Travel Guide > Central America > Costa Rica > San Jose
San José is the capital and largest city in Costa Rica. It has a total population of about 1.7 million inhabitants living in the metropolitan area, although the city itself is much smaller with around 400,000 people. It is located in the central part of the country in the Central Valley at an elevation of about 1200 meters above sea level. San José is the administrative, political and economic centre of the country and functions as the main transportation hub of Costa Rica. The city was founded in the 18th century and became the capital in 1823. It has seen massive growth during the last decades and now is a sprawling urban area full of attractions for travellers. A visit to San José before travelling onwards to explore the great nature is highly recommended.
Because of its elevation, San José enjoys a climate which is much milder than its lower counterparts towards the Pacific and Caribbean sea. Average day temperatures are around 26 °C, but from February to May it is slightly warmer, around 28 °C. Night temperatures are around 18 °C year round. From May to October is the rainy season with 300 mm of rain a month on average. From November to April is the best time to visit, and January to March sea barely any rain at all. Humidity is high year round, but higher during the rainy season, and the relatively low temperatures compared to lower parts of the country make it more bearable as well.
Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) near San José receives a growing number of international flights, for example with the national airline Lacsa which is part of the Grupo TACA. Services are with a number of Lacsa/TACA flights to destinations mainly in Central America and several cities in the United States and South America. Destinations further away include Madrid with Iberia, Amsterdam with Martinair and flights to and from Frankfurt. Toronto, Guadeloupe and Martinique are other destinations.
Paradise Air has flights to a few dozen of domestic destinations, including Barra de Tortuguero, Limón and Liberia.
| Property | Address | Type | Popularity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abril Hostal | Calle 25 Avenue 10, | Guesthouse | - |
| Adventure Inn | Between San Jose and Airport | Hotel | 93 |
| Aparthotel Plaza Real | Uruca san jose san jose | Hotel | - |
| Casa El Dorado Boutique Hotel | El Carmen de San Antonio de Escazu Escazu | Hotel | - |
| Casa Girasol | Sabana Sur, from MacDonalds restaurant, 100 west,100 south, 50 east | Guesthouse | 86 |
| Casa León | Avenida 6, Calle 13/15 de la clínica Drs. Echandi 50m nor/este | Guesthouse | 90 |
| Casa Morazan B&B | 7th street, 9th Avenue, #775 | Guesthouse | 43 |
| Casa Oshun Bed and Breakfast | Calle 84-86 avenida 19, La Uruca | Guesthouse | 93 |
| Casa Ridgway | Calle 15 | Guesthouse | 68 |
| Casa Yoses Hostel | 8th Ave 41 St 250 west from Spoon in Los Yoses | Hostel | 89 |
| Condo Casa Inn | Lourdes, Residencial Lugano #43 San Pedro | Hotel | - |
| Costa Rica Backpackers | Avenida 6, calle 21/23 | Hostel | 82 |
| Costa Rica Guesthouse | Avenida 6 Calle 21 de la esquina noreste de la corte suprema,100 metr | Guesthouse | 91 |
| Fairamon Hotel | San Jose , Barrio Amon Calle 7 Ave 9 Casa 776 | Hotel | - |
| Galileo Hostel | Avenida 2, Calle 40 De la Soda Tapia en Sabana, 100m este | Hostel | 84 |
