San José, Costa Rica

San José: the Gateway to Costa Rica

San José is the capital of Costa Rica and the starting point for almost every trip to the country. Surrounded by mountains in the Central Valley, it has a spring-like climate year-round, a downtown with theaters, museums and markets, and a growing food scene. From here, the volcanoes, coffee plantations and national parks that made the country famous are just a few hours away.

💡 Fun Facts & History

• 💡San José became Costa Rica's capital in 1823, and is today the country's political, cultural and economic center, in a valley more than 1,100 meters above sea level.
• 💡The National Theatre, opened in 1897 and largely funded by the coffee elite, is the city's most emblematic building, with a neoclassical facade and an interior of marble, frescoes and gilding.
• 💡Costa Rica abolished its army in 1948 and invests those resources in education and health. It is one reason the country is known for its stability and its "pura vida" attitude.
• 💡The Pre-Columbian Gold Museum, beneath the Plaza de la Cultura, holds one of Central America's most important collections of indigenous goldwork.
• 💡Coffee shaped the city's history: from the 19th century, coffee exports funded landmarks like the National Theatre. Today you can visit plantations and taste coffee in the Central Valley mountains.
• 💡The Central Valley has a temperate climate all year, with moderate temperatures and none of the seasonal swings of other latitudes; the main difference is between the dry and rainy seasons.