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The center of San José San José is the capital of Costa Rica.

San José is on a plateau in the Central Valley at 1,200 m (3,700 ft) elevation. It is ringed by lush green mountains and valleys. The population of this city is probably half of the whole country. It is served by the primary airport (which is in nearby Alajuela) the University of Costa Rica, the US and other embassies, and many museums, cultural venues, hotels, markets, etc. It is the hub of the country.

The value of the colón fluctuates roughly above ₡500 to the US dollar and some locals still call ₡500 "one dollar" in day to day life.

Weather in San José varies throughout the year and is affected by Caribbean weather conditions.

Because of its elevation, San José is usually 21-27°C (70-80°F) though it can get chilly at night. The rainy season is from mid April through December.

Museo de Oro Precolombino, +506 2243-4202. Tu-Su 10:00-16:30. An underground museum below Plaza de la Cultura. The collection consists of 1,600 pieces of pre-Columbian gold work dating from 500 AD to 1500 AD. Although not of the quality seen in the Andes, the animal pieces are very impressive and make the museum a must-see for those interested in art or history. The museum explains the processing and production of the pieces as well as their social, cultural, and religious meanings. The entrance fee includes the Numismatic Museum and the Temporary Exhibition Galleries, which are inside the same labyrinthine complex. There is a nice museum shop and a tourist office at the entrance. ₡5,500 or US$11 for foreigners, or ₡4,500 with a student ID card. It is cheaper to pay in colones here.
Museo del Jade, Avenida Central, Calle 13., +506 2287-6034. M-F 08:30-15:30, Sa 10:00-13:00. The museum has relocated to a large modern building next to the Artesanal Market. Most tourist maps still show the old location across from Hotel Hemingway, but the new location is 4 blocks away and closer to the Plaza de la Cultura. The brand new complex is now one of the hemisphere's premier museums and is worth the sizable entry fee. It hosts the largest collection of precolumbian jade in the Americas and explains how these impressive pieces were produced. The museum displays a wide variety of other objects made of gold, stone, bone, ceramics, and shells. There is a smattering of objects similar to those at the Museo de Oro (gold pieces) and Museo Nacional (stone spheres and ceramics). You can gain insight into the daily lives of the people in the precolumbian era with numerous bilingual English-Spanish. If you only have time for visiting one museum, this is the recommended choice, albeit the craftsmanship of the pieces at the Museo de Oro is higher. US$15 for foreigners, $5 for locals. It is cheaper to pay USD than colones.
Museo de los Niños, +506 258-4929. M-F 09:30-15:30, Sa Su 10:00-16:00. This is an edutainment museum, and it was designed for Costa Rica's children, all the exhibits are in Spanish only. ₡600 for adults and ₡300 for children.
Museo Nacional, Calle 17 Avenida 2, +506 257-1433. Tu-Su 08:30-16:30. The museum includes a large butterfly garden (with many morpho butterflies) and a collection of large stone spheres from the Diquis Valley near the Pacific Ocean, a permanent precolumbian exhibition, the barracks, the rooms of the army general and his family, and a couple of temporal exhibits at the time. The museum building is an old fort called Cuartel Bellavista, in this place the Army was symbolically abolished by then president Jose Figueres Ferrer on December 1, 1948, after the last civil war and armed conflict in the country. ₡2000.
Museo de Arte Costarricense, +506 222-7155. Tu-Sa 10:00-16:00, Su 10:00-14:00. This used to be San Jose's main airport terminal back when La Sabana was the airport. $5 (students $3).
Insect Museum at the Universidad de Costa Rica. A very elegant collection of exotic bugs. Only a few dollars, but check the times when they are open.
Museo de arte y diseño contemporáneo (MADC), Centro Nacional de la Cultura, Antigua Fábrica Nacional de Licores. Avenida 3, calle 15, +506 2257-7202 or +506 2257-9370. Tu-Sa 09:30-17:00. Definitely the main institution in Costa Rica dedicated to the broadcasting of contemporary art. Information on exhibitions, schedules and admission fees can be found at their website. Nationals and residents ¢1500, foreigners US$3, students (with student ID card) ¢1000, children under 5 years and seniors free, free entrance on the first Tuesdays of each month.

Museo de Oro Precolombino, +506 2243-4202. Tu-Su 10:00-16:30. An underground museum below Plaza de la Cultura. The collection consists of 1,600 pieces of pre-Columbian gold work dating from 500 AD to 1500 AD. Although not of the quality seen in the Andes, the animal pieces are very impressive and make the museum a must-see for those interested in art or history. The museum explains the processing and production of the pieces as well as their social, cultural, and religious meanings. The entrance fee includes the Numismatic Museum and the Temporary Exhibition Galleries, which are inside the same labyrinthine complex. There is a nice museum shop and a tourist office at the entrance. ₡5,500 or US$11 for foreigners, or ₡4,500 with a student ID card. It is cheaper to pay in colones here.