| Gaudys Backpackers Hostel | Ave. 5 / Calle 36 y 38, Casa 3636 Del Banco de Costa Rica de Paseo Colon, 200 al nor | Hostel | 86 |
| Green House Hostel | Plaza Viquez Calle 11 Ave 16 y 18 | Hostel | 78 |
| Guesthome B&B | 450 Mts al Norte de la toyota de paseo colon Cl 36 entre Av. 7 y 9 | Guesthouse | 77 |
| Hostel 1110 | Ave. 14 St. 11 #1110 500 mts. East from clinica Biblica Right hand yell | Hostel | 86 |
| Hostel Bekuo | 325 Meters Oeste Spoon Los Yoses | Hostel | 89 |
| Hostel Casa del Parque | Calle 19 Avenida 3era Casa In front of the northestern corner of National Par | Hostel | 86 |
| Hostel Marruecos | Del Teatro Nacional 450metros al norte San Jose | Guesthouse | - |
| Hostel Pangea | Barrio Amon Ave 7 st.3-3bis Barrio Amon Ave.11 st 3bis | Hostel | 83 |
| Hostel Toruma | Central Avenue, 29 and 31 St Barrio La California | Hostel | 74 |
| Hotel B&B Puerta del Sol | Ciudad Cariari Residencial Los Arcos, Rotonda 1, N°17 | Hotel | - |
| Hotel Capital | Calle 4 Btw Ave. 3 and 5 | Hotel | - |
| Hotel City One | Barrio Amon Interseccion Avenida 9 | Hotel | 73 |
| Hotel Classic B & B | 2 Blocks North from Children's Hospital | Hostel | - |
| Hotel Costa Rica Tennis Club | Sabana Sur | Hotel | - |
| Hotel Inca Real | ave 9 calle 7 esquina Barrio Amon 100 metros norte del parque morazan | Hotel | 72 |
| Hotel Isla Verde | 2 blocks west from the U.S.A. Embassy, Pavas | Hotel | - |
| Hotel Kekoldi | Avenida 9, between Calles 5 and 7 P.O. Box 12150-1000 | Hotel | 73 |
| Hotel La Cuesta | Avenia 1 , 50meters west from the national park | Hotel | 69 |
| Hotel La Mansion San José | 10th Av. 9th Street , San Jose, Costa Rica | Hotel | - |
| Hotel La Pampa | Ave. 5th Btw street 20 and 22 300 Mts North side from Hospital Children - 15 mts | Hotel | 53 |
| Hotel La Posada de Don Tobias | 5 and 1/2 blocks north from La Merced park 7th/9th ave. 12th street | Hotel | 53 |
| Hotel Petit | 24th Street Avenue Paseo Colon 25 meters South Torre Mercedes Building Avenue Pas | Hotel | 80 |
| Hotel Vesuvio | Ave 11 / Street 13-15 San Jose - Costa Rica | Hotel | - |
| Hotel Yamural | Parada de los buses de Puriscal 100 norte y 25 oeste en la estacion de los buses la Cocacola | Hotel | 44 |
| JC Friends Hostel | 34th Street & Avenue 3 Paseo Colon | Hostel | 83 |
| Kabata Hostel | Downtown San Jose. 7th Street, between 9th and 11th Avenue. #927 | Hostel | 86 |
| Kalexma B&B | 50 oeste-W, 25 sur-S puente Juan Pablo II, La Uruc | Guesthouse | 74 |
| La Estacion | San Jose, next to the Coca Cola Bus Station | Guesthouse | - |
| LaCatalina Hotel | Beside Cetal LaCatalina Birri,Heredia | Hotel | - |
| Mi Casa Hostel | 150 mts North from the west corner of I.C.E´s bui Sabana Norte | Hostel | 79 |
| Pensión de La Cuesta B&B | Avenida Primera Calle 11 Y 15, 50 Metros Oeste Par | Guesthouse | 70 |
| Taylors`s Inn Bed & Breakfast | AVenida 13, Calles 03-3B, #336. Apartado 531-1000 | Guesthouse | 77 |
| Tranquilo Backpackers | San José Downtown.7th Street, between 9th and 11th Avenue | Hostel | 71 |
| Tuanis Hostel | #1 De la Casa Italia 300 metros sur, Casa a la Izq | Hostel | 90 |
| Vivi's Place ByB | guachipelin de esdcazu | Guesthouse | - |
This is version 6. Last edited at 22:13 on May 21, 09 by Lavafalls (-6). 12 articles link to this page.

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