San José (Costa Rica)

San José is the capital and largest city of Costa Rica. The undisputed cultural and economic center of Costa Rica's central valley, where most of the population lives, San José is also the most important transportation hub for domestic travel even though the international airport is in Alajuela. Many international visitors bypass San José altogether or spend only the time it takes to change from one bus to another, but its museums, cultural output and the opportunity to meet the "real Costa Rica" make it well worth staying a few days.

Understand
San José is on a plateau in the Central Valley at elevation. It is ringed by lush green mountains and valleys. The population of the Central Valley - which could be described as the San José metro area - is probably half of the whole country. It is served by the primary airport (which is in nearby Alajuela) the University of Costa Rica, most if not all embassies, and many museums, cultural venues, hotels, markets, etc. It is the hub of the country.

During the nineteenth century, San José fought with nearby Cartago over the title of capital and the latter lost out on the title but kept more colonial architecture. Most events in Costa Rican history are tied to San José; it was here that Jose Figueres declared the abolition of the armed forces after winning the civil war in 1948 and whenever Ticos have a grievance that can't be resolved locally, they come to the capital to demonstrate and make their plight known.

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.

Climate
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.

Juan Santamaría Airport
There is a local bus stop outside the airport. After arriving you will be directed out of the airport through a single exit on the ground floor. The bus stop would be straight ahead of you on the main road, but first you will have to walk past many taxi drivers, and then loop left around the large car park building to get to the stop. The stop is marked on Google maps as 'Public Bus Station Airport'. It should take less than five minutes to walk there.

A bus from here to downtown San José costs 650 colones (2023). Make sure to check the destination on the front of the bus, since buses leave from here to other destinations too. The bus has its own lane for much of the way, making it often a quicker option in rush hour traffic. Under good conditions the journey takes less than half an hour. Try to bring small change for the bus. The bus terminates next to Braulio Carrillo Colina Park in San José. From here you could take a taxi/Uber to your final destination, or there are further local buses.

The taxis charge around US$25 to take you to the city, be sure to take one of the licensed reddish-orange taxis that say "Taxi Aeropuerto." There are many unlicensed taxi drivers who will charge you almost twice as much as Taxi Aeropuerto. The taxis gladly take US dollars.

Uber works great throughout San Jose but the airport remains an exception as of June 2023. Didi as well. You may be able to find an Uber willing to pick up at the airport (out front at the bus stop or up a level at the departures section), but you might have to wait quite a lot longer than in almost any other location due to grey-area legal status and prevalence of angry taxi drivers and police at the airport. Taking a cab to the nearby Denny's (1.4km but unwalkable due to being highway) and calling an Uber from there is an annoying option that may be the best solution if you want to avoid being charged an extra $20-30 bucks for a cab. The taxis are theoretically required to use the meter, but rarely willing to do so and even the meter is at least 2x the cost of an Uber.

There is an ATM by the entrance to airport departures, and another right after you exit arrivals, that dispense colones (₡) or US dollars. However, they charge a large fee (4000 colones on a ~100 USD withdrawal as of 2023).

There is a bureau de change in the airport. As of 2023, this gave very good rates, less than 1% off the mid market rate when converting US dollars to colones. Check rates using your phone: there is free wifi in the airport.

By bus
Of course most local buses start or end here. There are several bus terminals in San José. It is important to know which bus terminal serves your bus route. Bus stops are usually every few blocks in the city. Always take a taxi, when traveling with luggage: There are additional bus companies that have their own bus stations or stops in/around the bus terminals or in another locations.

International buses
International buses typically connect San Jose to Managua. TicaBus is the only company that continues towards Tapachula, Mexico from Managua via San Salvador and Guatemala City; and to Panama City from San Jose in the other direction.


 * Panama – There are a few buses a day that leave from David to San Jose. The bus is about $20 and takes around 8 hr, which includes the border crossing at Paso Canoas. At the border, you will get off the bus, have your luggage inspected, get your Panama exit stamp, walk across the border to the Costa Rica immigration, and get your entrance stamp, luggage inspected again, and wait for the bus to get back on. Costa Rica immigration can be strict, and tourists will usually need to provide some sort of confirmation of an onward ticket out of Costa Rica within 90 days of entering. Onward tickets can include a flight out of San Jose, or a bus ticket coming back to Panama.

By train
Trains have made a comeback in Costa Rica and, after being shut down for many years, several routes have been put back into service using second-hand equipment brought over from Spain and some very ancient wooden carriages that look like they have been taken from a museum. Lines are mostly single-track and level crossings have no lights or protection at all, which has led to several accidents. There's also no signaling. Overall it's an interesting experience if you have the time and it's the best way of getting to Heredia (a lot faster and more comfortable than the bus). There are plans to expand the network. Tickets are relatively cheap; a ride from San José to Alajuela will set you back ₡1005 for example.

For more information see the website of the national railway, Incofer

Heredia and Alajuela: on weekdays, trains run between San José and Heredia every half hour in the mornings (6-9AM) and afternoons (3:30-8PM), leaving from Estación del Atlántico near the Parque Nacional. Some of these trains continue on to the UCR and U Latina in San Pedro. The 6PM departure from San José (returning at 7PM) is a big train, so you can almost always get a seat on this one. A few trains are extended all the way to Alajuela, some from the airport.

