Are the one just like the majority of the world’s population today who feels that life would be so excitingly adventurous if they could bring a change in their daily schedule and in pursuit of a suitable place to visit? Perhaps San Jose, Costa Rica, indeed, is the perfect place to take a break from your monotonous life.
Are you excited to know about San Jose, Costa Rica?
San Jose, Costa Rica — San Jose, Costa Rica’s capital city, is surrounded by northern volcanoes and mountains. San Jose Costa Rica’s total municipal land area is 17.2 square miles, with an estimated 333,980 residents in the year 2015. In 2017 estimated population of San Jose, Costa Rica, and other cantons of the central valley, including Alajuela, Heredia, and Cartago, were over 2 million. San Jose city is named in honor of Joseph of Nazareth.
San Jose, Costa Rica, is famous for its mesmerizing rainforests, unspoiled beaches, and wildlife abundance. Going to Costa Rica feels like going on a never-ending adventure – there is an activity to suit every soul!
Besides, it is notable among Latin American cities for its high quality of life, security, globalization, environmental performance, public service, and recognized institutions. San José is one of the most visited destinations in Latin America.
Famous of San Jose
Costa Rica’s San José is known to travelers all over the globe for its museums and architecture. Museums are renowned for preserving Costa Rican heritage, pre-Columbian period culture, scientific findings, sculpture, and contemporary Costa Rican sculpture. The city also hosts the Gold Museum of the Nation and the Jade Museum. Costa Rica’s San José is home to many parks and plazas where you can find gazebos, open green areas, recreational areas, lakes, fountains, Costa Rican artists’ statues, and sculptures of many different species of birds, trees, and plants.
Transportation at San Jose
In San Jose, Costa Rica, you may have easy access to transportation. You can get Taxis and buses to roam around the city and to travel outside the central valley. You can rent a cab; the car rental services are mostly available from San Jose International Airports. Hotels and lounges also provide cab rental services. Also, bus services are available between Juan Santamaría International Airport and downtown San José.
Famous Cuisine at San Jose
The most popular food at San Jose is the national dish Gallo pinto, a combination of fried rice and black beans, usually served for breakfast with tortillas and natilla, a thin sour cream. San José Central Market is in downtown San José and has numerous stalls and sodas, famous among travelers and locals.
San Jose Costa Rica offers much more than the Juan Santamaria International Airport most visitors fly into. San Jose Costa Rica is a cultural hub where you can introduce Costa Rica’s food and history.
When Is The Favorable Time to Visit Costa Rica?
Weather for San Jose, can differ depending on the route that wind takes and its yearly seasons. The wet season is humid and overcast, whereas the dry season is partly cloudy, and it is warm year-round. The coldest temperature in San Jose, Costa Rica, is equal to the high (warm) temperatures for Northern Americans. With the references of the years, temperature differs from 63 °F to 81°F and is rarely below 60°F or above 84°F.
The wet days in San Jose, vary significantly throughout the year. The wetter seasons last 6.9 months, from May 2 to November 29, with a more than 29% chance of a given day being wet. Similarly, the drier season lasts 5.2 months from November 29 to May 2.
San Jose Costa Rica experience extreme season changes in the perceived humidity. The muggier period begins from April 13 and lasts for 7.8 months to December 6. During these periods, the comfort level is muggy, oppressive, or miserable at least 17%.
The sky gets clearer from around November 24 and lasts for 4.5 months, ending around April 8. Likewise, the year’s cloudier part begins around April 8 and lasts for 7.5 months, ending around November 24.
The best time to travel to San Jose, Costa Rica, for general outdoor tourist activities is from Mid-December to late march, with a peak score in the first week of January. The sky is more apparent, and the climate is favorable for tourists all over the world.
We will walk you through from the Juan Santamaría International Airport when you land at San Jose, Costa Rica.
Juan Santamaría International Airport
Juan Santamaría International Airport is a primary airport located in the heart of Costa Rica – San Jose, the capital of Costa Rica in Alajuela district, 20 km west of downtown San Jose national hero of Costa Rica, Juan Santamaría. The airport operates a new integrated terminal with 16 gates. There are about two dozen shops and eateries, primarily on the airside. There is free Wi-Fi with plenty of outlets for charging mobile devices, and visitors can find extra convenience via fee-based entry to one of the first-class airport lounges.
Terminals
Juan Santamaría International Airport features Domestic and Main terminals. The domestic terminal was introduced in 2018 and handled by Sansa Airlines. The domestic terminal operates domestic flights, and it consists of two boarding gates.
The Main terminal serves all international flights at Juan Santamaria Airport. The main terminal of the air consists of 16 boarding gates. Boarding gates are splits into the lower level, upper level, and mezzanine level.
Transportation
There is easy access to transportation. You can get a bus and taxi to San Jose city within a 30-minute drive. You can also find car rental agencies at Juan Santamaría International Airport. The airport has two-level parking, Level 1(upper level) for all drivers and passengers that depart, and level 0(lower level) for those who arrive. The airport holds a capacity for 400 vehicles. It is open 24 hours a day.
Where to Stay?
