San Jose is one of the more expensive cities in Central America, though it’s still fairly cheap by North American or European standards. Most people just fly into the capital and then move on to one of the beach cities or La Fortuna for the volcano, but San Jose itself is worth a look around for a day or two.
Costa Rica is a hotspot destination with San Jose serving as the gateway to the rest of the country. Though most visitors choose to fly into San Jose and then quickly depart to another region of the country, there are some good reasons to stay within the city for a day or two first. Food here is excellent and you’ll find it’s very cheap, especially if you order at some of the smaller cafes dotting the city. You’ll also find some historical buildings and a garden/zoo.
| Population | 350,000 |
| Area | 1,600,000 |
| Timezone | UTC-6 |
| Currency | Costa Rica colon |
Hotel prices in San Jose are easy to predict, as the high season runs from December through April, and the absolute peak surrounds the Christmas and New Year’s holiday period. If you are coming during this time then reserving something early is your best bet.
If you are coming during the off season, from May through November, you’ll probably be rained upon but you’ll also have your pick of hotel rooms, with some good bargains being available in advance or even on the day.
| Rating | Price(USD) |
|---|---|
 | 23.00 - 72.00 |
| 50.00 - 152.00 |
| 94.00 - 187.00 |
| 125.00 - 252.00 |
| 430.00 - 531.00 |
| Type | Price(USD) |
|---|---|
| Hostel Bed | 6.00 - 15.00 |
Within San Jose itself, you’ll find endless shopping and dining out opportunities. You’ll also find nightlife, but going out at night is not recommended. Unfortunately within the city you’ll find the petty crime rate is considerably higher than some other parts of Costa Rica, which may be a reason why people fly into the city and then quickly leave thereafter.
If you are staying for a day before venturing to another portion of the country, the shopping here is great and there are some pretty impressive buildings worth taking the time to look at.
You will have no issues at all securing a canopy tour or hiking adventure and your hotel or resort will have all the connections and numbers needed to set one up for you.
| Location | Description | Type | Price(USD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Museo Oro Precolombino | The pre-Columbian gold museum is one of the bigger draws in the capital for tourists and because of that, you may see large crowds. | adults students | 21.82 16.37 |
| Museo del Jade | This museum is the place to go to learn about the pre-Columbian jade trade in the region. | adults | 16.51 |
Food and drinks are quite reasonable in price, especially if you speak some Spanish and go to places where the locals eat rather than the restaurants aimed at English speaking tourists.
| Food Type | Description | Price(USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Budget breakfast | If your hotel doesn't include breakfast you'll have plenty of cheap options in the city. | 2.81 - 5.42 |
| Budget lunch | Street stalls are great for cheap local favorites, and there are plenty of smaller casual restaurants as well. | 4.21 - 6.62 |
| Budget dinner | If you want a proper sit-down dinner in San Jose the prices vary considerable, but cheaper options are available. | 6.82 - 11.03 |
| Beer (.33l bottle) | Imperial is the cheap local lager, available at every bar in the city. | 2.21 - 3.41 |
| Guaro (shot) | The cheapest buzz in town is this local sugar-cane alcohol, served straight with a lime wedge. | 0.66 - 1.10 |
| Type | Price(USD) |
|---|---|
| Taxi from airport to city center | 25.80 - 30.96 |
| Public bus from airport to city center | 1.31 |
| 3km taxi ride in San Jose | 5.14 - 7.02 |
| Public bus ride in San Jose | 0.50 - 0.60 |
Renting a car is not suggested here because of how congested traffic can get and bus routes can be a little tricky to understand, so hiring a taxi is by far the best option. You’ll just want to make sure you pay attention and keep your luggage close.
| Month | High F | Low F | Precip (inches) |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 75 | 57 | 0.6 |
| February | 75 | 57 | 0.2 |
| March | 79 | 59 | 0.8 |
| April | 79 | 63 | 1.8 |
| May | 81 | 63 | 9.0 |
| June | 79 | 63 | 9.5 |
| July | 77 | 63 | 8.3 |
| August | 79 | 61 | 9.5 |
| September | 79 | 61 | 12.0 |
| October | 77 | 61 | 11.8 |
| November | 77 | 61 | 5.7 |
| December | 75 | 57 | 1.6 |
San Jose is surrounded by a tropical rain forest, but it’s well above sea level so that moderates the temperatures quite a bit. Temperatures peak during the summer, though the averages are only slightly higher than during winter.
The main thing to be aware of is the rainy season, which lasts from May through November. Rain during this period can come down in buckets and make you run for cover.
The dry season from December through April is slightly cooler, a bit less humid, and busy with tourists.
| 21 Mar | 5:40am | 5:47pm |
| 21 Jun | 5:17am | 5:59pm |
| 21 Sep | 5:26am | 5:33pm |
| 21 Dec | 5:48am | 5:21pm |