A capital with a Latin accent
What to do, see and visit in San José, Latin America's safest capital?
Starting your stay in Costa Rica with a visit to the country's capital can be very interesting from a cultural point of view. Most hotels are located in the heart of this beautiful city, allowing you to stroll around and have direct contact with Costa Rican culture and explore a little more of the life of the "Ticos". Bars, museums, restaurants, squares and parks are all available to start or end your visit to Costa Rica.
San José
Capital of Costa Rica and the province of the same name since 1823, San José lies at an altitude of 1,200 meters in the heart of the country.
San José is the country's most important political, economic and social center. With a strong Spanish and Italian influence in its infrastructure and culture, the city was the home of the French and Belgians - a privileged class - who lived here in the late 19th and 20th centuries. Today, it is considered one of Latin America's most cosmopolitan capitals.
A privileged geographical location
San José, and more generally the greater metropolitan area, is located in Costa Rica's central valley. This area is surrounded by the Braulio Carillo National Park (one of the wildest in the country),
Poas volcano to the north, Tapanti National Park to the southeast and the mountainous Escazu area and Mount Rabo de Mico to the south-southeast. Its proximity to the Irazu volcano has affected the capital on numerous occasions.
What to see and do in San José
Among the museums available to learn more about Costa Rican history and nature are: "El Museo Nacional de Costa Rica", "Museo de Jade", "Museos del Banco Central", "Museo Filatélico de Costa Rica", "Museo de Insectos de la Universidad de Costa Rica", "Museo de Arte Costaricense"... If you don't have the time to visit them, there are many beautiful infrastructures on display, such as the Teatro Nacional, the Merced Church, the Central Church, and the picturesque San José Central Market, where you can buy fruit, sample typical dishes and buy souvenirs.
Life in San José
San José has a particular structure: it is organized into avenues and streets, all perpendicular to each other. The avenues run from west to east, and the streets from north to south.
The city center is relatively small, and much of it is reserved for pedestrians, making life difficult for drivers. If you're driving in San José, you'll need to be prepared for symphonies of horns, hazardous overtaking and braking for intrepid pedestrians who decide to cross the road regardless of the color of the traffic light.
Most travellers will be surprised by the numerous harrows, barbed-wire fences and other gates in front of the houses. Don't forget that we're in Latin America, and even if San José is currently the safest Latin capital on the continent, there is still a certain latent insecurity that is typical of very large cities. Rest assured, however, that the police are omnipresent and the feeling of security is there.
How to make the most of San José
San José is best visited in the morning. Even though Costa Ricans are early risers (too early?), the city still functions at a slower pace in the early hours of the day. What's more, the heat will be less noticeable and the city center less crowded.
What are the must-see sights in San José?
The National Theatre
This superb building is located right in the center of San José, a stone's throw from the Metropolitan Cathedral, on the corner of avenue 2 and streets 3 and 5. It was completed in 1897 and inaugurated with Charles Gounod's opera "Fausto".
The theater's interior is just as impressive as its exterior, featuring numerous works of art, and can be visited with local guides in English/Spanish.
If you have the time, don't hesitate to go and see a work being performed in the theater to fully appreciate the beauty of the place.
Cost of visit :
Foreigners :
$USD 10
Children under 12 :
Free
Residents :
c1500
The theater also offers a coffee corner for relaxing in a sumptuous setting right in the center of San José.
To find out more about the chronology of its creation, I recommend the excellent National Theater website:
Website
The National Museum
Established in 1887, the National Museum used to be a military barracks, weapons storehouse and even a prison.
The museum's mission is to tell the story of Costa Rica's history, from pre-Columbian to colonial and indigenous times.
To find out more about the museum: Site
San José is a city that will add a cultural dimension to your trip to Costa Rica. Stroll through the colonial districts of Barrio Amon and Barrio Montoya. Or why not try a spot of sport in La Sabana metropolitan park.
If you'd like to visit San José, we suggest this tour
off the beaten track.
WALKING TOURS
The possibilities for walking are endless. They are an opportunity to observe nature while taking in the historical, architectural, cultural, religious and commercial aspects of the region.
MUSEUM VISITS
The most varied historical and cultural museums are located in this part of the country; for example, the National Museum, the Museum of Contemporary Art and Design, the Children's Museum, the Museum of Costa Rican Art, the Gold Museum, the Museum of Popular Culture, the Juan Santamaría Museum, the Orosi Museum, the Entomological Museum, the La Salle Museum, the Jade Museum, etc.
