San Jose, Costa Rica City Guide

For over 20 years, Pamela Lanier's San Jose, Costa Rica Travel Guide has been your connection to San Jose's tourism community with invaluable details on local attractions, restaurants, shopping, museums, history, outdoor recreation and more.
 

San Jose Attractions


San Jose, Costa Rica Things to do
Comprehensive site listing activities, sites, etc, in San Jose Costa Rica.


Volcan Arenal
The volcano is some distance from San Jose, but it is worth the trip to one of Central America's most impressive volcanoes. At night, the view is awe inspiring thanks to the red-hot rocks that the volcano spews into the air. You can stay in the village, Fortuna, to take advantage of the night views, or take a day trip from the capital to visit the Parque Nacional Volcán Arenal.


Spirogyra Butterfly Garden
Located downtown, a few meters from the Commercial Center El Pueblo, this garden was established eight years ago, in a garden of a residential house. Without leaving the city...


Ecoscape Nature Tours
Ecoscape Nature Tours provide an option for those visitors who are in the country for short stays. Their "Highlights Tour" is a very affordable trip that runs approximately 11 hours. They try to keep a leisurely pace with plenty of stops, using well-informed, professional guides. The tour includes breakfast at a mountain lodge, coffee fields, Poas volcano, cloud forest walk, La Paz waterfall, hummingbird gallery, buffet lunch at a Rainforest Lodge, Sarapiquí River safari and a drive through Braulio Carrillo National Park.

 

San Jose City Guide


Visit Costa Rica
Costa Rica – San Jose visitors guide


Costa Rica, San Jose Province
Costa Rica general information


San Jose, World Guide
World Guide – San Jose Costa Rica, Lonely Planet


Costa Rica, San Jose Province
Costa Rica general information


Costa Rica, No Artificial Ingredients - Hotels, travel agencies ...
About Costa Rica • Knowing Costa Rica • Historical Walk through San José ... No wonder, then, that thousands of tourists have made Costa Rica their top travel destination.


San Jose, Costa Rica Forecast : Weather Underground
Weather and conditions for San Jose, Costa Rica

 

San Jose Restaurants


Mirador Ram Luna
This is one of the finest restaurants in town, located on the slopes of the Escazú hills, providing one of the best views of the whole Central Valley. It is amazing by night when visitors from around the world and Costa Rican locals get together, or romantic couples gather here for dinner or drinks. The owners serve delicious gourmet food, international and Costa Rican dishes, and a variety of wines. They also offer a floor show on Wednesdays.


EL Cuartel de la Boca del Monte
As the night spreads its shroud and the explosion of the sunset's wildest colors start giving way to the blinking of the stars, many go home to rest. However, many others start a new life cycle: "Living La Vida Loca" (Living the crazy life). El Cuartel is the perfect place to do so. Here, people of all ages, colors and backgrounds gather to eat, drink, listen to the music, and make new friends. It has three different areas, including an art gallery, so you can "Live La Vida Loca" the way you like it best.


Tin Jo
More, much more than a Chinese restaurant, this is a culinary experience of different tastes and flavors from all of Asia. Here, you can try specialties from India, Indonesia, Thailand, Burma, Vietnam, Japan and, of course, China. It is not unusual, then, that a mixture of smells comes from the kitchen including curry, ginger, soy, lemon grass, garlic and onions, in a parade of magical olfactory seduction. When you feel it is time for a gastronomic change, the Tin Jo can give you a marvelous culinary tour through those exotic places.


Aya Sofya
Just imagine a Persian Market, full of colors, and the shining of beautiful fabrics and jewelry. Perceive the exquisite smells coming out of the food stands. Lamb and calf cuts dance a slow and soft waltz while they are roasted al pastor (rotisserie). Turkish cuisine is a mix of flavors from different cultures, where the roasted meats and chicken are the "show stars," along with salads and raitas and delicious desserts made with puff pastry, bee honey and yogurts. Try the famous...


Banco de los Mariscos (El)
This place is so large that if the tables were moved away, you could easily play a game of "papi-football" with your friends. But, there is a reason for its size: this is one of the best-known marisquerías, or seafood places, in this country, and every weekend it gets packed to the top. Decoration is simple, with a small terrace and a family-like atmosphere. You will find every kind of seafood and fish in very different preparations, in good portions and at a reasonable price.

 

San Jose Shopping


Mundo Aquatico
Costa Rica offers many opportunities to dive and snorkel as many reefs, caves and other undersea sites await the adventurous divers off Costa Rica's coasts.


Rain Forest Gallery
This gallery, with nine years of experience, offers a collection of national and international artists' original paintings, in a variety of techniques and styles that vary from the naives to realism. Nature themes predominate, featuring the suggestive colors of the tropics. The gallery also sells sculptures and ceramic pieces, pre-Columbian style and copper handmade jewellery. And it offers shipment and framing services as well.


Sarchi Village
Known as the most important crafts center in Costa Rica, this site welcomes locals as well as foreigners, who come to browse and buy. The local specialty is the painted ox cart, which can be used to decorate your house or garden. There are also wooden items of every other kind here, and you can visit the workshops to see how the products are made. There are also various small restaurants in the area, which are good for drinking coffee or enjoying a light meal.


Mercado Borbon
It is always interesting visiting the Central American markets, as much for their pictureque atmosphere as for the goods on sale. Here, you can eat at one of the inexpensive traditional diners, or browse for crafts, electrical goods, clothes and more. The people of San Jose are open minded and friendly and you will surely find yourself engaged in conversation by the merchants. The area is safe, but take care of your valuables nonetheless.


Esmeraldas y Disenos
If you believe in horoscopes, an emerald is the stone suggested to be worn by those born in May. Nevertheless, in Esmeraldas y Diseños, they recommend a variety of precious and semi-precious imported stones from Colombia and Brazil, from with which they make fine jewelry.


Casona (LA)
This large souvenir shopping complex offers crafts from all regions in Costa Rica as well as from other countries in Central America, such as Guatemala and Honduras. Products available include ceramics, fabrics, wooden items, paintings and more. It is interesting to note the differences in the items from the various regions. Recommended purchases include clothes, jewelry and fabrics. The ceramics are also lovely.



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