Pavas, San Pedro and Curridabat: another line runs through the south of the city, stopping at Estación del Pacifico, Sábana and heading west into Pavas and eventually turning round in a fairly dangerous slum area in the middle of the hills. If you take it east, it stops across the road from Estación del Atlantico and then goes to the UCR, U Latina and Curridabat. Timetables are very limited, with just one train per hour early in the morning and in the evening on weekdays.

Belén: A service to Belén (just south of the airport) leaves from Estación del Pacifico. Services are approximately every half an hour 6-8AM and 4-6PM on weekdays only and take 35 minutes.

Cartago trains to Cartago leave roughly three times in the morning and roughly half-hourly from 3PM to 7:30PM from Estacion Atlantica

The main train stations of San José, named after the coasts they connected to the capital in better times are:



By bus
Public transport system includes buses, various administrations have mulled some type of light rail for the city but as of mid 2018 there has been nothing more than talks on the subject. Bus lines, maps, schedules and ticket prices are available at Ruta en linea San José.

The bus system is reliable, comfortable, extensive, and very cheap. Buses operate on a system of single ride payment. There are no day, week, or month tickets and no transfers. The price will be prominently displayed near the entrance of the bus and you pay the same for riding a single stop or riding end to end. Bus routes vary in cost but most are around 500 colones per ride.

By taxi
Taxis are generally cheap. All taxis should have a meter. The fare starts at ₡570, and is ₡570 per kilometer. A ride inside the city center will normally cost ₡580-2500. Basically a couple of US dollars, which they will accept, will get you anywhere in the city. It is close to useless to give a taxi driver an exact street address. You have to point out some well-known building, park or hotel close to where you are going. Often there are no street signs and addresses are difficult to find, so be sure you know where you are going or you could get lost very easily.

By bike
It is also possible to get around by bicycle in San José. If you want to buy a bicycle you find stores in Calle 6 / Av. 5 (Coca Cola) or south of "Avenida Segunda" on the corner or Av.6 / Calle 4. In the south east corner of plaza Viquez you find a small bicycle store.

By car
The traffic lights don't have the yellow border around them and can sometimes be difficult to see, the road network is well utilized by locals (to overcapacity) so don't expect to get anywhere fast, and motorcycles weave in and out of traffic. The pet peeve most tourists have with tico kindness is that oftentimes when a Tico has no idea where a certain destination you may have had in mind is, he or she will simply direct you to a random location. Oftentimes simply incomprehensible, these directions are a reflection on the cultural approach to kindness many Costa Ricans adopt.

Renting a car is usually not recommended for first-time visitors to Costa Rica—the hassle and potential for confusion is usually not worth the effort. However, travellers that are adventurous enough or have been to the country before may want to consider renting a car. Traffic can be bad in cities or on mountainous roads, and signs are sometimes non-existent. It can be easy to get lost (especially if you don’t have GPS or high-quality maps) and is tough to get back on track if you aren’t comfortable handling directions from a local speaking Spanish. There are other things to consider as well, including traffic laws, the price of gasoline, and driving time.

Do
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.

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



Street life

 * 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

 * 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.

Sports

 * 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.
 * 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.

Casinos

 * Casinos: Many hotels have gaming. Be cautious of the Casino del Rey as it is the most known for sex tourism.

Learn
Costa Rica in general, and San José in particular, is a great place to improve your Spanish language skills. Many people can speak some English and there are many Spanish classes available, including at the Universidad de Costa Rica, and in "immersion" classes in private homes.
 * Academia Tica Spanish Schools, with campuses in Coronado (San José) and Jacó Beach (Central Pacific), is one of the longest standing schools in Costa Rica and one of the few with accredited programs. It also offers travel experiences, cultural activities and weekly excursions plus travel services. Groups range 2-6 students and special courses are also offered (DELE Exam preparation, Surf & Spanish, Spanish for specific purposes, etc.) Motto: "fun classes = serious learning!"

Universities
San José or rather its metro area is host to the most prestigious universities in the country. By far the granddaddy of them all is UCR which includes most Costa Ricans of rank and name among its alumni, including several former presidents and leading figures in business and media.

Souvenirs

 * 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.

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.

Coffee
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).

Eat
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.

Drink

 * 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!
 * 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!

Gay and lesbian nightlife
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.



Sleep
As San José is the undisputed economic, cultural, academic and political center of the country there are plenty of hotels and hostels of all kinds aimed at Ticos and foreigners alike who are here on business or pleasure.

Splurge




Stay safe
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 (false) kindness to try to steal anything possible, and could even turn the situation into a car-jacking. Petty theft is a 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, or anything within your vehicle, stolen. For example, bring a club (steering wheel lock) or park in locked fence areas or the city's parking buildings.

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. 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. If this happens, 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. 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; avoid showing off valuables more than necessary. If you're taking a picture, put your camera away as soon as it is taken; never show large amounts of cash; and avoid at all costs walking at night, either right downtown or in the suburbs. Walking is an unnecessary risk because cabs and buses are cheap.

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.

Stay healthy
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.

TV
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.

Embassies and Consulates

 * 🇨🇦 Canada
 * 🇨🇳 China
 * 🇯🇵 Japan


 * 🇺🇸 United States

Go next
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, although this is normally included in the price of your plane ticket and does not require any further action. If your ticket does not already include the tax you can pay for it at a bank (any BCR or Banco Nacional) and get a receipt or at a counter at the airport.

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.