San Jose Walking Tour: Food, History and Architecture

Learn about local life in San Jose through its architecture, history and food. This 3-hour walking tour shows you the typical lifestyle of the capital as you stroll through the streets with a knowledgeable local guide. Get to know the city through its grand markets and coffee history, ending at Mercado Central (Central Market) where you’ll sip Costa Rican coffee and sample some tasty food. Numbers are limited to 12 people, ensuring an intimate experience with a small group.

Start your San Jose walking tour at a café in Mercado Borbón (Borbón Market), where you’ll meet your guide and relax with a rich cup of morning coffee. Then take a stroll through the market, tasting fresh fruit and learning more about the agricultural history of the area.

You’ll visit a number of stands, from a coffee stand where you'll learn about the Costa Rican chorrado brewing method, to a local folk medicine stand. Your guide shares insight about the market and coffee and their impact on the history of San Jose’s citizens.

Discover more local history when you continue to the Central Market, a San Jose historical treasure. You’ll find no better place to experience the local cuisine than this market, established in 1882 and full to the brim with typical Costa Rican food and drink. As you explore the labyrinth of culinary choices with your guide by your side, sample local specialties and sip your second Costa Rican coffee of the day.

Complete your walking tour here, armed with a wealth of historical information, culinary know-how and perhaps even some local lingo to continue exploring on your own.