San José is Costa Rica’s capital city. It serves as both the transportation and industrial hub of the country. Nearly everyone who visits Costa Rica will pass through San José. All busses and roads passthrough, heading for other destinations. The capital is in the center of the country. It serves as the major transportation hub with more than a million people visiting daily.
Most travelers will take a day and get used to arriving in a new country. San José is in the mid-west of the Central Valley and the capital of the San José Canton. San José is the seat of Costa Rica’s national government. The focal point of political and economic activity.
Founded in 1736, by order of Cabildo de León, it’s named after Joseph of Nazareth, or “Saint Joseph”. The city did not have an official government until the enactment of the Constitution of Cádiz in 1812. In 1813, San José was finally defined as a city by the Spanish government.
A year later, the official city title would get stripped. Ferdinand VII of Spain annulled the court proceedings. The municipal government and city title were later restored, in 1820. Then in 1823, for the first time, San José became the countries capital. The city is of strategic importance. Because of this, it served as the capital on three separate occasions.
San José experienced an economic and, population boom, with improvements to water infrastructure. It increased again, with the installment of a Tobacco Factory in 1782. Wealth accumulated by the tobacco plantations, allowed San José to surpass neighboring provinces.
Climate Expectations
This city is in a Tropical region, featuring a wet and dry climate. It’s hot year-round, with spikes as high as 34.5°C (94.1°F) in both January and April. The average temperature varies little, from 27°C (80.6°F) in October to 30°C (86°F) in May. The wet season extends May through November and correlates with the Hurricane season. While dry season fills in the gaps for the rest of the year.
The population continued to increase into the 18th century, through colonial planning. It was different than the traditional plans throughout Central America. As of 2020, San José supports a cool 1.45 million inhabitants. These population booms are a major reason why San José is a modern city. One that is bustling in commerce with brisk expressions of art and architecture.
Things To Do
The city is a major stopover destination, driven by a thriving tourism industry. San José offers activities for every type of traveler. Choose between visiting a wide variety of parks and plazas. See a plethora of fountains, gazebos, green open spaces, lakes, recreation areas, sculptures, and statues. There’s a world class zoo, botanical garden, and a few conservation/rescue centers as well.
Where to Eat
When looking around for food, keep an eye out for the places called, a “Soda”. A “Soda” is the place to go for Costa Rican food at an affordable rate. It’s where all the locals eat. This includes a full plate of food, with gallos pinto (rice and beans), meat, cabbage salad, fried plantains, and tortillas. Plates cost between $3 and $5 USD, creating big savings from regular restaurants.
Getting Here
Getting here is simple. As mentioned, all transportation in the country passes through San José. It’s one of the easiest destinations to visit. There’s a bus that travels to the city, from the Nicaraguan border and vice versa. Unfortunately, I failed to ask the price when passing through. Thus, cannot provide accurate information on said price.
Instead, I took a bus to Liberia. This allowed me to break up a long day of travel. If coming from Liberia, the bus costs 4,525 Colón’s ($6.54). There’s also the option of a rental car and using Google Maps. This would be a little more expensive, but it’d also give the freedom to drive anywhere in the country, at any time.
Nomad America
If a rental sounds like your cup of tea, then check out Nomad America. My group of four split one of these for 10 days. They’re affordable and include everything needed for camping, and I mean everything! It comes with a tote box stocked full of a kitchen and all utensils for up to four people. It also includes a yeti style cooler, hammocks, and a Costa Rica guidebook.
Nomad America includes first aid kits, an AC/DC outlet for charging electronics, and a local phone for navigation. They include one rooftop tent, one ground tent, a rooftop shower, camp lights, lanterns, and an easy-to-use awning. They even offer rental equipment. Such as snorkel gear, surfboards, and portable Wi-Fi at a small fee.
Nomad America is so great that they offer a free airport shuttle service as well. The free pickup, and drop off, are between 8 am and 5 pm. They recommend getting accommodations for the night when arriving after office hours. Get a good night’s sleep and start the trip refreshed, the next day.
Prices vary depending on size selection. Each vehicle offers a unique, and different experience. They include high rated 4×4 capabilities, with an engine snorkel for crossing rivers. The smallest price is $80 per day, and the choice between a Suzuki Jimmy and a Toyota Prado. The medium size is $95 per day, and the choice between a Toyota Hilux, a Nissan Xterra, or a Toyota FJ Cruiser. The largest size costs $110 per day, and the choice between a Land Rover Defender and a Jeep Wrangler.
My Experience
Our experience with Nomad America couldn’t have been any smoother. They were at the airport to pick up my friends right on time. We are very experienced campers. Because of this, we planned for needing extra things and wayyyy over packed. We brought blankets, pillows, along with several other things provided by Nomad America. When I said that they provide everything, I wasn’t kidding.
This is a destination that is a little difficult for me to recommend what to do and see. In total, I only spent 10 days in Costa Rica. We spent as much time as possible away from city centers. Our limited experience in San José was stocking up on groceries, eating lunch, and driving to La Fortuna. We skipped out of dodge as quick as possible.
Our time in San José was quite limited. My experience was nothing more than a quick pass through. Although, I did find the city to look interesting. It’s considered the most dangerous place in the country. But that should not be a surprise. It’s a big city and that tends to be the case, in specific areas, of most major cities.
Final Thoughts
Any trip to Costa Rica will be hard pressed to miss out on the capital city. All public transportation passes through. It’s not the most picturesque destination. Yet, it includes access to some of the best nature in the region. It’s a great destination to base out of, for a couple of days, while exploring nearby National Parks. Next time I come through, I’ll be sure to stop in and see what San José is all about.
Quick Notes:
- Save money by eating at local restaurants called “Sodas” for a full plate of food between $3-5
- Bus from Liberia to San José: 4,525 Colón’s ($6.54 USD)
- Rent a 4×4 vehicle with everything needed with Nomad America for $80, $95, or $115 per day (Highly Recommended)