MELICO SALAZAR THEATER
The Mélico Salazar Theatre, whose building has been declared of Historical and Architectural Interest, was created to promote the artistic expressions of popular culture and facilitate access to shows for as many people as possible.
METAL BUILDING
A metal architectural gem dating from the 19th century, this building has housed a school for boys and girls since its creation.
TEMPLE OF MUSIC
Located in the heart of Morazán Park, this neoclassical reinforced concrete building dating from 1920 boasts near-perfect acoustics. For many years, the temple served as a meeting place for the Josephine community, who came here to listen to concerts by the Symphony Orchestra and the Military Band, and to share traditional New Year's greetings.
NATIONAL MONUMENT
The Monument National was inaugurated on September 15, 1895, on the site of the Place de la Gare. The work, by French sculptor Louis Carrier, commemorates the exploits of the 1856-1857 campaign. The figures represent the Central American countries in pursuit of the North American invader dressed as a slaveholder, represented by William Walker.
NATIONAL MUSEUM (FORMER BELLAVISTA HEADQUARTERS)
The Army Headquarters was built between 1916 and 1930. In 1949, after the Abolition of the Army, it was transformed into the National Museum, with the essential aim of promoting the study, preservation and exhibition of the country's flora and fauna. Archaeology, the history of the homeland and natural history are currently the main themes. The Museum is located on Calle 17, between Avenida Central and Avenida Segunda. It is open to the public from Tuesday to Sunday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
CHILDREN'S MUSEUM (MUSEO DEL NIÑO)
The museum's architectural structure dates back to 1910, but it is a modern complex specially designed for Costa Rican children. It comprises more than 50 exhibition rooms where cultural and scientific activities of national scope are carried out. The museum is located 800 meters north of the Banco Central in San José. It is open to the public from Tuesday to Sunday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
JADE MUSEUM
The Jade Museum contains a collection of pre-Columbian art objects (in gold, ceramics, jade and stone). It is the only museum in the Americas to display indigenous jade handicrafts. It is located in the building of the Instituto Nacional de Seguros (National Insurance Institute).
GOLD MUSEUM
The Gold Museum exhibits one of the most valuable collections of indigenous gold coins in the world. It is located in Plaza de la Cultura, Calle 5, Avenida Central, opposite the tourist information office of the Costa Rican Institute of Tourism (ICT). The museum is open to the public from Tuesday to Sunday, 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
MUSEUM OF COSTARICAN ART
Formerly the La Sabana Airport, this museum exhibits collections of various forms of plastic art. Upstairs, in the Salón Dorado (Golden Room), you can admire a wooden fresco depicting the country's history from Amerindian times to 1940. The Museum is located in La Sabana, Calle 42, Avenida II (Calle 42, Avenida Segunda). It is open to the public from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
COSTA RICA PHILATELIC AND NUMISMATIC MUSEUM
Located in the Central Post Office Building in San José, this museum features a collection of Costa Rican postage stamps, as well as a reconstruction of a 19th-century post office with the equipment used for the first communications links in Costa Rica.
INSECT MUSEUM OF THE UNIVERSITY OF COSTA RICA
This museum exhibits a diverse sample of Costa Rican entomology. It is located in the basement of the Faculty of Musical Arts at the University of Costa Rica.
MUSÉE DES SCIENCES NATURELLES DE LA SALLE
The museum houses an important collection of ornithological, entomological and malacological specimens. Some eighteen thousand magnificent specimens are on display. Four different halls exhibit mammals, fish, reptiles and shells; a fifth hall is dedicated to archaeology. The museum is located on the south-western side of La Sabana Metropolitan Park. It is open Monday to Saturday, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm.
OBSERVATION OF ARCHITECTURAL FORMS AND HISTORIC SITES
The wide variety of sites and buildings throughout the Central Valley declared to be of architectural or historical interest, or even National Monuments, offer a wide range of visit options for tourists who respect the country's cultural heritage.
CULTURAL ACTIVITIES
In the major provincial towns, concerts are organized by the Fanfares Nationales of Cartago, Heredia, Alajuela and San José, mainly on Sunday mornings at 10 o'clock. Samples of an old historical tradition, these activities are usually held in the Central Park of each town. In addition, other activities of a historical, religious, sporting, civic or artistic nature are celebrated throughout the year. Fairs are also organized to raise funds for communal development.
INBIO (BIODIVERSITY INSTITUTE)
INBIO is an institution dedicated to national biodiversity research. INBIO's success in this field has earned it several international awards. Located in Santo Domingo de Heredia, the institute welcomes tourists to a number of purpose-built facilities, including the Biodiversity Park.
