Being the most highly populated province in Costa Rica, San Jose is located on the Central Valley of Costa Rica, extending to the northeast over the Central Mountain Range and surrounded by national parks and forest reserves. The temperature in San Jose and the central valley ranges between 15°C and 30°C with variations mainly due to the position toward the mountains and the altitude, which ranges from 800 to 1.500 meters

Founded in 1738, the city of San Jose is one of the youngest capital cities in Latin America.  Nowadays it’s a modern city with bustling commerce and diverse expressions of art and architecture, becoming a significant destination and stopover for travelers.  Shopping, museums, restaurants and natural attractions are closed hand while staying at San Jose.  Due to its strategic location, we recommend San Jose as a great starting or ending point while traveling in Costa Rica, either for departing on multi-day excursions out of the central valley or taking advantage of one day tour activities to nearby locations.

Visitors may partake on several one day activities departing from the city of San Jose, visiting nearby National Parks and volcanoes or active adventures such as canopy tours and white water rafting expeditions.  The area is an ideal location to be used as base for a great variety of multi-day travel program packages available through Wellness Latin America.

Highlights

There is a wide variety of museums in the central ranging from Per-Columbian art displays in the Gold Museum up to the Children´s museum in San Jose. Most of them are located in downtown San Jose and are accessible on a walking distance. Some of the most important ones are:

National Museum
Being a former fortress from the 1948 revolution, this renovated building contains exhibits on Pre-Columbian art, religious art and general history of Costa Rica. In addition, the garden courtyard offers visitors a pleasant view of downtown San Jose.  The National Museum is located on Street 17, between Central and second avenue. Open Tuesday through Saturday 8:30 am – 4:30 pm. Sundays 9:00 am – 4:30 pm

Gold Museum
Located in downtown San Jose, it is considered to hold the best collection of Pre-Colombian gold artifacts with thousands of different samples. The pieces in the collection date from 500 B.C. up to 1600 A.D., when the new world was discovered by Christopher Columbus. Artifacts range from simple round earrings to intricately worked representations of local fauna. Tastefully exhibited with great lighting and clear concise descriptions, the museum opens a window into the past and into lives of those indigenous groups that lived in Costa Rica. Located under the Plaza de la Cultura between Central and second avenue on 5th street. Open Monday through Sunday from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm.

Costa Rican Art Museum
This museum exhibits a permanent collection of Costa Rica´s most highly recognized artistic achievements. The building which contains this exhibits’ use to be the control tower of the country international airport back in 1960´s. Located on the eastern end of La Sabana Metropolitan Park. Open Tuesday through Saturday from 10:00 am – 5:00 pm.

Children´s Museum
Located in downtown San Jose, this museum is unlike any other found in Costa Rica or Central America. At one time an old military prison, this building was converted into an interactive and educational experience for its children, thus sending a message that the future of the country should be based on the education and care of its children. Located on street 4 avenue 9. Open Tuesday through Friday 8:00 am – 4:00 pm, Saturday and Sunday 9:30 am – 5:00 pm.

National Theater
Modeled after the art deco style of Paris Opera House, the National Theater construction was completed in 1897 and declared national monument on 1965. Legend says that the theater was built after the world-renowned prima donna Adelina Patti refused to perform in Costa Rica due to the lack of a proper theater. In the wake of this rebuff, Costa Rica´s coffee barons commissioned the construction of the theater financed with a tax on every bag of coffee.

This 1040 seat theater is extremely exquisite with its vaulted ceilings decorated with detailed paintings of mythological deities and a large 85 light chandelier. The foyer and main lobby are decorated with paintings by classical Italian artists such as Vespasiano Bignami and gilded with real gold-leafed mahogany furniture. Currently the theater is opened for local and international stage productions. Located on Second Avenue between streets 3 & 5.