San Jose Tours
San Jose ART Walking Tour - small groups, creative experience
4.5

San Jose ART Walking Tour - small groups, creative experience

By Barrio Bird Walking Tours
Recommended by 92% of travellers
92% of reviewers gave this product a bubble rating of 4 or higher.
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Lowest price guaranteeReserve now & pay laterFree cancellation

Ages 0-90, max of 8 per group
Duration: 2h
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
Live guide: English, Spanish
More


  • All taxes, fees and handling charges
What's not included
  • Gratuities


Start:
  • Parada Frente al Parque Morazan, San José, El Carmen, 10101, Costa Rica
    We meet under the large, dome temple in Parque Morazan.
End:This activity ends back at the meeting point.

    • Not wheelchair accessible
    If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 16728P3

    • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
    • Comfortable walking shoes are recommended
    • Travellers should have a moderate physical fitness level
    • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 8 travellers

    • For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.

    If you have questions about this tour or need help making your booking, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 16728P3

    From
    £27.57
    per adult
    Select date and travellers
    Revenue impacts the experiences featured on this page, learn more.

    Similar experiences

    Itinerary
    • San José, El Carmen, 10101, Costa Rica
      We meet under the large, dome temple in Parque Morazan.
    • 1
      Meet in Parque Morazan under the dome temple. This park is in front of the Holiday Inn Aurola. We'll wonder under tunnels and past abandoned buildings, catching the newest works in graffiti art and then continue to galleries featuring indigenous works, urban fashion, vibrant paintings, sculptures, furniture and more. Sometimes we might meet the artists themselves. In between locations, we'll catch glimpses of some of San Jose's most historic buildings, learning more of Costa Rica's history. *We do not accept same day bookings through TripAdvisor, there is a system error."
    About the operator
    Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator:
    • Barrio Bird Walking Tours
      352
      San Jose, Costa Rica
      Joined in July 2010
    • Renee_Buchanan
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Wonderful tour!
      Great tour of San Jose! We did a combination food and architecture tour. Our guide was incredibly friendly, kind, and knowledgeable. We enjoyed learning more about the city and also sampling multiple new and delectable foods.
      Written 30 April 2024
    • V8760RNannb
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Fun and informative tour of Central San Jose
      Thanks to Cristobal for a very informative and fun tour of Central San Jose. He was highly enthusiastic and gave us a good foundation of information about the buildings and history of this area. He paced the tour very well for a couple of seniors.
      Written 11 December 2023
    • jennyanne123
      0 contributions
      4.0 of 5 bubbles
      Interesting
      This tour was quite interesting. Chris took us to a couple of places we would not hve found by ourselves, old homes that had been re purposed as galleries and restaurants. I dont feel that he had the depth of knowledge that Stacey might have.
      Written 20 November 2023
    • danapC6815PI
      0 contributions
      2.0 of 5 bubbles
      The Costa Rica they don’t tell you about!
      This tour is not safe! As my friend and I were walking with Christopher the tour guide a man walked up behind my friend and snatched her gold chain, leaving a bad abrasion on her neck. This was at 10am in the morning! The area is ridden with unhoused and drug addicted low life human beings. If you take this tour do not bring anything valuable with you, keep your cell phone put away, and please be careful.
      Written 22 August 2023
    • Compass180988
      0 contributions
      1.0 of 5 bubbles
      Guide arrived with a two-hour delay, so I couldn't do the tour - yet, the company didn't refund me
      The guide showed up more than two hours later than the given time in the booking process and the confirmation e-mail. I tried to reach the company several times via the contacts they gave me (phone number, e-mail), but nobody answered. Ticos were super friendly in the park where we should have met -- they also helped me to reach the company using their own phones, but still nothing. When the guide finally arrived, he apologized for their mistake and we agreed that I wouldn't do the tour with such a delay and would get back all the 45 USD I paid them. He called his boss to arrange this with her and everything seemed to be 'fine' (as much as it's fine that they spoiled my day). After all this the company didn't contact me, so I wrote an e-mail to the boss, Stassi, telling her what happened. She answered me very impolitely, then sent me a cancellation document as if it was me who cancelled the tour and never gave my money back. Both the content and the style of her e-mails were surprisingly rude and non-sense. Good news: Since then I heard that there was a free walking tour in San José which is really cool, so maybe it's a better option than no tour for 45USD.
      Written 4 August 2023
    • BronteBucket
      0 contributions
      4.0 of 5 bubbles
      Step back in time in San Jose
