San Jose is a bustling city, busy and with traffic, like any other around the globe. If your flight arrives at Juan Santamaria Airport, San Jose becomes the first entrance to Costa Rica. From here you can start your trip and stay one or two in the city and learn a little more. San Jose, the country’s capital and most highly populated province. Located in the Central Valley, it extends to the northeast, crossing the impressive volcanoes of the Central Mountain Range. Which includes national parks, forest reserves, and fertile lands, with an abundance of coffee plantations
Founded in the first half of the eighteenth century, San Jose is nowadays a city where visitors of the entire world converge; a metropolis full of interesting places, faces, and colors reflecting the history of a population. Despite the fact that there are still beautiful colonial buildings, not many are still standing today since they gave way to new buildings. However, there are places like the National Theater, Inaugurated in 1897, that is a must if you have the possibility to stay here.
At night in San Jose, you can find a wide variety of gastronomic offers, from gourmet places to sodas with typical dishes. You will find cuisine from all corners of the world in this small city. If you stay in San Jose for a couple of days discover the National Museum. Gold and Jade Museums. There you will learn about our history, cultural origins and much more.
From San Jose, you can also take one of the one-day tours. If you want some adrenaline take any of the white water rafting trips available and challenge yourselves with amazing rapids class III, IV & V. From San Jose you can also perform the Tortuga Island cruise. This is an amazing trip that takes you to Puntarenas where you embark. The trip takes you along the Nicoya Gulf until arrive at this amazing jewel of nature in the middle of the ocean.
If you want to discover the tropical forest from a different point of view, you should take the ziplines and aerial tram tour. This trip will let you discover the rainforest in two different ways but both from the sky. Enjoy an easy ride on the gondolas along the forest and discover the flora and some fauna of the area. Later prepare to slide through the forest on the ziplines adventure.
A place that you can’t miss during your stay in San Jose or your surroundings is the Poas Volcano. The crater is one of the largest in the world and it is active, so are able to stay there only for a few minutes, because of the gases and your safety. But no worries, we won’t take you there just for that. Later you can take the Coffee Tour and discover the amazing process of the famous drink. As well you can perform a visit to La Paz Waterfall Gardens and enjoy the amazing landscapes, the waterfalls, and the animal shelter.
The central valley (GAM) is full of national parks and adventures to enjoy, culture, and gastronomy to discover as well. You can go from the mountains to the islands and from adrenaline to relax. There are activities to enjoy for everybody.
Our recommendation would be to spend the first night in San Jose or two and either take a city tour or one of our daily expeditions. Also depending on your departure flight, you will have to spend your last day in San Jose. You have the chance as well of flying out from the Liberia Airport in Guanacaste.
Pictures of San Jose, Costa Rica
Costa Rica Provinces
San Jose, Costa Rica
Cartago Province, Costa Rica
Heredia Province, Costa Rica
Puntarenas Province, Costa Rica
Alajuela Province, Costa Rica
Guanacaste Province, Costa Rica
Limon, Costa Rica