San Jose Travel & Vacation Guide

Located 90km northwest of San José, the active Arenal Volcano and its lush surroundings attract countless visitors every year. The surrounding jungle and the Lake Arenal — perfect for kayaking — make for an unforgettable nature experience. Most day tours to Arenal volcano will include a stop for some delicious local coffee, some adventurous experience like a zip-line flight through the rainforest, close encounters with exotic animals, a visit to hot springs and plenty of gorgeous views from viewing platforms.

Discover the beauty and culture of the Costa Rican life with a San Jose walking tour that takes you through the streets, pedestrian shopping areas, busy markets and quiet parks. Meet the locals, indulging in typical cuisine and Costa Rica’s delicacies, learn about traditional herbal remedies and folk medicine. An expert guide will teach you to handle exotic plants, fruits and vegetables.

Cemeteries in Latin America have always attracted visitors. Their maze-like layout, over the top architectural features and mysterious atmosphere are present in Cementerio General de San José as well. Wander through the winding paths and admire mausoleums and tombstones that belong to the who's who of Costa Rican politics, business and arts. When you walk towards the south of the cemetery, you have a beautiful view over the mountains on a sunny day.

The Children's Museum combines hands-on learning for kids with an art gallery — an exciting experience for the whole family. The building is located in an old prison complex that looks like a typical fairytale castle. Quite an unusual juxtaposition!

Costa Rica is well-known to provide the perfect conditions for coffee plants. While you are in San José you shouldn't miss out on visiting one of the several plantations. Tour providers offer combinations of plantation and adventure programs. Learn about the cultivation of coffee plants and visit Costa Rica's rainforests, wildlife and waterfalls, all in one excursion.

Located 50 minutes north of San José, the Corso Lechería dairy farm provides an all-in-one tour. You will have the chance to meet their pampered cattle and taste their organic produce in many forms, such as milk and cheese. You're also invited to stroll around the adjoining strawberry farm and taste the berries you pick yourself. You can book a tour that includes lunch.

Refurbished in 2014, the Jade Museum museum holds one of the biggest collections of jade exhibits in the world. Explore this archaeological museum and dive deep into the rich history and archaeological heritage of the region.

Just 30 miles north of San José you will come across La Paz Waterfall Gardens — a set of hiking trails that will leave anyone mesmerised. Take a trail that matches your hiking skills and end up in one of the five dream-like waterfalls that will make for the perfect photo.

Whether you are looking for an outstanding dinner or an exciting night out, Antik Restaurant and Bar is your fit. Come early for a taste of the local cuisine and stay late for the party. You will want to come back for more!

Pub grub, beer, wine, and cocktails are waiting for you at Bahamas Bar in San José. Its affordable drinks menu makes it the ideal bar to start your evening, right before diving deep it into the local club scene.

With over 100 different beers, the Costa Rica Beer Factory is a favourite among locals and travellers alike. Located in a vibrant neighbourhood, it is the go-to for the typical burger and a beer.

El Cuartel has been around for more than a decade, entertaining guests with live music and a menu filled with over 200 cocktails and traditional Central American dishes. You can always count on having a good time here. El Cuartal is just a short walk from Parque Nacional.

El Observatorio is the venue for live music in San José’s trendy Barrio La California. The stage is never empty, showcasing musical acts, stand-up comedians, audiovisual productions and exhibitions. There are drinks and pub crag to keep you going until 2 am. El Observatorio can be found in the narrow alley across from the Cine Magaly. Inside you'll find a large performance space with high ceilings and exposed brick walls.

People crowd at El Sótano and Amón Solar to take part in one of their regular music shows. In this Neo-Classical building you will come across delightful live acts every night, making this the perfect destination all the culture-lovers and party-goers.

La Avispa is a gay-friendly bar that offers welcomes its visitors great music, a laid-back atmosphere, and a spacious dance floor. Grab a beer early in the evening or dance until early morning hours.

Neon is an LGBT-friendly cocktail bar with plenty of outdoor seating. Their specialty is frozen cocktails, kind of like alcoholic slushies — perfect for hot days. The atmosphere is very relaxed, and the music is somewhat retro with lots of power ballads and disco megahits. If you feel peckish, they've got excellent food, too.

The Feria Verde de Aranjuez farmers' market is a meeting point for local producers and consumers. People from all backgrounds gather here every Saturday to purchase organic and environmentally friendly products that range from food products to design pieces. The market is a great place to have brunch — delicious crepes, thick sourdough bread sandwiches and strong Yellow Cup coffee, plus interesting locals and tourists milling around.

Art lovers and craft enthusiasts will find Galería Namú the perfect fit for their needs. Here you can buy beautiful paintings, carefully carved woodwork, and handcrafted jewellery. Look at the exhibits for hours or just buy a little piece of native culture for reasonable prices.