      Our guide, Chris, met us in the lobby of the National Theatre for the ‘Glam Bird’ walking tour for ‘history buffs’. Chris was a really lovely guy and worked hard to answer all of our questions. We joined the tour around the theatre and Chris translated for us as the theatre tour was in Spanish - we enjoyed looking at the beautiful interior although may have missed some of the information due to the language barrier, maybe? We learnt about how the theatre was built from Italian materials and about the beautiful paintings on the walls and roof, also about the melting pot culture of the country. We finished with a cup of coffee in the Cafe Alma in the theatre which was lovely. After the theatre tour we headed out with Chris to Park Morazan where we were fortunate enough to see some dancers in National costume making a commercial (for insurance) which was a real treat. We also saw some flamenco dancers practising for an arts festival. Then we walked through the Barrio Amon area of the city looking at the large houses mainly from an architectural point of view. Thai tour really helped us to get our bearings on our first morning in the City.
      Written 16 July 2023
    • E8014ZFjenniferf
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Great time in the rain!
      My friend and I went on a tour with Christopher, and we had a fantastic time! It happened to rain during our tour, and Christopher was great at finding places that would shelter us from the rain, and he adjusted the tour to make it enjoyable. He was SO knowledgable about the history, cultural dynamics and politics of the country. We learned so much, and had a blast meandering through the city with him. I had been to SJ a couple of times before, but because of this tour, I have a new found appreciation, fondness and excitement for this city. This was different than other tours I have experienced in that we were able to have conversation about the information rather than just receive a lecture, and the information was presented in a dynamic and interesting way. Christopher was able to answer any question we threw his way! Highly recommend...
      Written 16 July 2023
    • S5722ENelizabeths
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Great walking tour
      Great communication from the company and easy to locate meetup place. Christopher, our guide, was fantastic. He was knowledgeable of the city and fun to be around. We got hot tips on where to eat and cool things to do. Great experience!
      Written 27 May 2023
    • GregTraveler345
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Barrio Bird Walking Tours highly recommended!
      We highly recommend the Bird's Nest/City Highlights Tour from Barrio Bird Walking Tours for anyone who is visiting San Jose for the first time. The guide was extremely friendly, easy to listen to, could answer any questions, and also provided ideas for other things to see in the city along including restaurant recommendations.
      Written 17 April 2023
    • RonK2Mvrs
      0 contributions
      4.0 of 5 bubbles
      Walk about in San Jose
      We enjoyed our time with Angie. She knew where to go to see interesting architecture. She was willing to answer our many questions about history and also present day culture. Next time we'll do the food tour. The website did not make it clear what tours were running and they did not respond to our questions by e-mail. Despite that, the tour ticked all our boxes. We regret that we did not have time for the gold museum or the interior of the National Theatre.
      Written 21 February 2023
    • monikah734
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Great walking tour
      Great walking tour with an excellent guide - informative and takes you through the key tourist and local sites. Would definitely recommend.
      Written 6 February 2023
    • Ellie C
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Worthwhile walking tour of San Jose highlights
      We very much enjoyed a small group tour when in San Jose for a couple of days before heading to the coast for the main part of our vacation. The guide was great - Knowledgeable and good-natured. She had tidbits about the local culture, the architecture, street art, etc. Definitely recommend this if you have some time to kill in San Jose. The 2 hour length of the tour was perfect.
      Written 14 January 2023
    • jordandavis893
      0 contributions
      1.0 of 5 bubbles
      A No Show of an experience
      This was the only activity we had planned in the city and the tour guide was a no show and there was no communication.
      Written 29 November 2022
    • johnlindsay44
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Terrific San Jose Walking Tour
      We loved the fact that David our guide showed us the beautiful, the not so beautiful and the ugly in the centre of San Jose. We felt that the tour was realistic and honest. It gave us a brief understanding of the history of San Jose and Costa Rica. It took us to places and streets which we would not otherwise have seen in the short time we had available. We really enjoyed it tremendously and David was a very nice person who was enthusiastic about what he was doing. He is also an architecture student which was ideal for this kind of tour.
      Written 16 March 2022
    • manuelantweiler85
      0 contributions
      1.0 of 5 bubbles
      Cheater !!
      I have booked a bus ticket from San Jose to La fortuna, price was 16 us dollar. Unfortunately there are no prepaid tickets for that route so I had to pay again at the bus. They didn't reply to me when I was asking for the money. I tried to contact them via mail, Facebook or even Instagram but no chance... Be careful when you want to book something there.
      Written 19 January 2022
    See all 352 reviews
    These reviews are the subjective opinions of Tripadvisor members and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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    Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

