What to do After Class: A guide to Nearby Attractions
Ben Espinola
Ben is a traveling educator, writer, and musician originally from Greensboro, NC. He has done a wide variety of teaching, youth work, freelance writing and tourism temp jobs across numerous countries on four continents. He can usually be found struggling to learn a new skill or down at a nearby watering hole sharing a drink with local characters.
Published December 9th, 2022
With so much to see and do, it can be a daunting task to figure out what to do when you get out of class. It can be easy to fall into putting pressure on yourself to do as much as possible. This handy guide breaks down a few different activities all of which can be easily reached within an hour, making them great options for an afternoon trip after class.
See Exotic Animals
Costa Rica is famous for its diverse wildlife and while the country’s most famous parks are farther away, there are a couple of wildlife centers you can easily visit in an afternoon after class. Both these options are highly ethical establishments that provide attentive and loving care to their animals.
Rescate Wildlife Rescue Center
Located West of Alajuela, Rescate Wildlife Rescue is a rehabilitation center and sanctuary for a wide variety of local animal species. They rehabilitate injured or orphaned animals with the ultimate goal of releasing them back into the wild. Some animals that cannot survive in the wild are kept in a spacious and comfortable sanctuary. Guests can visit the sanctuary, botanical gardens, walking trails and a small farm and can see jaguars, sloths, tropical birds and over 100 different species of animals.
Uber: 45-60 minutes, 7000-8000 Colones Approximately $12
Public Bus: Take San Jose-Heredia-Alejuela bus to Alejuela, then take Alajuela-San Miguel bus to the Zoologico Zoo Ave stop. Costs approximately $2 and takes around 1.5 hours. For more information on public bus routes download Moovit app and see our blog on getting around in Costa Rica. (link)
Just east of Heredia, The Toucan Rescue Ranch provides guests a great opportunity to see not only a great variety of birds, but also monkeys and sloths. The purpose of the Ranch is to rehabilitate animals and release them back into the wild. There are also some permanent residents who cannot survive on their own in the wild. Note that you must have a reservation to enter the ranch. There are three programs: a standard guided tour, a night tour and a specialized sloth tour accompanied by a coffee tasting.
Uber: Recommended– Approximately 30 minute ride for 4000-5000 colones (about $7)
Public bus: Costs about $2 and takes around an hour. Take Heredia-San Isidro to San Isidro and transfer to San Jose-San Isidro de Heredia to the Contiguo A Veruleria Y Fruteria, San Josecito de San Isidro Stop and walk 0.2 miles
For more information on public bus routes download Moovit app and see our blog on getting around in Costa Rica. (link)
Tour a Coffee Farm or Chocolate Workshop
Chocolate and Coffee are enjoyed worldwide and Costa Rican locals will tell you the best in the world comes from Costa Rica. From pleasant cafes and artisan shops, to sprawling farms and plantations, every step of the process can be seen and learned about just around the corner from your homestay. There’s a variety of options that can be easily reached in a free afternoon.
Located near the Toucan Rescue Ranch, Sibu Chocolate is a fantastic destination for chocolate lovers to shop for artisanal chocolates or take a tour of the workshop, tasting numerous different chocolates and learning of the rich history of Chocolate in Costa Rica. Note that reservations are required for the tour.
Uber: Recommended– Approximately 30 minute ride for 4000-5000 colones (about $7)
Public bus: Costs about $2 and takes about an hour. Take Heredia-San Isidro to San Isidro and transfer to San Jose-San Isidro de Heredia to the Centro Comercial Valeska Santa Elena De San Isidro stop and walk about a mile
For more information on public bus routes download Moovit app and see our blog on getting around in Costa Rica. (link)
Located just a short walk from Ticolingo, Britt Coffee Tour features a plantation, factory store, butterfly garden, bakery, folklore exhibit, restaurant and coffee bar. They have several different options for tours and coffee tastings, or you can just wander around the grounds yourself for free. The classic coffee tour features a tasting as well as a detailed guided tour of the nursery and plantation and multimedia show.
