San José is the capital and largest city in Costa Rica. Located in the Central Valley, it’s a historical but modern city filled with Costa Rican traditions.
San José is one of the youngest and most cosmopolitan capital cities in Latin America. It’s the center of all political and economic activities, and is also known to be the cradle of commerce, art and architecture of Costa Rica, San José is a definite stopover for foreign visitors.
The capital city is home to over one-third of all Costa Ricans, and is perhaps your best opportunity for understanding modern-day Costa Rica. The contrast of history and modernity, its warm hospitality and its proximity to many other touristic areas around the country, makes the city an enjoyable and popular destination.
The downtown area is the busiest part of town and is loaded with cafes, restaurants, hotels, tour companies, shopping centers and markets. A few days in San José can offer a perspective on the true face of the nation. When walking around the city, you'll discover its Latin spirit while shopping at the Central Market, partying in ‘El Pueblo’ (a clubbing district during the night) and trying typical Costa Rican food at a local soda
San José features several museums and historical buildings, where you can get an overview of Costa Rican history, and popular theaters with agitated agendas of cultural activities such as the National Theather and the Melico Salazar Theater – both offering acting and dance shows as well as orchestral musical presentations throughout the year.
Due to the fact that the city sits in the center of the country in the Central Valley, San José is the perfect place to use as a base camp to tour Costa Rica. Once you’ve explored wonderful San José, there are plenty of fun activities and tours where you can discover some of Costa Rica’s natural treasures, only minutes away at the outskirts of the capital city.