Beautiful & unique VIP City Bus
Beautiful & unique VIP City Bus

I have been all over Costa Rica, taking in the sights, talking to the tourists, meeting the locals, trying the food and drinks – and I have been doing this for years, since I have the greatest job in the world! But even I don’t know everything about my country and all of its culture-­rich cities. There is so much to do and to see in Costa Rica, that I frequently hop on a tour that is happening. These tours help me see my beautiful home in a whole new light. Most recently, I partnered with VIP City Bus to tour San José, and it was a very fun experience!

Paseo Colon in San Jose
Paseo Colon in San Jose

I’ll get into all the details that you need to know about this tour and the company that runs it, but first I have to talk about our tour guide, Jason. I’ve already mentioned that I go on these tours frequently, and I have to say, they aren’t always great. Each time that I feel like the tour wasn’t great, it was largely because I didn’t connect to the tour guide, or they just weren’t very engaging. Not everyone is as interested in hearing about the history of Costa Rica as I am, but if you are a tour guide, you should know the history very well. This is one of the things that really makes VIP City Bus really stand out. Jason was an amazing guide – he made the tour both fun and educational, and his amazing presentation abilities made it seem like we were hearing a story (which of course we were – the history of Costa Rica!). The entire tour bus was engaged in the history of Costa Rica, which is something that brings a tear to this little frog’s eyes. So, yes, I recommend that you take this tour if you’ll be visiting San José. Here’s what you need to know about the company and the tour before booking your adventure.

Amazing tourists group with VIP City Bus
Amazing tourists group with VIP City Bus

Guanacaste Escape Adventure Tour
7 Days / 6 Nights
Starting at $779 per person

VIP City Bus

The tour company, VIP City Bus, works hard to be as fun as San José is itself. Their tour is informative and full of the Costa Rican culture that so many tourists enjoy each year. It is the only double-­decker tour in Costa Rica, and the sightseeing trip is combined with a knowledgeable tour guide to help with interpreting all of the landmarks and history. Tour participants ride in the bus, but also get the chance to get out to see the sights up close, and to go on short walks. The company has built their tour around three main ideas: luxury, culture, and innovation. The bus is a modern double decker, built to help all tourists get a real feel for the Costa Rican culture. The tour treats its participants as the stars, and focuses on the journey, not the destination. Along the way, riders get to sample the culture of my country through sights, sounds, and cuisine. The tour will take you from your hotel to several historically significant sites in San Jose, so that you’re able to immerse yourself in the evolution of this great country while enjoying panoramic views of the city – bring your camera!

Costa Rica beautiful National Stadium, La Sabana
Costa Rica beautiful National Stadium, La Sabana

The VIP City Bus Tour

If you’re going to go on this tour, you’ll need to reserve an entire day in San José. The adventure lasts for a full five hours, starting at 11:00 am and ending at 4:00 pm. The tour costs $70.00 per person, and includes the round trip transportation for the tour. The main purpose of the tour is to help visitors get to know the customs and people of Costa Rica, and San José, through exposure to the culture. The tour is guide the entire time, with guides that speak both English and Spanish. In addition to panoramic views of the city, there are also off­-bus walks and visits to landmarks. Tourists will receive an authentic Costa Rican lunch, and water and juice is provided on the bus throughout the tour.

Art Museum Tour
Art Museum Tour

The price of the tour includes everything you need for a great day in San José: a seat on the double decker bus, transportation to/from your hotel, enthusiastic and knowledgeable guides that speak your language, local drink and food options, authentic Costa Rican folk music, and stops at some of the most significant landmarks in the country’s history. Along the way, you’ll even have walking tours that end at great places, including stadiums, hospitals, monuments, museums, cathedrals, theaters, and markets for shopping. You’ll have the opportunity to purchase authentic Costa Rican food and products, and you’ll also have access to popular souvenir products like shirts, cups, keychains, and hats, all of which are great to take home with you to give to friends and family. One of the most popular stops on the tour is the National Theater. Those on the tour get to stop to see the lobby while the guide tells the story of the building. This spot is one that is cherished in the community, so it’s a really exciting place to visit. You also get to stop at the Art Museum and the National Museum to get a sense of the creativity of the people of Costa Rica, the Metropolitan Cathedral which showcases the beautiful faith of the locals, the National Monument and Democracy Plaza for a slice of history, and the Central Market for some authentic shopping.

Jason, our tour guide waiting for departure
Jason, our tour guide waiting for departure


There really is no better way to see all that the capital of Costa Rica has to offer. Taking a bus tour is a safe a carefree way to tour the city – without the stress of renting a car and trying to read a map or get the GPS to work. With a tour guide, you’ll learn things that you can’t learn by reading books or information sites on the Internet. It’s an interactive experience that allows you to get to know the people of my great country, and lets you meet other travelers and visitors too! I hope that your VIP City Bus Tour I as exciting as mine was!

Calderon Guardia Museum
Calderon Guardia Museum

San José National Theater visit
San José; National Theater visit

Beautiful National Museum stop with VIP City Bus
Beautiful National Museum stop with VIP City Bus

National Monument in San José
National Monument in San José

Magnificent Golden room at Art Museum, La Sabana
Magnificent Golden room at Art Museum, La Sabana