Tours

Art City Tour. The city sponsors a monthly evening showcase of its cultural venues from February through November. Several museums and galleries around town participate. You won't be able to hit them all in the four-hour 5–9 pm timeframe, but grab one of the free shuttles and check out a few of them. San José, San José. www.gamcultural.com.

Barrio Bird Walking Tours. Despite the name, the specialty of this company is not birding but rather two-hour walking tours of the city, with a focus on sights, art, and food. 6280–6169; www.toursanjosecostarica.com. From $32.

Carpe Chepe. Among a variety of city tours, these enthusiastic folks operate a popular Friday- and Saturday-evening Pub Crawl excursion ($30) and a Central Market tour ($48) weekday afternoons. Local hotel pickup and dropoff can be arranged for an added fee. 8347–6198; www.carpechepe.com. from $30.

Gray Line Costa Rica. This respected international company operates city sightseeing tours, as well as excursions to the surrounding Central Valley. San José, San José. 2220–2106; 800/719–3905; www.2020.graylinecostarica.com. From $74.

San José Free Walking Tour. As the name promises, the 2½-hour walk is free and covers downtown sights. The 9 am walk departs from in front of the Aurola Holiday Inn on the north side of Parque Morazán, but advance reservations are required. The cheery guides do a good job. They rely on tips: be generous. 8721–9443; www.facebook.com/sanjosefreewalkingtour.

San José Urban Adventures. Partake in a selection of fun half-day or evening walking tours with these knowledgeable folks. Barrio Bites & Sites and the Art of Craft Beer are especially popular. 4000–5730; 888/927–2128; www.sanjoseurbanadventures.com. from $38.

VIP City Bus. You'll see the city between downtown and La Sabana Park from the vantage point of a double-decker bus on VIP's four-hour tours that include snacks and commentary from bilingual guides. 2282--0240; www.vipcitybus.com. From $72.