Museo del Jade, Avenida Central, Calle 13., +506 2287-6034. M-F 08:30-15:30, Sa 10:00-13:00. The museum has relocated to a large modern building next to the Artesanal Market. Most tourist maps still show the old location across from Hotel Hemingway, but the new location is 4 blocks away and closer to the Plaza de la Cultura. The brand new complex is now one of the hemisphere's premier museums and is worth the sizable entry fee. It hosts the largest collection of precolumbian jade in the Americas and explains how these impressive pieces were produced. The museum displays a wide variety of other objects made of gold, stone, bone, ceramics, and shells. There is a smattering of objects similar to those at the Museo de Oro (gold pieces) and Museo Nacional (stone spheres and ceramics). You can gain insight into the daily lives of the people in the precolumbian era with numerous bilingual English-Spanish. If you only have time for visiting one museum, this is the recommended choice, albeit the craftsmanship of the pieces at the Museo de Oro is higher. US$15 for foreigners, $5 for locals. It is cheaper to pay USD than colones.

Museo de los Niños, +506 258-4929. M-F 09:30-15:30, Sa Su 10:00-16:00. This is an edutainment museum, and it was designed for Costa Rica's children, all the exhibits are in Spanish only. ₡600 for adults and ₡300 for children.

Museo Nacional, Calle 17 Avenida 2, +506 257-1433. Tu-Su 08:30-16:30. The museum includes a large butterfly garden (with many morpho butterflies) and a collection of large stone spheres from the Diquis Valley near the Pacific Ocean, a permanent precolumbian exhibition, the barracks, the rooms of the army general and his family, and a couple of temporal exhibits at the time. The museum building is an old fort called Cuartel Bellavista, in this place the Army was symbolically abolished by then president Jose Figueres Ferrer on December 1, 1948, after the last civil war and armed conflict in the country. ₡2000.

Museo de Arte Costarricense, +506 222-7155. Tu-Sa 10:00-16:00, Su 10:00-14:00. This used to be San Jose's main airport terminal back when La Sabana was the airport. $5 (students $3).

Insect Museum at the Universidad de Costa Rica. A very elegant collection of exotic bugs. Only a few dollars, but check the times when they are open.

Museo de arte y diseño contemporáneo (MADC), Centro Nacional de la Cultura, Antigua Fábrica Nacional de Licores. Avenida 3, calle 15, +506 2257-7202 or +506 2257-9370. Tu-Sa 09:30-17:00. Definitely the main institution in Costa Rica dedicated to the broadcasting of contemporary art. Information on exhibitions, schedules and admission fees can be found at their website. Nationals and residents ¢1500, foreigners US$3, students (with student ID card) ¢1000, children under 5 years and seniors free, free entrance on the first Tuesdays of each month.

Zoológico Simón Bolivar. An almost hidden zoo in Barrio Amón, some of the most representative animals are available in this small zoo. There are many big cats, including a non native lion, the serpentarium is one of the most interesting spots, with colorful (and dangerous) snakes available.

Zoológico Simón Bolivar. An almost hidden zoo in Barrio Amón, some of the most representative animals are available in this small zoo. There are many big cats, including a non native lion, the serpentarium is one of the most interesting spots, with colorful (and dangerous) snakes available.

The main downtown area is a bustling collection of well-laid out streets filled with bustling traffic and lined with eclectic, historic architecture. On the surface it is a gritty downtown area, but look inside and you'll find friendly people, quirky spots, and the historic side of San José that change your impression. A walking tour is the best way to see this area.

There are a lot of tours and local events and doings in and from San José, including:

Butterfly farm
Coffee farm
Canopy tours
Rafting
Rios Tropicales.
Volcanoes
- Buses to volcano Poas leave from Parque La Merced at 08:30 daily (₡2990).
- Buses to volcano Irazú leave at 08:00 daily on Av. 2 in front of the National Theater (50 km, 2 hr, ₡4000 return) and return at 12:30 from the National Park. Park entrance fee for foreigners only: US$10 or ₡5020, a bit overpriced but the view is nice.
La Paz Waterfall Gardens An hour away from San José you can find lovely trails through primary rainforest that take you past five beautiful waterfalls. The La Paz water fall gardens also offer a hummingbird gallery, serpentarium, frog exhibit and large butterfly observatory.

Butterfly farm

Coffee farm

Canopy tours

Rafting

Rios Tropicales.

Volcanoes

Buses to volcano Poas leave from Parque La Merced at 08:30 daily (₡2990).
Buses to volcano Irazú leave at 08:00 daily on Av. 2 in front of the National Theater (50 km, 2 hr, ₡4000 return) and return at 12:30 from the National Park. Park entrance fee for foreigners only: US$10 or ₡5020, a bit overpriced but the view is nice.