Hotels in San Jose Costa Rica
There are hundreds of hotels in Costa Rica, making it a pretty intimidating task to isolate the right one for you. The best thing is to determine which attractions you want to see most and are within easy distance. Once you have done that, you need to decide how much to spend and whether your room should be luxurious or basic.
The average cost for the average price for one person for accommodation in San Jose is ₡16,589. For two people sharing a standard double-occupancy hotel room, the average price for a hotel room in San Jose is ₡33,179.
Cabins & Economical Hotels
The Cabin and economical hotel’s price at San Jose, Costa Rica, starts at around $35 per night. If you add amenities like a ceiling fan or a real mattress instead of a foam pad, it may cost $ 80.
Standard Hotels & Lodges
Standard Hotels & Lodges at San Jose, Costa Rica, add features like swimming pools, air-conditioning, and televisions. These hotels come up for prices ranging from $55 to around $150 a night with double occupancy.
Boutique Lodges, B&BS & Resorts
Boutique Lodges, B&Bs & Resorts at San Jose, Costa Rica, start from around $160 a night, and most are in the mid $200s for a double room. Smaller, unique, and often family-owned, this lodging class is a real highlight of traveling in San Jose, Costa Rica.
Is It Easy to Rent A Car In Costa Rica?
San Jose Costa Rica for Car rental
Car Rental gives freedom to travel around the country without being ties to schedule stops. At San Jose, you can get a Car Rental service for both business travelers and vacationers. For your family or friends to travel in comfort, you can get an economic model for cost-effective mileage or high performance and executive models.
How to rent a car in San Jose, Costa Rica
You can rent a car directly when you arrive at the airport. There is some car rental enterprise at Juan Santamaria International Airport. You can book car rental online by browsing different tour and travels website and car companies’ official websites. You need to pay for car rent plus insurance and other charges for your safety. Some amounts are taken as a deposit, and you will get back after your travel’s compellation.
Requirements for renting a car in San Jose, Costa Rica
It would be best to have your original passport as a foreigner, a valid tourist visa stamp, and a valid original driver’s license from your country of origin. You will need to bear an international driver’s license if your license is not in the Roman script. And you cannot use a photocopy of your driver’s license in San Jose. Every time you need to bring your original driver’s license and original passport to rent a car even if you have rented with the same company before.
Getting the best deal on a San Jose Costa Rica car rental
There is variation in rates- both over time and between companies. You can start booking in advance from 6- 8 months and check back in 2 or 3 months. Car rentals are significantly more expensive in San Jose than the crazy deals you’ll find in the U.S. or Europe’s major cities. While renting a car in San Jose, Costa Rica, 50 percent or more of the cost may be hidden in mandatory fees or insurance.
Cost of a San Jose Costa Rica car rental
San Jose Costa Rica car rental cost depends on the type of car you rent, the insurance, and the time you visit the city. From December to the end of April, the rental cost is expensive as it is peak season times with the highest price during Christmas and New Year. If you are visiting during peak seasons, make sure you book at least two or three months before visiting San Jose. And it goes the same for July and August.
During low season months such as May, June, September-November, the cost is cheaper than the rest of the year as they are low season months. A mid-size SUV rental in San Jose, Costa Rica, for one week in low season months can be around USD 260-300. The same car during Christmas and New Year can be about USD600 a week. During February, it can be around USD 550 a week. However, price depends on availability, insurances, extras, taxes, fees, etc. we are talking about just the car rental rate.
San Jose Costa Rica things to do
Museums
Museums are the most prominent tourist attraction for visitors to San Jose. You will visit the Pre-Columbian Gold Museum and the National Museum. You will get the opportunity to explore a wide variety of subjects related to Costa Rica’s history at the National Museum. The National Museum of San Jose, Costa Rica, contains pre-Columbian objects such as stone spheres, carved statues, pottery remnants, gold and jade jewelry, and even a butterfly garden.
The Pre-Columbian Gold Museum is a short, ten-minute walk away from the San Jose Costa Rica National Museum. You will walk through several floors of gold objects made by indigenous people inside the Gold Museum, dating back to AD 0.
The National Theater
The other historical site you can visit while living in San José, Costa Rica, is the National Theater. Between 1891 and 1897, the opulent building was built. The rooms are beautifully furnished, and the stage is still used today for shows. If you have time, you may attend a show as well. The theater’s architecture and décor are European influences and include marble sculptures and mural walls and ceilings.
Markets and Shops
San Jose is also a great place to go shopping. There are plenty of more traditional souvenirs like T-shirts, coffee, mugs, etc. in the National Artisans Market, but some vendors also sell handmade pieces. This market is now in a modern, more spacious location between Calle 5 and 7 on Avandia 6. Check out Mercado Central to get a more authentic experience. There are hundreds of supermarkets, stalls, and local restaurants spread out along the many corridors in this sprawling Central Market.
Restaurants
San Jose is also famous for its foods and restaurants in the city. You could walk just a few blocks down the street and have our choice of food and drink from around the globe. Foodies will be thrilled with the wide variety of cafes and restaurants.
San Jose is a great place to stay and explore its history and its architecture. The food is excellent, and transportation is easy. We hope these will make your travel a lot easier.