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    4.5
    4.5 of 5 bubbles28 reviews
    Excellent
    25
    Very good
    1
    Average
    0
    Poor
    0
    Terrible
    2

    Geoffrey Cheminet
    Vanves24 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Great experience for discovering San Jose in a different way! We had a history and art tour with Angie, who told us many stories about the city, the main buildings, but also less known ones. We visited Barrio Amon, Otoya, and city center, during a 2 hour pleasant walk. Perfect for a small activity before taking your flight! I highly recommend.
    Written 19 March 2022
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    We are so happy you enjoyed exploring San Jose before your flight! We strive to make this a fun experience as you arrive or depart Costa Rica.
    Written 25 March 2022
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    KBethG
    Birmingham, MI47 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Dec 2021
    Really glad I did this 2 hour tour of San Jose! Got a sense of the cultural and historical perspective that one can miss by skipping the city! Our guide was lovely. She showed us beautiful galleries and street art. Highly recommend taking this tour and spending one day in San Jose doing this, a museum and the central market.
    Written 18 December 2021
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    We totally agree with this agenda! The Museo Nacional is our favorite with the Jade Museum a close second!
    Written 23 January 2022
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    Charree'
    4 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Sept 2023 • Solo
    Great cultural experience in San Jose! I booked this excursion two days in advance and received great communication. I ended up being the only participant for the day which allowed my tour guide, Christopher (I think that was his name) to be a little more flexible. I learned there's a lot of European influence in the architecture throughout the city. I really enjoyed myself! I really enjoyed Ñ and ended up purchasing a few souvenir items from there.
    Written 5 September 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Melanie B
    2 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Jan 2022 • Couples
    This tour was wonderful! We learned about aspects of the culture and history you don’t get from museums. Our guide, Alejandro, was knowledgeable, friendly, and passionate about the topics he covered. One of the best walking tours I’ve been on.
    Written 18 January 2022
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Thank you so much for the review! We strive to offer a unique, contemporary and insider experiences that complement your adventures outside the city!
    Written 23 January 2022
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    _cjm2008
    Newcastle upon Tyne, UK11 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Jan 2024 • Friends
    We had a spare morning in San Jose, so decided to do this to fill in time. So pleased we did it. The guide was friendly, informative and went at a gentle pace to suit our needs. Saw bits of San Jose we would never have seen and learned lots about the city. The murals were impressive, too. Definitely recommend this.
    Written 24 January 2024
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Thank you for exploring San Jose, Costa Rica with us! We love keeping our groups small to accommodate personal needs. Till next time!
    Written 13 February 2024
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    SnappleSpice
    New York City, NY647 contributions
    1.0 of 5 bubbles
    I booked this tour a couple of weeks in advance but never heard from the company, which is fine since I got a confirmation from TripAdvisor. On the morning of the tour, we couldn’t find the meeting location on our own. Someone pointed us in the right direction based on the information given on the confirmation, but we could not find anyone in the area (including when we walked around the park). As a traveler, I don’t have an international phone plan to be able to contact the company when out and without WiFi, so after 30 minutes of looking I assumed we wouldn’t be able to go on the tour anyway. I expected SOME contact from the company afterwards, or to see some attempt to contact me when they realized we didn’t arrive to the correct location, but there was nothing. I never got any messages, emails, texts, or calls, which seems weird considering the price of the tour - not something I imagine most people just walk away from.
    Written 3 January 2021
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Hello Heather, our tour guide was waiting for you. We recently discovered the TripAdvisor platform had changed the marker for our meeting point, had it up the street at a nearby park. It is now correct. As we did not hear from you we thought your plans had changed. My apologies. TA should refund you.
    Written 30 January 2021
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    Bri C
    Jacksonville, FL30 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Mar 2016 • Family
    After a busy week in Costa Rica with my family, my dad and I found ourselves in San Jose for the day awaiting a late-night flight. We went online to find something to occupy ourselves and came across Barrio Bird Walking Tours. After emailing Stacey that morning, we received a quick reply offering a tour later that same afternoon. Stacey was extremely accommodating and even allowed us to store our luggage at the studio while we were on the tour.