La Paz Waterfall Gardens An hour away from San José you can find lovely trails through primary rainforest that take you past five beautiful waterfalls. The La Paz water fall gardens also offer a hummingbird gallery, serpentarium, frog exhibit and large butterfly observatory.

Every Thursday a dozens of young jugglers gather at the Parque Morazan and juggle together. Often with percussion music. It is a free event in public space. Normally you will be invited to play with them. Lovely experience if you like street art.

Every Thursday a dozens of young jugglers gather at the Parque Morazan and juggle together. Often with percussion music. It is a free event in public space. Normally you will be invited to play with them. Lovely experience if you like street art.

Yoga. Costa Rica is a top destination for yoga. In San Jose, check out Downtown Yoga near Parque Morazan, which offers accessibly priced yoga and hooping classes for all experience levels.

Yoga. Costa Rica is a top destination for yoga. In San Jose, check out Downtown Yoga near Parque Morazan, which offers accessibly priced yoga and hooping classes for all experience levels.

Valle del Sol, Santa Ana (In the Lindora area next to Forum Park., +506 2282-9222.
Gym: Decent gym facilities can be found at the Spa Corobici (+506 231-5542) located behind the Hotel Corobici. The taxi ride from the airport is approximately US$10-20 and entry into the gym is ₡5,300 or Us$10. The club has a good selection of free and machine weights and a cardio theater. The club also has an outdoor swimming pool for lap swimming, a Jacuzzi tub, and a sauna.
La Sabana, La Sabana (West of San José, at the end of Paseo Colón. Daylight hours. Known as the lungs of San José, La Sabana is the largest park in the city. It has running trails, as well as a number of sports facilities, including football (soccer) and baseball fields, basketball courts, a track, and a rollerskating rink. Find pick-up basketball games here every weekend and holiday, and sometimes during the week. $0.

Valle del Sol, Santa Ana (In the Lindora area next to Forum Park., +506 2282-9222.

Gym: Decent gym facilities can be found at the Spa Corobici (+506 231-5542) located behind the Hotel Corobici. The taxi ride from the airport is approximately US$10-20 and entry into the gym is ₡5,300 or Us$10. The club has a good selection of free and machine weights and a cardio theater. The club also has an outdoor swimming pool for lap swimming, a Jacuzzi tub, and a sauna.

La Sabana, La Sabana (West of San José, at the end of Paseo Colón. Daylight hours. Known as the lungs of San José, La Sabana is the largest park in the city. It has running trails, as well as a number of sports facilities, including football (soccer) and baseball fields, basketball courts, a track, and a rollerskating rink. Find pick-up basketball games here every weekend and holiday, and sometimes during the week. $0.

Casinos: Many hotels have gaming. The most famous for sex tourism is Casino del Rey.

Casinos: Many hotels have gaming. The most famous for sex tourism is Casino del Rey.

Teatro Nacional de Costa Rica.

Teatro Nacional de Costa Rica.

Boutique Annemarie, inside Hotel Don Carlos, is a nice souvenir shop. But don't buy your stamps here, they'll charge you an extra 40% for the "service".
El Pueblo shopping mall has lots of small souvenir shops.
Mora Books: A used book store on the corner of First Avenue and Street 3 in down-town San José. They have a great number of guide books, and will buy, trade, or sell books.
Mercado Artesania, Avenida Segunda by the National Museum. Daily 08:00-20:00. One of the best places for getting souvenirs and handcrafted products.

Throughout the city, there are many shops with wooden and ceramic souvenirs. The wooden pieces, such as masks, plaques, and other forms of wall art, are all beautifully hand carved as well as hand painted and the artisan usually signs their work with their name and where it was made on the backside. The ceramic pottery and dishware is done in this similar fashion and are available in a variety of designs and colors. These make interesting and personally unique gifts to bring home to family and friends for a reasonable price.

San Pedro Mall: A very modern mall east of the city. On the outside it is beautifully constructed and it is three stories high.

Boutique Annemarie, inside Hotel Don Carlos, is a nice souvenir shop. But don't buy your stamps here, they'll charge you an extra 40% for the "service".

El Pueblo shopping mall has lots of small souvenir shops.

Mora Books: A used book store on the corner of First Avenue and Street 3 in down-town San José. They have a great number of guide books, and will buy, trade, or sell books.

Mercado Artesania, Avenida Segunda by the National Museum. Daily 08:00-20:00. One of the best places for getting souvenirs and handcrafted products.

The best coffees have deserved reputations for superb quality. Super markets/grocers and small coffee growers usually have better prices than shops that cater to tourists. Often packaged in 12-oz. sealed bags, you should only purchase roasted, whole beans rather than ground; for epicures, "strictly hard bean" (SHB). They will keep flavor longer until you can store them properly at home (Google for methods), and won't include sugar as often found in Costa Rican ground. Roasted coffee also prevents you from running afoul of agencies such as FDA/APHIS that requires special licensing for importing "green"/unroasted beans (may be considered plant material).

