San Jose Overview.
Nestled in a valley 3.770 feet above sea level, surrounded by a crescent
of mountain peaks, San José combines scenic beauty with an ideal
climate. Temperatures stay at about 70 degrees during the day, year
round, and rainfall is limited to short, refreshing showers from May
to October During the rainy season, showers fall primarily during the
afternoon hours and produce pleasant breezes.
This cosmopolitan capital of Costa Rica contains a smooth blend of modern
skyscrapers and classic architecture. It has a more North American feel
than many other Latin American capitals, with department stores, shopping
malls and fast-food chains. However, it also has excellent museums,
some great restaurants, colorful markets and a vibrant nightlife featuring
live music, dance and two casinos.
Museums, the National Theater, and an elegant cathedral are waiting
to be explored. Below the Plaza of Culture lies the impressive Gold
Museum, The Plaza's museum complex also houses a collection of contemporary
art exhibits.
Costa Rican cuisine is tasty rather than spicy-hot and is centered around
beef, chicken and fish dishes, with rice, corn or beans and fresh fruit
as supplements.
From San José, day trips can be taken to two semi - active volcanoes,
where roads climb to the brink of the craters. Irazú Volcano,
just 35 miles from the capital, towers eight thousand feet above the
Central Valley.
A striking, yellow - green lake fills the volcano's large, principal
crater, and is surrounded by jagged cliffs of sulfur - streaked lava.
Just above the park's visitor area, the road forks and continues to
the summit of the volcano, from which, on a clear day, both the Atlantic
and the Pacific oceans can be seen.
No less impressive is the 8.871 foot Poás Volcano, less than
an hour's drive from San José. The road to the top winds through
fertile hillsides planted with terraced rows of dark green coffee bushes
which look, from a distance, like a patchwork quilt.
Costa Rica is Central America's special jewel. Los Costarricenses (They
call themselves Ticos as an abbreviation of this), are proud of their
country's uniqueness. Costa Rica has a reputation for being an oasis
of calm among its turbulent neighbors. The country's natural attractions,
wildlife and reputation for enlightened conservation draw tourists and
scholars from all over the world. Successive governments have preserved
the country's reputation in the field of ecotourism, making Costa Rica
one of the leading places to experience the tropics naturally and with
minimal impact.
San José is home to nearly a third of Costa Rica's population.
It is a busy city, but also one in which there are places to relax and
enjoy the colorful collage of activities that make up city life.
There are many tree shaded parks throughout the city. There are opportunities
for a stroll along garden paths and through museums to enjoy the beauty
of art treasures. There are places to visit with children at a leisurely
pace. There is no pressure to rush or to do everything in a day. It
is a city to savor, to absorb in gradual, satisfying stages.
There are many unforgettable moments awaiting travelers making their
way through Costa Rica. Begin them in San José and enjoy the
country to the fullest!
Population:
333,000 (including suburbs:1.3 million)
Elevation:
3,773 feet
People:
96% Spanish descent, 2% African descent, 1% indigenous Indians, 1% Chinese
Language:
Spanish, Creole English and Indian dialects
Religion:
85% Roman Catholic, 14% Protestant
Government:
Democracy
Hospital:
Clinica Biblica: Calle Central y Calle Primera, Avenida 14 506.257.5252
Emergency Contacts:
Ambulance:
911 or 128
Police:
911 or 127
Fire:
911, 118, or 223.8055
Time Zone:
GMT/UTC minus 6 hours. this translates to being the same as Central
Standard Time. When it is noon in New York City, it is 11:00am in San
José.
In San José the nights are cool and the days warm.
