San Jose

Introduction

San José is Costa Rica's capital and largest city, and the seat of its national government. It sits in the center of the country, in the mid-west of the Central Valley, where it serves as the focal point of political and economic activity and as a major transportation hub. The city is named in honor of Joseph of Nazareth.

San José is itself one of Costa Rica's cantons, and together with neighbouring central valley cantons such as Alajuela, Heredia and Cartago it forms the country's Greater Metropolitan Area. For travellers, that makes the city both a destination in its own right and the natural base for exploring the wider valley.

Three days in San Jose

Day one: Base yourself in San José and get your bearings in the Central Valley. The capital sits within the Greater Metropolitan Area, and from here you can plan the rest of your three days around the surrounding cities of Alajuela, Heredia and Cartago, each with its own character within the metropolitan sprawl.

Day two: Head out into the wider Central Valley, using San José as your starting point. The neighbouring cities of Alajuela, Heredia and Cartago are all part of the Greater Metropolitan Area, so you can move between them without straying far from the capital.

Day three: Return to San José and spend your final day in the city itself. Named after Joseph of Nazareth, it remains the anchor of the Central Valley and the natural place to end a short stay in Costa Rica before moving on.