Holalola is a gift shop like no other. Its unique colourful designer pieces are perfect souvenir for yourself or for a loved one. It will be difficult to leave Holalola empty-handed.

Once you're ready to leave the city limits and explore rain and cloud forests, natural parks and hike up the volcanos, you will find yourself in need of some quality hiking gear. Head to La Casa del Montañista for great selection and quality, as well as expert advice.

Fashion shops, cafes, and restaurants are waiting for you at San Pedro Mall. Make the best out of a rainy day and explore this shopping mall — it will be impossible to leave it without buying a new addition to your travel luggage.

Located southwest of San Jose, this mall is the perfect place for shopaholics and fashionistas. Get a new outfit, buy some comfy shoes or get that outdoor gear for your adventure holiday. Whatever you are looking for, you will make a find in here.

For attention-grabbing souvenirs and crafty mementos head to the Pura Vida Souvenirs store. Good variety and fair prices, plus a quirky bonus — peacocks in the garden! If you don't find exactly what your heart desires, check out the numerous small shops on the same street.

Among the beautiful outdoor markets in San José, Mercado Central stands out as the biggest and the oldest. Established in 1880, this market is formed by countless narrow alleys with over 200 fresh produce shops, stalls, and cheap restaurants.

The best time to visit Costa Rica is during the dry season, from mid-December to April — you'll get plenty of sunshine, ideal for exploring beaches. The forests, however, are not as lush this time of the year. The dry season is the most crowded and expensive time to visit. The rainy season lasts from May to November, with incessant rain showers — it is the cheapest season to visit. During June and July, rain showers stop briefly and the forests burst with green foliage.

Costa Rica allows for visa-free travel periods up to 90 days to citizens from most EU, America, and Oceania countries. Before traveling, check Costa Rican visa requirements that apply to citizens on your country.

There is a good and inexpensive bus system in San José, as well as outbound buses to the rest of the country. Interbus and Gray Line Fantasy Bus will also take you to touristic places outside the city centre, but the fares are slightly more expensive. If you are taking a bus between cities, be very mindful of your belongings. The bags are often stolen from overhead luggage racks. If anyone is trying to help you put your bag up there — they are very likely to grab it and leave at some point. If they go for your bag and you try to stop them, that's when you will be pickpocketed by their accomplices.

Taxis in San José usually have a meter and are inexpensive. Official taxis are coloured in red or orange, and one km costs about 640 colones. It is strongly recommended to only use official taxis and make sure that the meter is ticking. Alternatively, use Uber or Didi. Note that exact street names are hardly used in Costa Rica so you better refer to some well-known places nearby. As in many countries in Latin America, you want to know who is driving you so that they are less likely to scam you or drive off with your belongings. For your safety, do not take regular taxis — call for one or use a ride sharing app.

San José and other towns in Costa Rica use a rectilinear roadway grid. The roads going north and south are called calles (streets) while the ones going east and west are called avenidas (avenues). Let's pretend that Calle Central is number 0. From there, calles count up by odd numbers to the east and even numbers west. Avenidas have odd numbers north of the pedestrian Avenida Central and even going south. Parque Central and Mercado Central (Central park and market) are usually at the centre of town. Many addresses will be written down as Calle 4, Avenidas 4 & 6 — somewhere on the north-south street 4 between avenues 4 and 6. However, many businesses will describe their location in relation to major landmarks. For example, Dulce Junio Café's address is "200 m Este De la Iglesia Santa Teresita y 25 norte, contiguo a Saúl Bistro, Barrio Escalante, San José" — that's 200 m from the Santa Teresita church and 25 m north, next to Saúl Bistro, Escalante neighbourhood.

The Juan Santamaría International (SJO) airport is located about 17 km northwest of the city centre. Right outside the entrance, you will find local shuttle buses that take you downtown. The journey is usually inexpensive. If you prefer taxis, make sure to get a licensed "Taxi Aeropuerto". One journey is about 25 minutes and costs about 25 US$. The most common bus you’ll see is the big red TUASA bus. The final stop of this bus is close to La Merced park.

Costa Rica uses 110 volt, 60 cycle electricity. The plugs are typically the 2-pronged flat type common in North America and some Asian countries.

There are three major chains of pharmacies in Costa Rica that sell medicine as well as personal hygiene products: Fischel In front of the Correos de Costa Rica (Central Post Office), San José, plus many other locations in the country. +506 2248 1682 Farmacia Sucre Plaza de la Democracia, the Sauter building, on the corner of Calle 11 Avenida Central +506 2248 9302 Farmacia La Bomba Calle 1, Avenida Central, close to the Pre-Columbian Gold Museum +506 4001 3647