San José, Costa Rica

Do you Know the Way to San José?

San José is not always on the receiving end of favorable mentions in travel reviews, and maybe this is due to the fact that, with so much to see, when reviewers really start gushing about their recent Costa Rican adventures—the beautiful coasts, enchanting cloud forests, extensive wildlife and lush, tropical climate—there just aren’t any superlatives left to pour over the sprawling city of San José. The fact of the matter is, when you visit Costa Rica, you’ve got to know what you’re after. If, let’s just say, you are traveling to have your wedding or to take a honeymoon, you might opt to avoid the hustle and bustle of San José altogether. On the other hand, if your goal trip is to see Costa Rica in its entirety, spend a night or two at the very least in San José and, if you feel inspired to do so, go wild! Even more so now that a great national emphasis has been placed on revamping Costa Rica’s largest city, San José perfects a national balancing act. If you’re the sort who loves to come off of a quiet few days of seaside contemplation with a couple of rum and Cokes and a fast night of Latin dancing (or, alternately, if you like to start off your beach retreat with a jolt), San José offers the respite you crave.

San José  Days, San Jose Nights

If for no other reason than the breathtaking beauty of the blue mountain peaks surrounding the city, you really have to see San José by day. Of course, the peaks are but an incidental detail in daytime attractions. If a leisurely day of shopping and eating local cuisine suits your appetite, you will find a decent selection of food, clothing and craft markets in the center of the city. There are several markets near downtown, the largest of which is the Mercado Central. Here you will find mostly food vendors, as well as a few carts selling crafts and musical instruments. For clothing and souvenirs, head over to the daily street market on the west side of Plaza de la Democracía.

For a light excursion into nature, visit INBio Park (Instituto National de Biodiversidad), where a guided two-hour hike is included with the entrance fee, and you have the separate option of hiking on trails recreating the ecosystems of tropical forests. While you’re there, visit the park’s extensive on-site butterfly museum, and relax in sight of the tranquil lagoon from a Plexiglas viewing window.

After the renovations have been completed in 2010, the Museo de Arte Costarricense (Costa Rican Art Museum) will again be open to the delight of art lovers and outdoor enthusiasts alike. Located at the end of Paseo Colón in Parque La Sabana in the country’s former main airport terminal, the museum has a good selection of permanent works by the likes of Jorge Jiménez Deredia, Max Jiménez and José Sancho. The beautiful outdoor setting includes an elegant and lovely sculpture garden.   In late afternoon if you’re feeling like a little romance, head up into the Escazu hills before sundown for an apéritif and a breathtaking view at Le Monasteŕe, a French restaurant in a converted monastery.  As San José is the largest city in Costa Rica, home to a third of the country’s population, you should be advised as a traveler to be especially careful with your personal belongings while shopping in the markets and venturing out at night to restaurants and bars. After dark, you might opt to take cabs, even if you are traveling only a couple blocks.

Keeping that in mind, on a night out in San José the sky is the limit: settle into a cozy pub for a glass of wine or beer, head out to a bar to see good live Latin music, or spend the night out dancing. San José by night is fuel for whatever you desire.