Sights and Attractions of San Jose, Costa Rica By David H. Urmann At Isnare.com Ezine Articles

San Jose is the largest and the capital city of Costa Rica. It was founded in 1738 and has evolved into a modern city. It has a busy commercial life, dynamic culture and a much improved tourism industry. It is no wonder that it has become a major tourist destination of foreign visitors.

San Jose is the seat of the Costa Rican political government. It is also the center of the country’s commercial and cultural life. It is located at the heart of the Gran Area Metropolitana (or GAM) in the highland of the Central Valley of Costa Rica. Around it are magnificent green mountains and valleys.

The city has a relatively warm climate with temperatures that usually stay from 70 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Thus, at certain times of the year, some tourists appreciate the respite it offers from the cold climate of the temperate countries. The southern parts of San Jose extend into rural areas and rain forests that Costa Rica is well-known for. These are the Talamanca Mountain Ranges.

You can find the airport, embassies of other countries, museums, hotels, restaurants, big and small business establishments and the Universidad de Costa Rica in the City of San Jose.

San Jose has some of the more scenic and magnificent sties and attractions around. For one, the very interesting Museo Oro Precolombino (Gold Museum) holds more than 1,600 parts of gold artifacts that date back from around 500 AD to 1500 AD.

The Poas Volcano and the Botos Lagoon, part of the National Park, is very near San Jose. It is an active volcano with dense forests around the crater, making the area one of the most visited places in the country.

The Insect Museum inside the Universidad de Costa Rica contains an extensive collection of exotic bugs and insects. The guided tour here will prove to be a short but fruitful learning trip.

Theater lovers would find the Teatro Nacional de Costa Rica (National Theater of Costa Rica), the Cathedral and the Melico Salazar Theatre very interesting. These are the regular venues of cultural presentations, depicting both the old and modern cultures of Costa Rica. Various presentations such as concerts, operas, cultural presentations and the like are being held here all year round.

Nature lovers can look forward to going to Lankester Botanical Gardens which can be found at the outskirts of San José. Bring your family to Pueblo Antigo, the famous theme park in town. There are also other museums modeled after 19th century San José and the ones located inside a massive complex called Parque de Diversiones de Costa Rica. Likewise, in the north of the city is a community called Barrio Amon which is the location of old and historic buildings having architectural importance to the country.

Tourists who love the night life will also enjoy the numerous bars, clubs and restaurants that line El Pueblo’s picturesque cobblestone streets. These are also within walking distances from hotels and resorts. Nightlife can last from 9 o’clock in the evening until the wee hours of dawn.

Foreigners should never miss the local coffee which is served in a typical Costa Rican way. This can be bought in some coffee shops along the downtown area.

There are several hotels in San Jose which can serve the needs of tourists very well. We enlist a few options here. First is the Inca Real Hotel located along the Amon neighborhood, just inside the city’s tourist center. It is very near shopping districts, museums, bars, bus stations, and restaurants. Rooms are provided with TVs, Internet access, coffee makers, telephones and private baths.

The Ramada Plaza Herradura Hotel offers shuttle services to and from the International airport. It has 3 restaurants manned by award-winning chefs, a golf course that is open to guests, providing free transportation and daily breakfast as well. Rooms have Internet access, coffeemakers, cable TVs, hairdryers and so much more, depending on the preferred services.

The Casa Conde Apartotel is a four-star hotel located near Park La Pax and the popular Mall San Pedro. It is 30 minutes away from the airport. It is designed like a private island; hence, visitors can feel secure and safe in the hotel. It has a swimming pool, restaurant, bar, Jacuzzi and sauna. Free transportation to and from the airport is provided for the guests. The rooms are completely furnished and provided with TVs, kitchens, laundry machines, microwave ovens and many more.

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