San Pedro, Costa Rica
San Pedro is situated 10 minutes to the east from the heart of the capital city, San Jose, and is best known as the home of one of Central America’s best shopping malls, the six-story San Pedro Mall. San Pedro also hosts the largest public university in the country, making it a magnet for young people, who in turn give the neighborhood a vibrant feel. There are many good restaurants and bars surrounding the university campus as well as affordable hotels and bed and breakfasts. A lot of tourists enjoy the bar scene in this area because they can mingle freely with the local crowd. Nearby, the more upscale residential neighborhood of Los Yoses is very much quieter by comparison. A number of foreign embassies and diplomatic offices are found here.