Costa Rica is among the more "Americanized" parts of Latin America and you'll find a wide selection of fast food establishments in San José.

Mercado Central is a very old, interesting and bustling food market, which also contains a number of small restaurants and quick-serve counters for the locals. You will find fresh cooked fish and shellfish, corn based dishes, sopa de pescado (fish soup) and such exotics as "squid in his ink", ceviche (small bits of raw fish "cooked" in lime juice), helado de sorbetera (artesanal local cinnamon ice-cream) and more.

Be careful with food being sold on the street. It has been found to at times to have contamination from not being washed properly.

Bar Poas, Avenida 7, Calle 3 y 5 (Two doors down from the Pangea Hostel, across the street from St. Thomas Hotel in Barrio Amon, +506 2-223-8677. 12:00-02:30. Photos of regular customers adorn the wall of this dimly lit but friendly bar and restaurant. A decent menu of Gringo and Tico food is available from 12:00 to 02:30. Try the award-winning Chili con Carne. There´s always an interesting group of characters there including proprietor Harry Hart who is always willing to dispense useful advice about San José and Costa Rica.
Bagelmen's. Good prices, excellent quality fast and healthy food (bagels, cream cheeses, coffee, salads, desserts and more). Very popular among tourists and American expats. Free internet.
Cafetería Parisien. Not the most exciting food, but elegant settings.
Ganesha, +506 8379-7951. This is an Indian, Mediterranean and Middle Eastern restaurant in Heredia, Costa Rica about 15 minutes drive from the airport. Indian food lovers can get their garam masala fix here. Great Hummus, Baba Ganoush, Seekh Kebab and Chicken Tikka Masala. The lassis are great too.
Hotel Grano de Oro, Calle 30 Avenida 2/4, +506 2255 3322. Beautiful but expensive restaurant. A breakfast menu costs around ₡7500 with coffee, or treat yourself to the delicious banana-macadamia nut pancakes (₡7000). The entrees are diverse and creative. Don't hesitate to try the soup of the day, even if it sounds less than exciting. Duck is on the menu, and is some of the best to be had anywhere. Numerous seafood dishes are cooked to perfection, as is the beef and pork.
Hotel Vesuvio Restaurante, Barrio Otoya, +506 2256 1616. Italian food, pastas ₡1900; chicken ₡2000-2500.
Lukas, Centro Comercial El Pueblo. One of two other restaurants at the El Pueblo.
Machu Picchu Restaurant, (Paseo Colón) 1st Ave (125 meters north from Kentucky FC restaurant, +506 222-3679. Peruvian food & sea food. Try the Causa Rellena, Cebiche, Lomo Saltado, Ají de Gallina and Peru's traditional and landmark drink: Pisco Sour.
Pizzeria Il Pomodoro, Cerca de Parque Kennedy y Banco Nacional en San Pedro. One of the best known casual restaurants in Costa Rica. Italian cuisine, very good pizza and pasta, good cheap wine, from second floor great view of the mountains to the west. You can also check out the original near the University of Costa Rica campus. If you love cream sauce, try the Pappardelle Reina.
Soda Esnider. You can have a wonderful “Casado” for lunch with a natural drink for as little as ₡1600.
Tin Jo, Paseo de los estudiantes. This is an well-established pan-Asian restaurant featuring Japanese, Thai, Chinese, and Indian food. Don't be put off by its simple exterior. The restaurant is clean, beautifully decorated and offers excellent service.
Vishnu. Vegetarian and organic restaurant. With very reasonable prices and a varied, tasty menu they are easily the best choice for vegetarian food in SJ. There are three locations downtown San José: South side boulevar, near the Banco popular; across Omni Center; and North side of the Iglesia Del Carmen.
El Balcón del Marisco. 10:00-23:00. Great place for fish. Always busy. Service very good. No other place comparable. Clean and safe. ~US$11.
Pupusería Salvadoreña, Avenida 3, Calle 22 (Two doors down from the Pangea Hostel, across the street from St. Thomas Hotel in Barrio Amon, +506 2222-7214. M–Sa 06:00–20:00; Su 06:00–18:00. More food—Costa Rican & Salvadoran—for less money than most other places. Lots of workers grab meals-to-go in the morning. Delivery available. ₡1,000–3,000.

Feria Del Agricultor, Parqueo del redondel de toros de Zapote. Su 05:00 - 14:00. A nice activity on a Sunday morning, the Zapote farmers market is a great way to stock up on fresh fruit and vegetables for the week. There are a number of vendors selling tasty breakfasts and fresh juices so be sure to come hungry.

