica Caribbean CoastTortuguero National Park+1 more
Operated in
English
Operator
Bamba Travel
15% Off
From
US$653per person
Price based on Private Double Room
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In-depth Cultural
Tortuguero: A natural paradise in Costa Rica
4.6 (6 traveler reviews)
"Great activities, pickups were punctual and accommodations were nice."
Ian, traveled in August
Duration
3 days
Destinations
San Jose, Tortuguero, Guapiles, Arenal,Puerto Viejo de Talamanca+1 more
Age Range
All Ages Welcome
Operated in
English, Spanish
Operator
Green World Adventures
15% Off
From
US$791per person
Price based on Private Double Room
Sign up and save up to $39
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Explorer
Explore Tortuguero – 3 Days Of Pure Tropical Magic
Duration
3 days
Destinations
San Jose, Tortuguero
Age Range
All Ages Welcome
Regions
Costa Rica Caribbean CoastTortuguero National Park+1 more
Operated in
English, Spanish
Operator
Aborigen Tours
10% Off
From $699
US$629per person
Price based on Private Double Room
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Explorer
Tortuguero National Park Adventure 4D/3N
Duration
4 days
Destinations
San Jose, Tortuguero National Park
Age Range
Ages 10+
Regions
Costa Rica Caribbean CoastTortuguero National Park+1 more
Operated in
English
Operator
Bamba Travel
10% Off
From
US$880per person
Price based on Private Double Room
Sign up and save up to $44
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Best 3 day Tours from San Jose

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10 best 7-day tour packages from San Jose