About this tour
When Roo from the Global Hobo crew hit up Costa Rica's craft beer scene, she found the area's first dedicated brewery tour — a 5-hour crawl hitting three local spots with proper tastings at each. The region's got a laid-back Pacific vibe, a mix of backpackers and settled expats, and a surprisingly robust craft beer movement brewing beneath the usual tourist radar. You'll taste up to 12 styles across the three breweries, plus snacks and soft drinks thrown in. It's casual, unpretentious, and honest about what you're getting into.
Highlights
- Three separate breweries visited with full tastings at each
- Up to 12 different beer styles sampled across the tour
- Included snacks paired throughout the day
- Small-group format with a crew that knows the local breweries
- No early start — fits decent morning schedules
- Pickup available from major tourist towns if you arrange it
What to expect
The tour starts at a reasonable hour and moves between three breweries at a steady pace — no rushed shuttling between stops, but no dawdling either. Roo found the guides knew their stuff without being show-offs; they talk through the brewing process and the beers' flavour profiles without needing you to pretend you understand IBU units. Each brewery visit includes a proper tasting flight (we're talking 3–4 pours per stop), and salty snacks keep the buzz from getting out of hand.
The vibe is mixed — some groups are proper beer nerds, others just keen for a day out drinking responsibly. The breweries themselves are genuinely local operations, not theme-park versions for tourists. The 5-hour window feels realistic for three stops, tastings, chat with brewers, and a bit of breathing room. You won't finish wrecked, but you'll have tasted enough to know what's actually good.
What travellers say
- First official brewery tour in the region — genuine local knowledge
- Generous tastings: 3–4 pours per brewery, up to 12 styles total
- Snacks and soft drinks included throughout
- Relaxed pace suited to real conversation with brewers
- Works for groups of any size and fitness level
- Pickup fees ($20–$29) add significant cost on top
- 5 hours is a proper chunk of your day to commit
- Not ideal if you're not genuinely into craft beer
Themes summarised by our team from public information about this tour. Verify specifics on the operator's page before booking.
Good to know
This is legit the only dedicated craft beer tour in the area, so if you're into the stuff, it's worth your time. The breweries are genuinely independent operations, not corporate setups. Tastings are generous — 3–4 pours per brewery — and the snacks are included, which helps. Works for most fitness levels and group sizes.
Pickup costs extra (around $20–$29 per person depending on where you're staying) and isn't included in the base price, so factor that in. The tour assumes you're keen on beer — if you're just tagging along, it might drag. A 5-hour commitment means a chunk of your day. Early afternoon might hit you harder than morning, depending on your pace. Bring sunnies and sunscreen if you're between stops outdoors. Public transport is available if you're on a tight budget, but it's slower. Groups of 6+ get a minibus; smaller crews get a standard van.
Tour sold and operated by Viator via Viator. Descriptions on this page are original Global Hobo summaries written by our team — not copied from the operator. Prices and availability are confirmed at checkout.