Experience the best of San Jose with Withlocals

"Maria Jose gave us a great tour of historic San Jose. She has a charming demeanor and shares a lot of information from a local's perspective. She tailors the tour, meeting us at our hotel, and when we told her we enjoyed walking she kept us moving along. We expressed interest in art, and her murals, and she included murals, mosaics, and sculptures in the tour. We thoroughly enjoyed our time together and wholeheartedly recommend her tour."

"You know those moments when you visit your friend who's living in a city you've never been to? You've already spent last night catching up. And today, they are taking you around town to show you around! Our time with María José was exactly that. She was very personable and time with her did not feel like an assignment that she's been repeating regularly like what other tour guides would do. It was also very clear from her that while she's here to help us get acquainted with the city she calls home, she prioritizes safely for us -- making sure we know what to look out for so when we go our separate ways, we are well equipped for. We were introduced to a lot of things that we wouldn't have been exposed to if we were to go with a tourist agency or alone. If you are looking to get some guidance from a friend you don't have, this María José is the best. "

"Despite visiting San Jose during the rainy season, I still think a food tour is one of the best ways to get to know a city. Maria took me to multiple local spots. At great variety of dishes that left me satiated, but wanting to explore more. She’s a great tour guide. She’s very knowledgeable about the city, and her being an artist and Muralist only Aviad. Would highly recommend."

"Maria took us to several of her favorite restaurants and we sampled local food and drinks. She was so informative and fun, full of energy and you could feel her love of the city. The food she chose for us was delicious and just enough to fill us up. We also walked quite a bit around the city and she pointed out key areas and buildings for us. It was a great tour! Thank you! "

"I have three criteria for a great food tour. It should take me places I wouldn't have found via Google reviews, it should give me a window to the city's culture, and the guide should bring an interesting personality. This tour, while a bit pricey, absolutely delivered on all three. Maria was excellent company throughout the day, her intimate knowledge of the local art scene greatly enhanced the tour, and she picked great bites that felt very authentic and true to city's culture. The food selections focused on what every day Costa Ricans eat rather than high end culinary one-offs. We very much enjoyed this approach and left feeling like we had been given the chance to connect with the city through its food."

"María José was amazing, and she made sure to answer all our questions. She is a wonderful human being and a pleasure to learn from. We walked away happy to have learned so much about San José and Costa Rica in general, and sad that our tour had ended. If you are lucky to have her as your guide, we have no doubt you will have a fun and meaningful experience too."

"We had a great time with Alberto. He is kind and engaging, a pleasure to talk to. He chose well for the 10 tastings. Great variety of food and locations, and at a casual pace. We were introduced to many new tastes even though we had been in Costa Rica for two weeks! Highly recommend."

"Alberto was very personal. Asked us about ourselves and told us some of his background. He was very knowledgeable about San Jose and showed a real love and passion for his city. He showed us all the highlights as noted in the tour."

"Maria did an excellent job with our tour. We had only 2 hours one afternoon and had two kids with us. She somehow managed to tell us about history, current events, taught us some cultural tips, and showed us some beautiful spots. She balanced the needs of our children (start with ice cream, stop to run around a park, get balloon animals from a clown) and grown ups (historical, political, geographic questions). We even saw two parakeets and a bobo! Finally, Maria showed us two of her murals. She is such a talented artist!"

"Three friends and I went on the walking food tour in San Jose with Maria as host. We couldn’t have been more pleased in the choices for all local dishes at various eateries. We had a lot of fun and I would recommend Maria wholeheartedly for this tour."