San Jose Costa Rica gets a bad rap. I know that because half of the customers who contact me about a Costa Rica vacation want to avoid it at all costs.
But I lived there for 10 years, know the city like the back of my hand, and I am here to tell you, it’s a great place.
Here are my top 10 reasons to love San Jose Costa Rica (in random order).
1. Climate – San Jose, well the entire Central Valley, has Costa Rica’s best climate, hands down. It is an eternal spring with temperatures hovering in the low 70’s most of the time.
2. Restaurants – San Jose has an amazing variety of excellent restaurants, from comida tipica, to all sorts of international cuisine. I especially like the Peruvian restaurant, Machu Picchu, located in Paseo Colon. Also, excellent is Saga in Escazu and for the best chicharrones in Costa Rica, Cacique Aserri, in Aserri. There are also a couple of restaurants I love with great nighttime views of the city lights…namely Ram Luna, also in Aserri and Tiquicia in Escazu.
3. Nightlife – There are countless bars and discos all over the city. My perennial favorite has been Castros Bar in Barrio Mexico for an authentic old-time Latin disco.
4. Shopping – Costa Rica has some truly amazing malls, rivaling anything in the U.S. And they are all located in San Jose. The most impressive is Multiplaza in Escazu,
5. Culture – There are quite a few important cultural sites in the city, as well as in surrounding towns. Downtown you will find the jade and gold museums and the National Theater, all worth a look.
6. Surrounding Sites – There are many day trips one can take from San Jose that are worthwhile. You can visit the Irazu or Poas volcanoes. Another great one is to spend a day exploring the area of Cartago, the Orosi Valley, and Turrialba.
7. The New Stadium – A gift from the Chinese, the new stadium is indeed impressive. Also, the city now attracts many big name performers and sporting events. Check out who might be playing there while you’re in town.
8. Sabana Park – I used to live close to the park and it is my favorite place in San Jose. It is called the “lungs of the city” and for good reason. It is San Jose’s small version of New York’s central park and a great place for a long meditative stroll.
9. Sundays in San Jose – The hustle and bustle of San Jose can reach a stressful and fevered pitch from Monday through Saturday. But on Sunday everything calms down and accessibility increases dramatically. If only every day were like Sunday in San Jose. Also, it never seems to rain on Sunday…why is that?
10. Downtown – San Jose central is an interesting place. The central avenue, the “walking street,” is a great place to people watch. It is also where all the most interesting historic sites are located. You will see folks from all walks of life in downtown San Jose.
I moved from San Jose to Perez Zeledon about two years ago. But I still go to the big city often and it is always a pleasurable experience…well, everything but the traffic, which I have now grown unaccustomed to.
If you find yourself “stuck” in San Jose for a day or two, refer to the above list and you will surely increase your enjoyment.
Many of the above things are further discussed with links in my free 100 Cool Things to Do in Costa Rica e-book (check the section on San Jose, of course)!
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