There is tons to do right in the city of San Jose, but I highly recommend exploring the surrounding area if you have time. Check out one of these day trips for an unforgettable experience.

1. Poás Volcano

Although technically in Alajuela province, this is a great day trip from San Jose. The transportation can be a bit difficult so I would recommend buying a tour up to the volcano. On your way up to the volcano, you’ll be driving through plantations that grow some of the best coffee in the world. Take the time to get out and do a coffee tasting at one of the many coffee farms in the area. Britt is the most famous, but I did the Doka Estate tour and loved it! The visibility is very dependent on the weather, so don’t get your hopes up if it is a cloudy or foggy day. Poás Volcano is a national park so there is a $15 entrance fee. There are well paved trails to the crater overlook, then more hiking trails through the lush forest up to a crater lake. I would definitely recommend checking out Poás Volcano while in San Jose.

2. La Paz Waterfall

This breathtaking waterfall is located inside a privately owned nature preserve and animal sanctuary. The entrance fee is a little steep at $48 for adults, but you get access to the private gardens, get to see many animals native to Costa Rica, and get to hike the trails to not just La Paz waterfall, but four other waterfalls as well. I really enjoyed my visit, but if you are planning to go to Monteverde, Rincon de la Vieja, Arenal, etc. I wouldn’t make this a top priority because you are going to see much of Costa Rica’s beautiful nature in those other places!

3. Irazu Volcano

There is a bus that runs from San Jose directly to Volcán Irazu. The stop is right across the street from Teatro Nacional and there is a sign that says “Volcán Irazu.” The bus costs 2365 Colones each way and leaves at 8 a.m. The entrance fee to the park is $15 for non-residents. Within the park, there are two craters and a nice hiking area. On a clear day you can see both the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans from the top. It isn’t a long hike, but a cool place to explore and get a good view of the crater. The crater lake was dry when we went, but usually it has beautiful turquoise water. The volcano has 23 recorded eruptions with the latest eruption lasting only 1 day on December 8, 1994.