San José is the capital of Costa Rica, it is on a plateau in the Central Valley at 1500 meters elevation. It is ringed by lush green mountains and valleys. It is the hub of the country. Important places in the city include the Banco Central de Costa Rica building, the Banco Nacional building (much taller than other buildings nearby, giving the city its particular skyline), La Sabana Metropolitan Park, Avenida Central (a pedestrian thoroughfare and one of the major commercial areas in the city). The Central Park and the Plaza de la Cultura are visited by thousands of workers and tourists every day. The Teatro Nacional de Costa Rica (National Theatre of Costa Rica), Melico Salazar Theatre, and the Cathedral are other landmarks in the central area. In the south, the Clínica Bíblica (a private hospital) and the Pacific Train Station are important buildings.

Tourist Offices
There is a Canatur info desk at the Juan Santamaría airport.

Dangers and Annoyances
It is advisable to use taxis even for extremely short distances. Visitors to the heart of San José should pay particular attention due to lax policing and the presence of gangs, some of which have operated with impunity for years. Tourists are advised to carry only as much cash as is required and to leave credit cards in a safe at their hotel. The traffic is dangerous. Cars don't stop for pedestrians, and they generally drive fast. The area around the Coca Cola Bus Terminal is not safe at night, and you should watch your belongings at all times in the city.

More passports are stolen in Costa Rica than any other country. Crime is a serious problem, so be constantly on the alert. Also, police may stop you and take you to jail for not carrying your passport.

Around and closeby
At trip to Jacó, on the Pacific Coast, is a delight although the highway that goes there is not a superhighway. Surfing is great, and since many young chefs are surfers, you can get some really great dining at amazingly low prices. A little farther down the coast, a stop at Manuel Antonio National Park is a must.

Sightseeing
El Pueblo is a mix of more than fifty bars, clubs, restaurants, art galleries and shops. Lining the picturesque cobblestone streets, within walking distance of several hotels and resorts, it is a lively place, open from 9pm until dawn, which caters to many tourists.

You can also visit the Butterfly farm, the Coffee farm and the Volcanoes.

Getting there
Juan Santamaría Airport is located in Alajuela 17km from the centre of San José.

There is a local bus stop outside the airport, but you might have to change buses to get to the city centre. The taxis gladly take dollars, but the local bus only takes colones.

There is a decent, if busy, road from the airport to down town San José. You can rent a car at the airport. Some say that driving is a little hectic in Costa Rica.

Buses from Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panamá arrive in San José. TicaBus is one company that offers connections between the main cities of each country. Their buses are comfortable, air-conditioned coaches, usually offering films in English on board.

Of course most local buses start or end here. There are several bus terminals in San José. It is important to know which bus terminal serves your bus route. There is no pattern to this.

Getting around
Taxis are generally cheap. All taxis should have a meter. The fare starts at 350 colones. Basically a couple dollars, which they will accept, will get you anywhere in the city. Be aware that it is close to useless to give a taxi driver an exact street address. You have to point out some well-known building, park or hotel close to where you are going. Often there are no street signs and addresses are difficult to find, so be sure you know where you are going or you could get lost very easily.

The Bus system is reliable, comfortable, extensive, and very cheap. It costs about $5 to travel from San José to the Nicoya Penisula.