Feria Del Agricultor, Parqueo del redondel de toros de Zapote. Su 05:00 - 14:00. A nice activity on a Sunday morning, the Zapote farmers market is a great way to stock up on fresh fruit and vegetables for the week. There are a number of vendors selling tasty breakfasts and fresh juices so be sure to come hungry.

Bar Poas, Avenida 7, Calle 3 y 5 (Two doors down from the Pangea Hostel, across the street from St. Thomas Hotel in Barrio Amon, +506 2-223-8677. 12:00-02:30. Photos of regular customers adorn the wall of this dimly lit but friendly bar and restaurant. A decent menu of Gringo and Tico food is available from 12:00 to 02:30. Try the award-winning Chili con Carne. There´s always an interesting group of characters there including proprietor Harry Hart who is always willing to dispense useful advice about San José and Costa Rica.

Bagelmen's. Good prices, excellent quality fast and healthy food (bagels, cream cheeses, coffee, salads, desserts and more). Very popular among tourists and American expats. Free internet.

Cafetería Parisien. Not the most exciting food, but elegant settings.

Ganesha, +506 8379-7951. This is an Indian, Mediterranean and Middle Eastern restaurant in Heredia, Costa Rica about 15 minutes drive from the airport. Indian food lovers can get their garam masala fix here. Great Hummus, Baba Ganoush, Seekh Kebab and Chicken Tikka Masala. The lassis are great too.

Hotel Grano de Oro, Calle 30 Avenida 2/4, +506 2255 3322. Beautiful but expensive restaurant. A breakfast menu costs around ₡7500 with coffee, or treat yourself to the delicious banana-macadamia nut pancakes (₡7000). The entrees are diverse and creative. Don't hesitate to try the soup of the day, even if it sounds less than exciting. Duck is on the menu, and is some of the best to be had anywhere. Numerous seafood dishes are cooked to perfection, as is the beef and pork.

Hotel Vesuvio Restaurante, Barrio Otoya, +506 2256 1616. Italian food, pastas ₡1900; chicken ₡2000-2500.

Lukas, Centro Comercial El Pueblo. One of two other restaurants at the El Pueblo.

Machu Picchu Restaurant, (Paseo Colón) 1st Ave (125 meters north from Kentucky FC restaurant, +506 222-3679. Peruvian food & sea food. Try the Causa Rellena, Cebiche, Lomo Saltado, Ají de Gallina and Peru's traditional and landmark drink: Pisco Sour.

Pizzeria Il Pomodoro, Cerca de Parque Kennedy y Banco Nacional en San Pedro. One of the best known casual restaurants in Costa Rica. Italian cuisine, very good pizza and pasta, good cheap wine, from second floor great view of the mountains to the west. You can also check out the original near the University of Costa Rica campus. If you love cream sauce, try the Pappardelle Reina.

Soda Esnider. You can have a wonderful “Casado” for lunch with a natural drink for as little as ₡1600.

Tin Jo, Paseo de los estudiantes. This is an well-established pan-Asian restaurant featuring Japanese, Thai, Chinese, and Indian food. Don't be put off by its simple exterior. The restaurant is clean, beautifully decorated and offers excellent service.

Vishnu. Vegetarian and organic restaurant. With very reasonable prices and a varied, tasty menu they are easily the best choice for vegetarian food in SJ. There are three locations downtown San José: South side boulevar, near the Banco popular; across Omni Center; and North side of the Iglesia Del Carmen.

El Balcón del Marisco. 10:00-23:00. Great place for fish. Always busy. Service very good. No other place comparable. Clean and safe. ~US$11.

Pupusería Salvadoreña, Avenida 3, Calle 22 (Two doors down from the Pangea Hostel, across the street from St. Thomas Hotel in Barrio Amon, +506 2222-7214. M–Sa 06:00–20:00; Su 06:00–18:00. More food—Costa Rican & Salvadoran—for less money than most other places. Lots of workers grab meals-to-go in the morning. Delivery available. ₡1,000–3,000.

Costa Rica is among the more "Americanized" parts of Latin America and you'll find a wide selection of fast food establishments in San José.

Be careful with food being sold on the street. It has been found to at times to have contamination from not being washed properly.