Walk: 10-15 minutes
Uber: less than 5 minutes for about $2
Hacienda Alsacia Starbucks Coffee Farm
North of Alajuela is Hacienda Alsacia Coffee Farm. First opened in 1970 and acquired by Starbucks in 2013, this farm prides itself on its sustainable and innovative farming techniques. There’s a cafe with a scenic view and an expansive tour of the farm. You can see the working tree nursery, wet mill, drying patio and roaster, witness farmers working and learn more about sustainable farming.
Uber: 45 minute ride for 7000-8000 colones (about $12)
Public bus: 1.5-2 hours (1 or 2 transfers depending on schedule) ($2-3) Check Moovit app for up to date schedules
Take a Day trip to San Jose
San Jose gets a bad rap from a lot of international tourists, and while it’s not universally recognized as a must see city, there are still a lot of fantastic sights to see and places to visit. Easily reached by bus or Uber, San Jose is a large global city with everything you could possibly be looking for. There are many great museums, markets, charming neighborhoods, unique and diverse restaurants
Visit a Museum
For history lovers, this museum is a great introduction to the fascinating history of this unique country. The museum resides in an old military building and features a butterfly garden as well. The main exhibit explores the history of Costa Rica beginning in the pre columbian period and running through present day. There are also several traveling exhibits and a beautiful courtyard.
Uber: About 30 min and costs 6000-7000 (approximately $10)
Public Bus: Take Buses Heredianas bus (around $1) from near the central market of Heredia to terminal in San Jose. You can then walk down the pedestrian street heading east or catch a local bus (link to moovit or how to get around blog or something)
Did you know that Jade had immense cultural significance in Precolumbian societies throughout Mesoamerica? The Jade Museum in San Jose has the largest collection of Jade artifacts in the world. Many of the artifacts are thousands of years old and are stunning in their detail and beauty. Located just around the corner from the National Museum, this museum located in an austere modern building and is both educational and fascinating.
Uber: About 30 min and costs 6000-7000 (approximately $10)
Public Bus: Take Buses Heredianas bus (around $1) from near the central market of Heredia to terminal in San Jose. You can then walk down the pedestrian street heading east or catch a local bus (link to moovit or how to get around blog or something)
Located in an series of old vaults that once belonged to the National Bank, the Gold museum hosts a wealth of precolumbian gold artifacts that bear a variety of different meanings in the indigenous societies of Costa Rica. There’s also an exhibit on the history of Costa Rican Currency. The museum is centrally located and is easy to visit while walking along the central pedestrian road of the city.
Uber: About 30 min and costs 4000-5000 colones (approximately $8)
Public Bus: Take Buses Heredianas bus (around $1) from near the central market of Heredia to terminal in San Jose. You can then walk down the pedestrian street heading east or catch a local bus (link to moovit or how to get around blog or something)
Museum of Contemporary Art and Design
This museum features a variety of exhibits on new and different types of art. Many of the exhibits are temporary and traveling so there’s always something new to see. It’s located in an old liquor factory and also features some exhibitions of architecture, making it a must visit for architecture lovers. Located in an interesting neighborhood, it is well paired with a long walk down winding streets and through charming nearby parks.
Uber: 30-45 minutes, 5000-6000 colones (around $8)
Public Bus:Take Buses Heredianas bus (around $1) from near the central market of Heredia to terminal in San Jose. You can then walk down the pedestrian street heading east or catch a local bus (link to moovit or how to get around blog or something)
Explore charming neighborhoods and parks on your own or with a walking tour
This charming San Jose neighborhood is home to countless trendy and hip restaurants and bars. It’s a great place to grab a meal, a beer or just walk around. It’s also a great place to go shopping. There’s an iconic farmers market as well as many cute shops for picking up souvenirs for your friends and family back home.
Uber: 30-45 minutes, 6000-7000 colones (around $9)
Public Bus:Take Buses Heredianas bus (around $1) from near the central market of Heredia to terminal in San Jose. You can then walk down the pedestrian street heading east or catch a local bus (link to moovit or how to get around blog or something)
Take a walking tour or food tour
Knowing where to go and what to do in a foreign city can be overwhelming. A great opportunity to overcome this problem is with a guided tour of the city. Urban Adventures offers several tours, both during the day and at night for participants to get a glimpse of the real San Jose, see all the important sights and experience the city like only a local could.
Ben Espinola | Contributing Editor
December 9, 2022
