Lonely Planet Experiences: San Jose Tapas, Traditional Masks and Escazu Visit
San Jose, Costa Rica
From USD 80.00
Office phone number: +506 4000 5730
Lonely Planet Experiences: San Jose Tapas, Traditional Masks and Escazu Visit
San Jose, Costa Rica
Culture shock rating
Worried we’re going to shock your senses? Relax! We believe part of the fun of travel is immersing yourself in the destination and its culture, meeting the people, and learning what makes the place tick. We’ve got a wide range of tours with something for everybody. The cultural shock rating ranks how different the experience is from most Western cultures. But no matter the level, don’t worry, you’ll have a local, in-the-know guide with you every step of the way.
Low
Consider these tours your 101 intro to a place. Transportation might be private or a very comfortable public option, and the activities are usually visits to iconic sites and locations that are familiar to most Western cultures – but that will still give you fantastic insight into a destination.
Medium
Expect to rough it for parts of this tour, whether that’s on a packed public bus or in a local market off the tourist trail. There might be a few language barriers or unfamiliar cultural customs, and you’ll get an experience different from what you're used to at home.
High
You're out there in the global community! We’re going to take you down streets you’d rarely explore on your own, introduce you to local customs and languages, and take you for a ride in whatever transport is available. Get ready to take it as it comes, whatever comes. There might be a shock, but oh man, it’s worth it.
Physical rating
Worried our tours are too tough? Relax! From leisurely strolls to muscle-burning treks, we’ve got a wide range of tours with something for everybody. The physical grading gives you an idea of how much huffing and puffing you can expect on the tour.
Low
Slow and steady is all you need here. These tours have very limited physical activity, such as walking relatively flat streets, sites, or markets, and climbing in and out of the transport provided.
Medium
Not too hard, not too soft, these tours are just right! You can expect a bit of physical activity, but nothing overly challenging – perhaps walking up and down hills, riding a bike for up to 30 kilometers along mostly flat terrain, or jumping in a kayak for a gentle paddle on flat water.
High
Get ready for a workout! These tours are our most challenging and involve intense walking, hiking, kayaking, swimming, or bike riding. You could be making steep climbs by foot or pedal, or working your core in the water. We recommend you have a good level of fitness to join this tour.
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Tour snapshot
Unmask the beauty of contemporary Costa Rican life on this walking tour of San Jose and Escazu. Get the low down on some of Costa Rica's local legends, freshest food and rustic restaurants on this San Jose tour that has you walking in holy footsteps and riding public transport for the ultimate insiders experience!
Experience the best travel stories for yourself. Join a local expert and uncover hidden gems on this city adventure hand-picked by the world's leading travel publisher. Lonely Planet Experiences powered by Urban Adventures bring stories to life in the best-loved cities around the globe.
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Highlights
- Visit the legendary Porras Bakery Don Fernando and chat with its charismatic owner, better known by the locals as ‘Nando’
- Walk the spiritual route of churches and learn the rich local history of Catholicism
- Experience the lively atmosphere of the Central Market, and ride like a local about public transport
- Visit a legendary masquerade family, renowned for their traditional Costa Rican masks
- Feast on authentic local cuisine in a 100-year-old restaurant
- Enjoy a sample of traditional chicha as well as a coffee tasting
- Each Lonely Planet Experience comes with six-months free access to Lonely Planet’s Guides App which includes over 8,000 destinations guides and unbeatable discounts to Lonely Planet Guidebooks.
Local Impact: How you will help the local community by joining this tour:
- In Escazu, you will learn about local folklore and meet with local artisans, giving you a look into local culture that you might not get on your own.
- You will visit a a legendary masquerade family where three generations have been making some of the country’s most beautiful masks for celebrations and special holidays. By participating in this tour, you are helping to preserve local cultural heritage and traditions.
- This tour will take you to locally-owned, traditional restaurants, where you will try a range of local produce and organic coffee.
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Schedule details
- Duration: 4 hours
- Meeting point:
Main entrance of the National Theatre (Teatro Nacional de Costa Rica), at 2nd Avenue and 3rd Street, San Jose.
- Find the exact meeting point with what3words:
- Starting time: 11.30 AM
- Ending point:
Escazu Central Park, near the taxi rank
Language: English
Inclusions: Local English speaking guides,traditional Costa Rican Tapas,Local Transportation,Mazquarade Show, chicha drink, cup of organic coffee.
Exclusions: Transportation to and from meeting point, food and drink other than specified above, souvenirs and items of a personal nature, beverages and alcoholic drinks, tips / gratuities for the guide.
Setting off from the beautiful National Theatre Building, you’ll instantly fall in love with San Jose’s beauty. Fortunately, this city has so much more to offer, so you still have loads to look forward to! Together we’ll stroll the ‘route of the churches’ passing historical churches like the Cathedral and La Merced and your guide will fill you in on the history behind the graffiti that you’ll see along the way, giving you a taste of contemporary Costa Rican life.
After our walk through the historical center of San Jose, we’ll board public transport and make our way to one of the oldest cities in Costa Rica, Escazu, known for its spooky witch-related folklore. On our way to the city of the witches, you’ll spot La Sabana Metropolitan Park, which used to be the San Jose international airport.
Full of knowledge, secrets, and inspiration, we’ll shift gears to delicious, authentic Costa Rican cuisine. We’ll venture to a 100-year-old restaurant that’s known for its traditional fare, and where you’ll get a real taste of Costa Rica, with a choice of over 20 different Costa Rican tapas! After lunch, we’ll taste chicha, a traditional local drink that has been enjoyed for hundreds of years. Our beverage will also prepare us for one of the coolest local traditions: Costa Rican masks and masquerade, and we’re taking you straight to the legends. We’ll pay a visit to a legendary local master’s house, where three generations of the same family have been making some of the country’s most beautiful masks for celebrations and special holidays. Here we’ll be privy to his creative genius, and he’ll let us in on the family’s secrets for making Costa Rica’s most famous masks.
By the end of this San Jose tour, you’ll feel so much like a local, we bet you’ll be speaking Costa Rican Spanish and everything!
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Additional information
Inclusions: Local English speaking guides,traditional Costa Rican Tapas,Local Transportation,Mazquarade Show, chicha drink, cup of organic coffee.
Exclusions: Transportation to and from meeting point, food and drink other than specified above, souvenirs and items of a personal nature, beverages and alcoholic drinks, tips / gratuities for the guide.
Dress standard: Please wear comfortable, casual clothing for walking.
Your Trip: For your Urban Adventure you will be in a small group of a maximum of 12 people.
Confirmation of booking: If you have your voucher, your booking is confirmed. We'll see you at the start point. Get in touch if you have any concerns or require more information via the email address or phone number (business hours only) on your voucher.
Additional Information: The timing of this tour fits perfectly with our Bites and Sights or San Jose By Night tours, so you can do both in the same day, if you wish!
Closure of sites: Porras Bakery is closed on Sundays
Child Policy: This is a child-friendly tour. Children between the ages of 6 and 11 inclusively are permitted on this tour at the rate listed above. Please select ‘child’ above when booking. Children under the age of 6 are permitted to join this tour free of charge. Please inform us at the time of booking if you’ll be bringing a child under the age of 6. You can do so in the special request box on the checkout page.
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Local contact
Office phone number: +506 4000 5730
Email address: info@sanjoseurbanadventures.com
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