    We took the 2-hour tour and really enjoyed it. Our group consisted of my dad and I and one other traveler from California. Carla was a fantastic guide and kept us entertained and informed the entire time. The tour starts off at one of San Jose's central parks and covers the main parts of the city. We learned about history, agriculture, politics, art, religion, food and so much more. It really was a great way to see the city and learn more about the country. We had the pleasure of visiting during Semana Santa and even got to see and experience one of the big parades celebrating the occasion. A huge thank you to both Carla and Stacey for a wonderful afternoon.
    Written 29 March 2016
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Thank you Bri, so many people arrive to San Jose without much plan. Glad we made it easy for you to fill the time and explore last minute.
    Written 12 April 2016
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    Aravind P
    Zurich, Switzerland79 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    I was glad to have taken this tour with Barrio bird. Not only was this an alternative way of getting-to-know this vibrant city, but the graffitti art around the city spoke about the real character of the place. The visit to galleries/shops was very exciting, something like an insider's tip from a local, and spots that perhaps, I wouldn't have got to know easily. The guide had a good knowledge of the locations, had some amazing stories to share, but more so, very easy-going, cheerful, and friendly. She indeed did a wonderful job!. Overall, a fabulous experience and truly recommended without any hesitation!
    Written 8 February 2018
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Excellent! Thank you, we work very hard to take people into these hidden corners. Because of small group size you get this experience that you'll never have with the other tour providers in town!
    Written 12 February 2018
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    aviself
    Boston, Massachusetts1 contribution
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Aug 2016 • Couples
    For our last full day in Costa Rica, we decided to do a walking tour of San Jose. We looked at several different options and landed on the website for Barrio Bird Walking Tours because I had seen excellent reviews. We decided to do the Creative Side: Artist Bird tour the following afternoon. Our guide, Carla, found us amidst dozens of school children and adults fleeing from a sudden downpour. We liked her instantly. We were very lucky to have excellent tour guides while in Costa Rica and Carla was certainly no exception. We visited parks, viewed displays of older and newer public art, and learned about indigenous folk art. Carla incorporated historical information with current events and shared little gems about the city and/or the culture in a way that was fun and engaging. We would have been happy to spend an entire day talking, learning, and exploring the city. Would definitely do it again!
    Written 28 August 2016
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Rhea F
    Palo Alto, CA1 contribution
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Jul 2015 • Solo
    I had a fabulous walking tour of San Jose with Barrio Birds! Carla gave me an insider's view of the city. I learned a lot about the history, art, and food. Just a wonderful experience!
    Written 28 July 2015
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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    San Jose ART Walking Tour - small groups, creative experience provided by Barrio Bird Walking Tours

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