An ideal stopover for a few days of sightseeing, shopping, sampling exotic and ethnic cuisines and enjoying the country’s main cultural attractions...

Most visitors to Costa Rica arrive at the Juan Santamaria International Airport, 17 km from the nation’s capital city, San José, which is an ideal stopover for a few days of sightseeing, shopping, sampling exotic ethnic cuisines and enjoying the country’s main cultural attractions, which include the National Theatre, the National Museum and an interesting variety of micro museums with themes ranging from indigenous art to jade, gold, contemporary designs, stamps and coins, natural science and popular culture.

Attractions Around San Jose

Volcanic hills, archeological sites, indigenous preserves, coffee plantations, fruit farms, historical cathedrals, mineral springs and waterfalls are among the popular places to visit in the central highlands north, east and south east of San Jose, in areas known as Sarapiqui, Turrialba and the Orosi Valley.

Shopping in San Jose

If shopping is your favorite activity, San Jose offers more than a dozen popular shopping malls. For the best range of crafts, souvenirs and gifts, take a day trip to the famed town of Sarchi, about an hour’s drive northwest of San Jose.

Day Trips from San Jose

Other popular day trips include a climb up to the huge crater of Poas Volcano, or the steaming vents of Irazu Volcano, a tour of the scenic Orosi Valley, and a visit to the nearest National Park for a canopy adventure.

Lodging Facilities in San Jose

San Jose offers the most diverse range of lodging options in the country for every taste and budget. For accommodation located closer to the Juan Santamaria International Airport, look for lodging in Alajuela and Heredia; for lodging located within a short ride to the city centre, look for choices in La Sabana, Pavas, Rohrmoser, Los Yoses, San Pedro and Curridabat; and for those on a tight budget, look or ‘bed and breakfasts’ and ‘Aparthotels’ located throughout the city and its outskirts.