San Jose travel guide

Most tourists don’t gush about their stay in San José, Costa Rica’s modest capital city. It’s not that the high-rise hotels, dramatic volcanic backdrop, and cheerfully chaotic markets are unpleasant, at all. It simply isn’t the pristine rainforest advertised in all the brochures (though flocks of parrots do compete with the pigeons downtown).

If you can set aside your preconceptions, Chepe (a common nickname for San José), as Ticos (Costa Ricans) fondly call the city, is the cultural, political, and transportation hub of the country. With great museums and the nation’s best dining and nightlife scene, there’s plenty to keep you occupied. Plus, San José is within a few hours of national parks, coffee plantations, beaches, hot springs, and more.