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San Jose is the capital city of Costa Rica, a country with beautiful national parks and rich culture. San Jose is a common stopover for tourists because it’s close to Costa Rica’s main airport. From here, you can easily catch public buses to explore nearby towns, making it a convenient starting point for your travels.

 

Read my San Jose Costa Rica Solo Trip post further to get more helpful information on what to do in San Jose, where to stay in San Jose, Costa Rica, how to get around, how to travel to La Fortuna, and more.

San Jose Costa Rica Solo Trip

How to Get Around in San Jose

Getting around San Jose is relatively easy, with a handful of different options to consider. Here are some of the most popular ways to get around the city below:

• Uber
• Taxi
• Public buses
• Rental cars

I recommend a mix of these options depending on where in the city you’d like to go. Especially with the public bus system being one of South America’s best public transportation systems, most tourists and locals start there. Typically, several routes will take you steps away from a variety of popular stops, such as the Plaza de la Cultura.

 

To note, there are local buses you can take from San Jose to La Fortuna (as I also mentioned further), and there are even some that can take you to the nearby Arenal Volcano. You can also hire a private shuttle if you wish, but this comes with a heftier price tag (starting from $54).

Where to Stay in San Jose, Costa Rica

When I arrived in San Jose, I checked into the Capital Hostel de Ciudad. Unfortunately, after reading all the great reviews online, I was surprised to find out the property did not live up to the high expectations.

 

When booking, I opted for the “private” room with a shared bathroom, which seemed reasonable at the time. However, this proved to be a terrible mistake, as the bathroom was shared with my rowdy neighbors, who were constantly using the bathroom and kept me up most of the night. In addition, the incredibly noisy locking and unlocking of the shared door made it awful.

 

With no options to eat nearby and my arrival being in the late evening, I decided a quick trip to a local grocery store would be my best bet. After finding a supermarket with multiple 5-star reviews, I ordered an Uber to head to the store but was surprised to see the address was for a supermarket that no longer existed.

 

Thankfully, the driver was kind enough to help me find a different one and took me there to grab what I needed. Unfortunately, when I was finally back at the hostel, I was kept awake due to my neighbor’s dogs barking non-stop the entire night. After a terrible night of noise and chaos, I decided to book myself into another hotel in hopes of actually sleeping through the night. So, I recommend skipping this hostel and opting for a hotel if that would ever be a similar case!

 

Hotels to Stay in San Jose, Costa Rica

• Hotel Casa 69, San Jose
• Selina, San Jose
• Isla Verde, San Jose
• Park Inn by Radisson, San Jose

• Hotel Casa Roland San José

What to Do in San Jose

There are many places to visit in San Jose, Costa Rica, which are more related to volcanoes or food. So why not start your Costa Rica vacation with a bit of adventure instead?

 

With so many options and things to see in San Jose and near, you might want to book a tour to get the most out of your days in the city. I planned on checking out a few times while there but ended up opting for one tour that took us ATV riding. I think that is one of the best Adventure tours near San Jose Costa Rica.

 

Book your ATV Adventure and Crocodiles tour here.

 

I’ll admit it was a bit scary at first, having never ridden an ATV before this, but after the initial nervousness, I got more comfortable driving and even could add quite a bit of speed. This tour was a tad bit pricey ($145 at the time), especially given that it didn’t include lunch (only water and a variety of fruit), but it felt like a truly unique experience and worth the price. And at the end of the tour, we spotted some crocodiles from the bridge!

 

For adventure seekers looking for more of a nature-forward stop, you can head just 14 miles outside of the city to Arenal Volcano. Although deemed to be resting since 2010, Arenal was once the country’s most active volcano. Nowadays, you can safely tour the volcano that stands 5,437 feet tall. Most travelers travel via a local bus to the volcano, which departs from the city center.

 

San Jose, Costa Rica Excursions

Are you looking to spend more time in the city of San Jose? Then, you can head to the Teatro Nacional Costa Rica to tour this unique museum focused on the architectural and artistic history of the country. A favorite with those wanting to dive more into the city’s culture. This is always a top spot for tourists and locals alike!

 

Museum fans enjoy both the Pre-Columbian Gold Museum, where you can see all the ornate artifacts and unique jewelry of generations past, and the Jade Museum, a favorite with fashion and history buffs.

Shopping in San Jose

How can a San Jose, Costa Rica vacation end without shopping, right?!

If looking for a place to shop, almost everyone can agree the Multiplaza Escazu is the best place to go. There, you will find various fashion and clothing stores and many other retailers. While there, I was happy to see some of the European stores I know and love, such as Bershka, Pull&Bear, Stradivarius, and a handful of others.

How to Stay Safe in San Jose

You might have a question Is san jose costa rica safe for tourists? Well, generally, yes. but with some precautions. For example, Downtown San Jose is not the best place to explore on foot, as many sketchy people are looking for tourists as easy targets to rob and pickpocket. That said, this area is not a place to explore alone, especially after dark.

 

From experience, I was walking down the street with my phone out taking photos and was approached by a woman who warned me the area was dangerous and that it was unsafe to have my phone outside my purse. Upon hearing this, I immediately placed my phone back in my wallet, spent about 15 more minutes in the area, and happily left.

 

Another area to be extra careful around is Parque Central, as the area just south of the park is a red-light district famous for illicit drug use and sex workers. Besides this, be mindful of your belongings and surroundings, and you will be wonderful. Trust your gut and follow your instincts if you start to feel uncomfortable!

 

How to Go From San Jose to La Fortuna

If traveling to San Jose from La Fortuna, a small town just northwest of San Jose, most recommend you hop on the public bus, and for only $3, you can make your way into the city.

 

You can quickly go to the bus station in La Fortuna and catch the bus, but the thing is that the schedule can be changed sometimes and not updated online. For example, I was planning to take a direct bus at 12:45 pm to San Jose, but I found out later there was no bus. So instead, I took a bus to the San Carlos bus terminal and took another bus onwards to San Jose from there. The entire trip took roughly 4 hours in total.

 

The nice thing about the bus going directly through the city of San Jose is the ability to hop off anywhere, which makes getting around very easy. For example, I was heading to a local hospital, la Biblica, to take a COVID test, and since it was very close to one of the bus stops, I could hop off and take an Uber the rest of the way.

 

Related article

La Fortuna, Costa Rica.

 

Common FAQs About San Jose

• Is San Jose easy to explore by foot or do I need a car? Considering you are staying in touristy areas, you can just walk and no car is needed. But in general, it’s better to use a bus to navigate in San Jose or have a car.
• Is it safe to walk at night in San Jose? No, I would avoid it at all.
• Is Costa Rica safe to travel alone? Yes, it is a generally safe destination
• Does everyone speak English in San Jose? No, since the official language in San Jose is Spanish most people speak Spanish, but people who work in the tourism industry speak English as well.
• Is there a beach in San Jose? Unfortunately, no, there is no beach in San Jose Costa Rica. But you can make a day trip to the nearest Playa Jaco beach which is only about 45 minutes away from San Juan.

 

Final Thoughts

San Jose is a beautiful city to explore and serves as a great starting point for your journey in Costa Rica. From culture and history to daring volcanoes and breathtaking landscapes, this area truly has something for every traveler. Highly recommend a visit to this area to everyone and would love to hear the stories of your travels here!

 

Have you been to San Jose before? If yes, what tours in San Jose, Costa Rica, did you like best? Feel free to share in the comment section below.

 

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