San Jose (Costa Rica)
Travel Guide > Central America > Costa Rica > San Jose
Introduction
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.
Neighbourhoods
Sights and Activities
- Plaza de la Cultura
- Central Plaza
- Teatro Nacional de Costa Rica
- Cathedral
- El Pueblo nightlife
- Lankester Botanical Gardens
Events and Festivals
Weather
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.
Getting There
By Plane
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.
By Train
By Car
By Bus
By Boat
Eat
Drink
Work
Learn
This is version 2. Last edited at 2:53 on Apr 26, 08 by Hien (-13). 2 articles link to this page.
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