Average Temperatures (In Fahrenheit):
High Low
January - March 79F 58F
April - June 80F 62F
July - September 79F 61F
October - December 77F 60F
Rainfall:
January - 0.6
February - 0.2
March - 0.8
April - 1.8
May - 9.0
June - 9.5
July - 8.3
August - 9.5
September - 12.0
October - 11.8
November - 5.7
December - 1.6
Electricity:
110V, 60 Hz
Weights & measures:
Metric
National and Local Holidays:
Jan. 1 - New Year's Day
Jan.15 - Martin Luther King's Birthday
Feb. 19 - President's Day
Apr. 11 - Juan Santamaria
Apr. 12 - Holy Thursday
Apr. 13 - Good Friday
May 1 - Labor Day (Costa Rica)
May 28 - Memorial Day
Jul. 4 - Independence Day (US)
Jul. 25 - Annexation of Guanacaste
Aug. 2 - Our Lady of Los Angeles
Aug. 15 - Assumption Day (Mother's Day)
Sept. 3 - Labor Day (US)
Oct. 8 - Columbus Day
Oct. 15 - Cultures Day
Nov. 12 - Veteran's Day
Nov. 22 - Thanksgiving Day
Dec. 25 - Christmas Day
Telephone:
Country Code 506 . City codes not required. All numbers have 7 digits.
E Mail:
There is a company that offers e-mail services in downtown San José.
Kitcom is two blocks north of the Plaza de la Cultura in the OTEC building.
RACSA, a subsidiary of the national Communications Company, ICE, provides
full access to the WWW, Telnet, Email and News groups. The price is
per month for 25 hours of on-line time. Additional time can be purchased
per hour.
Passports & Visas:
A valid passport is required to enter Costa Rica. There is no visa requirement
for US tourists, who can enter for stays of up to 90 days. Additional
information on entry requirements may be obtained from the Consular
Section of the Embassy of Costa Rica at 2114 S Street, N.W., Washington,
D.C. 20008, telephone (202) 328-6628.
Banking:
Open weekdays 9:00 - 3:00. Closed Saturdays and Sundays. All major credit
cards are accepted in almost all hotels, stores, restaurants and car
rental agencies. It is increasingly easy to find ATMs, though some banks,
like branches of Banco Nacional, accept cards held by their customers
only.
Tipping:
You don't usually need to bother with tipping at restaurants, as most
add a 10% tip (plus 15% tax) to the bill.
Getting There & Away:
International flights arrive at San José's Juan Santamaria international
There are good connections to US and Canadian cities and several Latin
and South American countries.. There is a departure tax of around US$17
on international flights (Have $20 available)
It's possible to travel overland to Costa Rica from the USA, crossing
Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. The nearest US town is Brownsville,
Texas, 2480mi away. Overlanders can either catch a series of public
buses (these are not known for comfort and may not be modern or driven
by professionals.) or drive their own car.
Getting Around:
There are two domestic airlines: SANSA and Travelair. Demand for seats
is high, so try to book as far in advance as possible.
Taxis:
Before entering the taxi, please check the following: Prices from San
Jose to the airport vary s and the meter is not used so establish the
price before leaving.
Buses:
Bus service throughout San Jose and all over Costa Rica is good, and
can be an economical and interesting way to see the country. For bus
schedules consult the ICT tourist office at Plaza de la Cultura in San
Jose. Also if you are staying at any lodging facility the bilingual
staff will be happy to assist you. All buses have their fare prices
written on placards above the windshield, inside the bus.
Rental Cars:
Most rental car agencies require a credit card.
Tips on Driving in Costa Rica:
When in San Jose or other cities, most streets are one-way, and unfortunately
you can not tell this ahead of time. The best way to avoid this is to
observe which way the traffic is heading before turning onto a street.
Try to avoid driving at night and remember Costa Rica is an agricultural
country and there may be animals and farm equipment on the road at all
hours. There has been numerous complaints from tourists who have rented
cars and are stopped by traffic officers and pressured to pay "fines"
on the spot, sometimes as much as $100. "In no case should anyone
pay money. Drivers can only receive a ticket. They don't have to pay
one cent," said the Ministry of Public Works and Transport, which
oversees the Transit Police. If a policeman insists on being paid, insist
on being given a ticket. If you are pressured to pay something, take
down the policeman's name , badge number and send a letter of complaint
to the Ministry of Public Works and Transport as well as the Costa Rican
Tourist Institute, and be sure to give his name to your rent-a-car company.
For more information on San Jose, Costa Rica visit
the below pages:
San Jose Overview | San
Jose Attractions
Travel Info:
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| Belize | Honduras
| Guatemala | Nicaragua
| El Salvador