Bar Poas, Avenida 7, Calle 3 y 5 (Two doors down from the Pangea Hostel, across the street from St. Thomas Hotel in Barrio Amon, +506 2-223-8677. 12:00-02:30. Photos of regular customers adorn the wall of this dimly lit but friendly bar and restaurant. A decent menu of Gringo and Tico food is available from 12:00 to 02:30. Try the award-winning Chili con Carne. There´s always an interesting group of characters there including proprietor Harry Hart who is always willing to dispense useful advice about San José and Costa Rica.
Bagelmen's. Good prices, excellent quality fast and healthy food (bagels, cream cheeses, coffee, salads, desserts and more). Very popular among tourists and American expats. Free internet.
Cafetería Parisien. Not the most exciting food, but elegant settings.
Hotel Grano de Oro, Calle 30 Avenida 2/4, +506 2255 3322. Beautiful but expensive restaurant. A breakfast menu costs around ₡7500 with coffee, or treat yourself to the delicious banana-macadamia nut pancakes (₡7000). The entrees are diverse and creative. Don't hesitate to try the soup of the day, even if it sounds less than exciting. Duck is on the menu, and is some of the best to be had anywhere. Numerous seafood dishes are cooked to perfection, as is the beef and pork.
Hotel Vesuvio Restaurante, Barrio Otoya, +506 2256 1616. Italian food, pastas ₡1900; chicken ₡2000-2500.
Lukas, Centro Comercial El Pueblo. One of two other restaurants at the El Pueblo.
Machu Picchu Restaurant, (Paseo Colón) 1st Ave (125 meters north from Kentucky FC restaurant, +506 222-3679. Peruvian food & sea food. Try the Causa Rellena, Cebiche, Lomo Saltado, Ají de Gallina and Peru's traditional and landmark drink: Pisco Sour.
Pizzeria Il Pomodoro, Cerca de Parque Kennedy y Banco Nacional en San Pedro. One of the best known casual restaurants in Costa Rica. Italian cuisine, very good pizza and pasta, good cheap wine, from second floor great view or the mountains to the west.
Soda Esnider. You can have a wonderful “Casado” for lunch with a natural drink for as little as ₡1600.
Tin Jo, Paseo de los estudiantes. This is an well-established pan-Asian restaurant featuring Japanese, Thai, Chinese, and Indian food. Don't be put off by its simple exterior. The restaurant is clean, beautifully decorated and offers excellent service.
Vishnu. Vegetarian and organic restaurant. With very reasonable prices and a varied, tasty menu they are easily the best choice for vegetarian food in SJ. There are three locations downtown San José: South side boulevar, near the Banco popular; across Omni Center; and North side of the Iglesia Del Carmen.
El Balcón del Marisco. 10:00-23:00. Great place for fish. Always busy. Service very good. No other place comparable. Clean and safe. ~US$11.
Pupusería Salvadoreña, Avenida 3, Calle 22 (Two doors down from the Pangea Hostel, across the street from St. Thomas Hotel in Barrio Amon, +506 2222-7214. M–Sa 06:00–20:00; Su 06:00–18:00. More food—Costa Rican & Salvadoran—for less money than most other places. Lots of workers grab meals-to-go in the morning. Delivery available. ₡1,000–3,000.

Bagelmen's. Good prices, excellent quality fast and healthy food (bagels, cream cheeses, coffee, salads, desserts and more). Very popular among tourists and American expats. Free internet.

Cafetería Parisien. Not the most exciting food, but elegant settings.

Hotel Vesuvio Restaurante, Barrio Otoya, +506 2256 1616. Italian food, pastas ₡1900; chicken ₡2000-2500.

Lukas, Centro Comercial El Pueblo. One of two other restaurants at the El Pueblo.

Soda Esnider. You can have a wonderful “Casado” for lunch with a natural drink for as little as ₡1600.

El Balcón del Marisco. 10:00-23:00. Great place for fish. Always busy. Service very good. No other place comparable. Clean and safe. ~US$11.

El Pueblo, El Pueblo. A shopping center that becomes a clubbing district at night. There are several bars and nightclubs cluttered in the tiny little alleyways. Just mention El Pueblo to your taxi, and he'll know where to go. Can be a bit rough at night, but it has some good places to Latin dance (something that's hard to find in Costa Rica).
San Pedro is home to many bars and clubs, try to avoid the University of Costa Rica area at night as the many bars in the university district tend to attract brawls and even the occasional bullet shot. The other bars and clubs in San Pedro are free of trouble.
Barrio La California is the place to be if you're into the bohemian/rock crowd. Many bars have local bands playing every night. Great place to go bar-hopping!
Ristorante Tutti Li, Plaza Itskatzu, Escazú (Near Multiplaza, Courtyard, Holiday Inn, Residence Inn, Hotel Intercontinental, +506 2588-0425. One of the best Italian restaurants in town. Fresh pastas, traditional Italian plates, brick oven pizza and exquisite wine selection, all with a modern flare. A must while in San José. Located in one of the most premium locations in the city.
Bar La Bohemia, +506 2222-0225. La Bohemia is a classic San José bar, complete with small tapas (called bocas), old men with decades of being regulars, and traveling guitar duos playing for tips. Plus it's dog-friendly. Tip: buy a bottle of wine; it's cheap and better-than-average quality. Closes early some nights. Corner, Art Deco style.

San José is a very tolerant city. Most bars are gay friendly. There is a small but vibrant gay life in San José from lesbian bars, to saunas and twink discos.

