Things to do in San Isidro de El General, one of the best places to visit in Costa Rica

Tired of tourism getting in the way of experiencing genuine culture?

If you have ever visited a major city in a foreign country and felt surprised or frustrated with an overwhelming number of tourists or been disappointed to find a generic tourist culture, you should consider booking your trip to San Isidro de El General.

Getting there

San Isidro de El General is Costa Rica’s third largest populous and is the primary hub in Costa Rica’s southern region, Perez Zeledon. It is an inland city without an international airport, which likely contributes to its somewhat undiscovered nature. The best way to travel to San Isidro de El General is to fly into San Jose and then either drive Ruta 2 through the Talamanca mountain range, or catch a regional flight into the Perez Zeledon airport. We recommend driving, as the route offers a spectacular experience climbing into the cloud forest, and most people will need a vehicle to maximize their exploration in this area anyway.

The drive on Ruta 2 takes between 2-4 hours depending on traffic. Ruta 2 (the Panamerican Highway) is a two-lane road that climbs from 3000 feet above sea level to over 11000 feet at its highest point (Cerro de la Muerte), then descends back down to about 2000 feet, where San Isidro de El General is nestled at the base of the mountain range.

Things to do

This region has endless experiences. You would need several months to truly experience everything it has to offer. From agricultural tours such as coffee, chocolate, dairy, sugarcane, and more to endless hiking, waterfalls, ziplining, and wildlife tours, the only thing not immediately available in this area are beaches, and those aren’t that far away. The drive from San Isidro to beautiful beach towns on the Pacific such as Dominical and Uvita is only about an hour, making it easy to take a day-trip beach excursion during your stay.

Our Recommendations

We have explored the area several times and found many great gems, but we’ve only experienced a fraction of what is available. Here are a few of our favorites thus far.

Quesos Canaan is a unique dairy farm and cheese factory that uses sustainable practices and has used Swiss cheese-making techniques to create cheeses that bridge traditional European and Tico taste preferences. The result is a smorgasbord of unique and delicious products. The tour is a fantastic experience, and the family that runs the farm is incredibly welcoming.

Reptilandia is a reptile-focused zoo that is generally considered the single greatest representation of reptile diversity in Costa Rica. The zoo typically displays between 70-90 different species of reptiles and amphibians, focusing heavily on education about these species and their habitat.  While we typically don’t support or recommend zoos (as opposed to rescue and conservation centers) we decided that Reptilandia was worth visiting because of its positive reviews regarding professionalism and quality of care for the animals. Costa Rica has strict laws and regulations governing these sorts of facilities given the country’s value on wildlife conservation and protection, so this also gave us peace of mind that the facility maintains high ethical standards. Our visit validated our research and was a very educational and enjoyable experience.

This area has an abundance of hiking options. One of our favorites is the Cloudbridge Nature Reserve, which showcases much of what hiking in the area has to offer. features incredible trails, serene mountain views and waterfalls, as well as plant and wildlife diversity. You can choose between guided or self-guided tours, and the park offers multiple well-established trails. While the park has significant elevation change, there are still trails suitable for people with a general level of physical fitness. There are enough trails to spend a full day hiking just at this location. This is a great alternative to the most famous hike in the area, summiting Chirripo, the highest peak in Costa Rica. Chirripo is recommended as a two-day hike (approximately 25 miles with a 7500 feet elevation gain), with most people timing their hike to see the sunrise over the Caribbean on the second morning. We have yet to conduct this hike, but plan to once our child is old enough.

Cloudbridge Trail Map

Another great option for a half-day hike is Gigantes. This trail begins along a series of swimmable small cascading waterfalls and climbs up to two enormous Ceiba trees. Toward the end of the hike is a restaurant perched atop a cliffside that offers great views and a well-earned meal. This is a fun hike that immerses you in the forest with varied terrain.

Finally, if you want to hike in the San Isidro de El General area, we strongly recommend renting a 4x4 as it will make access to many hiking trails easier, and some are inaccessible without it.

A Unique and Authentic Costa Rica Experience

There are many great places to stay in the San Isidro de El General area, and a savvy adventurer might book a long trip and stay at a few different locations in the area in order to capture the enormous variety this area has to offer. If you want to avoid the tourist hotspots and experience the authentic Costa Rica, this area has an abundance of options while still being accessible and easily navigable for foreigners. Book a 30-minute consultation to ensure your trip is optimized for your specific desires!