Cartago Day Trip by Rail from San Jose: Bike Ride and Market Tour

Totally over the San Jose hustle and bustle? Want to feel the wind in your hair? A change of scenery perhaps? This San Jose bike tour gives you all those things and more. Just outside the city of San Jose sits the beautiful town of Cartago, a sleepy oasis filled with Costa Rican local culture and the freshest air outside the big city.

Next you’ll take a quick 10-minute hike up into the hills of San Jose and arrive at the Atlantic Railroad, where you’ll hop on a train to head to Cartago. This scenic 45-minute journey will take you past the University campus, further out in to the mountains, and through the coffee plantations. At the end of the journey lies Cartago, where adventure awaits!

You’ll hop on your bike in Cartago and cruise through the streets of this beautiful town, learning all about its history along the way. Many of the locals travel by bike here, so you’ll fit right in! You will make regular stops with your guide, so that they can fill you in on all the history behind this fascinating town.

After getting your fix of all that Costa Rican history, your Cartago tour will finish up at the Central Market, where you can sample the local life through foods and flavours. Here you’ll be able to brush shoulders with the locals and dive into local cuisine, gaining plenty of insights from your guide as well. After this, you’ll hop on a local bus to return to San Jose, where your guide will happily point you in the direction of your accommodation, or give you some more tips to explore the city of San Jose.