La Avispa is the oldest gay disco in Costa Rica. Big place with Latin music and dancing, pop. It has the most popular crowd and is recommended if you want to try the local flavor. Sundays late afternoon and evening is the best time to go.
Club OH: Huge electronic music place with open bar on Fridays and Saturdays. It has a VIP area with better quality liquors and another DJ. Live drag shows at midnight. Best day to go is Saturday.
El 13, +506 2221-3947. 9PM-1AM. Large historic home, with eclectic decoration and clientele. El 13 has some great thematic nights, as well as the very popular "Planchatón," which features classic campy ballads in Spanish. Hours vary depending on the day.

La Avispa is the oldest gay disco in Costa Rica. Big place with Latin music and dancing, pop. It has the most popular crowd and is recommended if you want to try the local flavor. Sundays late afternoon and evening is the best time to go.

Club OH: Huge electronic music place with open bar on Fridays and Saturdays. It has a VIP area with better quality liquors and another DJ. Live drag shows at midnight. Best day to go is Saturday.

El 13, +506 2221-3947. 9PM-1AM. Large historic home, with eclectic decoration and clientele. El 13 has some great thematic nights, as well as the very popular "Planchatón," which features classic campy ballads in Spanish. Hours vary depending on the day.

El Pueblo, El Pueblo. A shopping center that becomes a clubbing district at night. There are several bars and nightclubs cluttered in the tiny little alleyways. Just mention El Pueblo to your taxi, and he'll know where to go. Can be a bit rough at night, but it has some good places to Latin dance (something that's hard to find in Costa Rica).

San Pedro is home to many bars and clubs, try to avoid the University of Costa Rica area at night as the many bars in the university district tend to attract brawls and even the occasional bullet shot. The other bars and clubs in San Pedro are free of trouble.

Barrio La California is the place to be if you're into the bohemian/rock crowd. Many bars have local bands playing every night. Great place to go bar-hopping!

Ristorante Tutti Li, Plaza Itskatzu, Escazú (Near Multiplaza, Courtyard, Holiday Inn, Residence Inn, Hotel Intercontinental, +506 2588-0425. One of the best Italian restaurants in town. Fresh pastas, traditional Italian plates, brick oven pizza and exquisite wine selection, all with a modern flare. A must while in San José. Located in one of the most premium locations in the city.

Bar La Bohemia, +506 2222-0225. La Bohemia is a classic San José bar, complete with small tapas (called bocas), old men with decades of being regulars, and traveling guitar duos playing for tips. Plus it's dog-friendly. Tip: buy a bottle of wine; it's cheap and better-than-average quality. Closes early some nights. Corner, Art Deco style.

In San José and throughout the nation's urban centers, the traffic is wild and dangerous. It is not the norm for cars to stop for pedestrians; in fact, they generally drive very fast, which can make walking across streets difficult and even dangerous.

The area around the Coca Cola Bus Terminal, and most other terminals, is not as safe; especially at night. And some, like this bus terminal, are not safe during the day and night. You should watch your belongings and stay with a group of people you trust at all times if walking through the city.

Don't trust strangers. As an example of a situation which is not uncommon and revolves around some levels of trust, if you have a flat tire on main highways, don't accept help except from an established service station, Many opportunistic petty thieves use these circumstances and kindness to try to steal anything possible, and could even turn the situation into a car-jacking. Petty theft is high risk, including from valet parking staff and housekeepers in hotels.

If you travel by bus, try not to put your luggage into the storage space above the seats. If you put your rucksack between your knees you will have better control of your belongings. Car theft is a problem in San José, make sure you take the necessary actions to reduce the chances of having your vehicle stolen; or anything within your vehicle. For example, bring a club (steering wheel lock) or park in locked fence areas or the city's parking buildings.

Always wear your seat belt. Going off of the scenarios of dangerous drivers, the taxi cabs that you choose to travel in must have a yellow triangle sticker on the front doors with the plate number. This demonstrates that that particular vehicle and the driver are legitimate. If anything were to happen, you (as a tourist) would know who to file a complaint with, etc. Warning: Do not enter any vehicle that does not have this larger triangle sticker on it (usually on the door) because the driver is most likely an illegal taxi; which means that you are choosing someone who may not be properly licensed or have met the requirements for transporting other people. The airport is a frequent "hot-spot" for these sort of incidents to occur quickly, because someone can come up to you (knowing that you are a tourist, not aware of their customs or regulations, and will exploit that), grab your luggage, and start loading it into their car - but be sure to check the vehicle for the yellow triangle as well as wrestling your luggage back out of the car. The orange taxis at the airport are the official airport taxis.

Be particularly careful with your passport and other documentation. Also, police may stop you and take you to jail for not carrying your passport, or a photocopy of the main page and the entry stamp (very recommendable instead of carrying your passport).

