San Jose is gateway to dozens of exciting one-day Costa Rica tours

Most visitors to Costa Rica start out in the capital city of San José. However, many might not know that San José is an ideal gateway to some of the best one-day tours that Costa Rica has to offer. Starting right from the Central Valley, you have dozens of exciting adventure, nature and cultural tours available to enjoy in just one day.

You could base an entire vacation out of San José. The country's largest city has a lot to offer visitors, with interesting museums, theaters and historical buildings, as well as a multitude of cultural activities. It is a city of contrasts with many different expressions of old world and new world in its history, traditions, art and architecture.

San José is one of the youngest capitals in Latin America. It is an active city with numerous hotels, shops, galleries, restaurants, cafés, bars and clubs. San José is centrally located with convenient access to the Pacific Coast, Caribbean lowlands, Arenal Volcano, and all of the highland volcanoes and cultural attractions that ring the Central Valley.

Costa Rica Guides gives you complete information about one-day Costa Rica tours departing from the San José area. Tours are operated by Expediciones Tropicales, a Costa Rica travel agency with more than 18 years of experience.

Five top Costa Rica one-day tours from San Jose:

1. Considered one of the most beautiful parks in Costa Rica, Manuel Antonio National Park is perfect for relaxing and enjoying the Pacific beaches and rainforest.

2. Exciting canopy ziplines and whitewater rafting are the stars of the Combo Tour in the Caribbean jungle of Sarapiqui.

3. Costa Rica's most famous active volcano, Arenal, is an adventure on its own; this day tour also includes fantastic natural volcanic hot springs (with four choices of thermal springs).

4. Tortuga Island is the quintessential tropical island paradise with white sand beaches, coconut palms and beautiful turquoise sea in the Gulf of Nicoya.

5. Two of Costa Rica's active volcanoes – Poás and Irazú – ring the Central Valley. Day tours take you to the very top of the volcanoes' craters; you also can add on other activities like a coffee plantation tour, botanical gardens, a wildlife park, and cultural tours.

Make your own custom Costa Rica day tours by renting a private van or bus, with driver, from Expediciones Tropicales. For business or holiday travel to Costa Rica, Expediciones Tropicales takes care of the details for you. Their online Costa Rica travel directory, Costa Rica Guides, helps you with hotel reservations, Costa Rica tours, Costa Rica vacation packages, private transportation, rental cars, shuttle services, local flights and information on what to do, where to go and what to see while you're in Costa Rica.

Article by Shannon Farley