If
you have great expectations of what the capital of Costa Rica
should be, San José could be a disappointment. It is a noisy
bustling place, traffics jams and congestion being the norm,
and the grid of relatively narrow streets has only a few buildings
of note or history. With its department stores, fast-food restaurants
and new shopping malls, particularly in the suburbs, it seems
more North American than many Latin American capitals.
But
it has some fine museums, good restaurants, and the very attractive
Paris-modelled National
Theatre, which was built by coffee barons in the
1890s and hosts plays, operas and events from time to time.
The best museums are the Gold
Museum, with its stunning pre-Columbian exhibits,
the National Museum with its collection of archaeologogy, colonial furniture, religious
art and costumes, and the Jade
Museum with the largest collection of American jade
pieces in the world. A visit to the colorful Mercado Central can also be worthwhile.
Despite
its bustle it still has a surprising “small town”
feel, and offers a colorful insight into the life of the average
urban Costa Rican. San José is the heart of the country, and
about 30% of the country’s population lives there or in
the nearby suburbs. It is also at an altitude of 1,150m and so the temperature is usually very temperate. It is a good
hub from which to spend a couple of days taking day tours, and
there are a number of hotels and lodges in the surrounding area
which give more of a country feeling whilst tours into town
remain feasible. Even walking in the surrounding hills which
overlook San José can be very rewarding, with tremendous views.
attractions
visitor
info
San Jose is a good base for spending a couple of days visiting
the area, and taking short tours which can include white
water rafting, a coffee
tour, the butterfly farm and Zoo Ave.
Depending on where
your hotel is, and how your program is organised, you could
manage without a car and rely on taxis, shuttles and tour transfers.
If your hotel is in the center of San Jose, then having your
own rental car can be a nuisance;
if in a hotel outside the town, it can provide flexibility and
mobility.
There are of course
many San Jose
hotels, both in and around the center, and others located
nearby but in a more rural setting. Where you decide to stay
depends on how long you want to stay, and your plans.
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