Generally speaking if you stick to the tourist spots in the city you will be safe, just try to avoid showing off valuables more than necessary, if you're taking a picture put your camera away as soon as its taken, never show big amounts of cash, exercise caution. Avoid at all costs walking at night, either right downtown or in the suburbs, cabs and buses are too cheap, so walking at night is a very unnecessary risk. As with any big city, use common sense and keep your belongings in front or beside you - never on your back. San José is known for its abundance and skill of pickpockets.

San José, as the largest city in Costa Rica, has the largest hospitals, both public and private. Tourists can use the private hospitals, and pay with cash or credit card. The wait is significantly shorter than at public hospitals. The bigger private hospitals in the country are considerably more expensive than the many, smaller private hospitals throughout the city. Most doctors can speak medical English, and they provide translator services. Most private doctors and hospitals do take foreign insurance plans. Ask beforehand. If you are unlucky enough to have your child get really sick he or she will be transferred to the only children's hospital in the country in San José, which is public.

Cable TV channels have many American English language channels. Fox News, CNN, CNBC, TNT, HBO, ESPN, ABC, NBC, and CBS stations are broadcast from New York City.

On Amnet in San José ABC, CBS, and NBC are broadcast on channels 69-71 respectively. The feeds are from Denver, Colorado.

Canada Canada.
China China, +506 22914811.
Japan Japan, Torre la Sabana Piso 10 (Sabana Norte, 300 m oeste y 25 m norte del I.C.E., +506 2232-1255.
United States United States, Calle 120 Avenida 0, Pavas, +506 2519-2000.

Canada Canada.

China China, +506 22914811.

Japan Japan, Torre la Sabana Piso 10 (Sabana Norte, 300 m oeste y 25 m norte del I.C.E., +506 2232-1255.

United States United States, Calle 120 Avenida 0, Pavas, +506 2519-2000.

Being the capital, San José is the hub for all travel in Costa Rica. This means you can go anywhere from here. You can take the local buses for local travel within the city or to neighboring cities (such as Cartago or Heredia) or the more expensive bus services from Interbus or Gray Line Fantasy Bus. You can also take buses to other farther destinations (such as Limón or Puntarenas) There is also a lot of smaller airports dotted around the country for minor destination hopping.

There is an exit tax (US$26 for visitors and residents) to leave the country. You can pay for it at a bank (any BCR or Banco Nacional) and get a receipt or wait in the line at the airport. Pay the tax as soon as you arrive at the airport so you don't miss your flight and arrive with cash. Be sure to have a pen, as there is a small form to fill that is going to be requested before check-in.

Tobías Bolaños Airport in Pavas serves as Nature Air's hub for flights within the country and also has 4 flights per week to Bocas del Toro, Panama. Nature Air also flies into Managua .

AirPanama flies from Juan Santamaría airport to David/Panama three times a week.

A trip to Jacó, on the Pacific Coast, is a delight, although the highway that goes there is not a superhighway. Surfing is great, and since many young chefs are surfers, you can get some really great dining at amazingly low prices. A little farther down the coast, a stop at Manuel Antonio National Park is a must.

On your way to Jacó, stop for lunch at "Mirador del Cafetal" (View of the Coffee Plantation), just beyond Atenas. Views are spectacular!

About 3½ hours by car or 20 minutes by plane south of San José lies Manuel Antonio National Park in Quepos, Puntarenas. Of Costa Rica's dozens of national parks, Manuel Antonio has long been one of the jewels, an idyllic combination of exuberant forest, white-sandy beaches, and rich coral reefs. The guardians of this beautiful wilderness are now attempting to harness its popularity by limiting the number of ecotourists. This park is one of the country's smallest and only remaining habitats for the red-backed squirrel monkey. Manuel Antonio is located along the coast line and offers snorkeling, skin diving, surfing, and fishing galore. After a visit to the rain forest that gets you hot and sweaty, nothing beats jumping in to the refreshing ocean. Open Tu-Su.
An easy 2-hour drive north-west of the capital, Costa Rica's most favored rain forest getaways in La Fortuna, San Carlos. The Chachagua Rain Forest Hotel is in the Tilarán mountain range. One of the most biologically diverse in the entire country, the Chachagua's spread nestles up against the Children's International Rain Forest which has a great potential for bird and wildlife viewing. The Arenal Volcano and Lake are within driving distance. There is spelunking, white-water rafting, and rappeling for those who aspire to do it all, and the Tabacón Hot Springs for those who do not. Chachagua is fairly self-sustaining: it grows its own fruit and other produce is grown on the ranch. Overall the hotel provides nature guides, nature tours, walks, breakfast, dinner, and a transfer to/ or from San José. The best times to visit are November through March. Call Chachagua Rain Forest Hotel at +506 239-6464 for more information.

San José

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