San Jose Costa Rica offers a lot as a tourist destination

If you’re coming to Costa Rica on vacation, chances are you are going to visit at least one or two of the country’s beautiful tropical beaches, possibly a volcano, and probably one or more of the proud nation’s national parks. The destination you may or may not have in your travel itinerary is the capital city of San Jose, Costa Rica.

Most travelers – either on the recommendation of others, or simply due to short vacation time and so much to see – rarely spend more than their first and last nights in San Jose. If that. Tour groups may do a half-day San Jose city tour by bus, but that’s usually the end of it.



This is unfortunate. San Jose Costa Rica has changed in recent years – received a facelift in many ways – and is now an interesting city to visit, full of history, museums, beautiful architecture, restaurants, colorful gardens and sights. New walking streets make the city more pedestrian-friendly. The Costa Rica Tourist Police has an increased presence patrolling the downtown area to make it safer. The Costa Rican government and Costa Rica Tourism Board are working to develop cultural and gastronomic tourism in downtown San Jose.



In addition to cultural attractions like the National Theatre, National Museum and Gold Museum, visitors can enjoy historic buildings in the downtown and neighborhoods like Amón (also a good place for art galleries), and parks such as La Sabana, Morazan and España. The Costa Rica Tourism Board details three San Jose Walking Tours on their website, and TripAdvisor even has a page on the Top Things to Do in San Jose.

Some notable mentions of things to do in San Jose, Costa Rica include flexible bus tours by Costa Rica City Square Tour. Tourists in San Jose, Costa Rica can ride the new private hop-on, hop-off tour bus service that takes them to the city’s main tourist attractions, such as the National Museum, National Theatre, National Children’s Museum and the Costa Rican Art Museum. Bus service, with certified tour guides, runs from 8:45 a.m. to 4 p.m. along eight different routes; buses come around to each stop every 45 minutes on a loop system and you can hop on and hop off wherever you like for as long as you like. Cost is $25 for one day or $40 for two days.


ChepeCletas is a fun, young company offering cycling and walking tours of San Jose, including such variations as a Cantina Tour, Coffee History Tour, Gastronomic Tour of the Central Market. Tour guides speak English and Spanish. Regularly held Art City Tours give free access to cultural and artistic venues on that evening’s program.


Museums and Attractions of San Jose, Costa Rica

• Pre-Columbian Gold Museum: Open Mon - Sun
• National Theatre: Open Mon - Sat
• National Museum: Open Tue - Sun
• Jade Museum: Open Mon - Sun
• Insect Museum: Open Mon – Fri, 1:00-4:45 p.m.
• Calderón Guardia Museum: Open Mon - Sat
• National Culture Center: Open Mon - Fri
• CENAC Museum of Contemporary Art & Design: Open Mon - Sat
• National Library: Open Mon - Fri
• Costa Rican Art Museum: Open Tue - Sun
• Children's Museum: Open Tue - Sun
• Numismatic Museum: Open Mon - Sun

There are an abundance of daily flights to Costa Rica from the U.S., Canada, Europe, and Central and South America into the Juan Santamaria International Airport by San Jose. This time of year is rainy season, and experienced travelers know that means good deals, lower rates in hotels, and fewer crowds.

On your next visit to Costa Rica, be sure to schedule some time in San Jose. Horizontes Nature Tours can help with tours and hotels in San Jose, Costa Rica, along with nature travel, family trips and beach vacations.
Article by Shannon Farley

Nature-themed hotel brings green oasis to urban José Costa Rica

Each neighborhood in San Jose, Costa Rica has its own personality and character. The culturally-rich neighborhood of Barrio Amon in the capital city’s downtown center is urban, eclectic and funky. There are lots of art galleries, restaurants, cafés, bars, museums and cultural attractions.

The Caribbean bus station is close. So is the Costa Rica Center of Science and Culture with the Costa Rica Children’s Museum and National Gallery.

In this busy, urban setting, there is a San Jose hotel that chose to be an oasis of green amid the concrete. Inspired by butterfly gardens and the rainforest, Cocoon Hotel in San Jose, Costa Rica fits right in with the eclectic feel of Barrio Amon.

Cocoon Hotel is celebrating its second anniversary during this month of September, with 35% discounts on all room rates. Low season discounts also are being offered now through December 2014.

You can celebrate with Cocoon Hotel at an anniversary dinner on Friday, Sept. 26, in the fourth floor restaurant of the hotel. Dinner of typical Costa Rican dishes will be accompanied by special drinks prepared by the Cocoon Hotel chef. The intimate event also will feature popular music. The dinner begins at 6:00 p.m. and is open to the public.

As a three-star San Jose, Costa Rica hotel, Cocoon provides good value for comfortable lodging in a well-located spot. The hotel’s 43 single, double and triple occupancy rooms offer flat-screen TV with cable channels, daily room service, safety deposit box, free Wi-Fi and local calls, soundproof windows, and a private bathroom with free toiletries. Rooms may have a fan or air-conditioning; be sure to ask for your preference when making reservations.

They have secure guarded parking and offer other amenities such as a business center, tour desk, currency exchange, hotel bar, and a deli restaurant serving lunch and snacks. Buffet breakfast is included in all room stays. An airport shuttle service is available for an extra fee.

There are always things to do in San José Costa Rica. Don’t miss the XX International Guitar Festival happens in San Jose from Sept. 24 to 28, with performances by fabulous national and international artists at the National Theatre and other downtown San Jose theatres.

Article by Shannon Farley

Fall in love with San Jose Costa Rica

Often dismissed by Costa Rica vacationers as a place to avoid, or to endure only for a layover night, the vibrant capital city of San José, Costa Rica in actuality has a lot to offer visitors.

It is a city of contrasts blending the old world and modern times; expressing its history and culture in art, architecture, interesting museums, theaters, galleries and shops. There are always things to do in San José, Costa Rica: theater performances, concerts, art walk tours, cultural films, gallery exhibits, museum events and cultural fairs. 

There is even a “Fall in Love with Your City” year-round celebration of art, culture and urban parks in San Jose during 2014. Events take place on Saturdays in various parks in downtown San José. You can always find a calendar of current events in the Tico Times every Friday.

One of the best ways to explore the San José Costa Rica attractions is to stay in the city and walk – most museums, galleries and cultural institutions are all within walking distance of each other.

Located in the heart of downtown San José, Cocoon Hotel is a little oasis in the city. The San José Costa Rica hotel is conveniently situated in the stylish Barrio Amon neighborhood near cultural sights and major bus stations.

 Close by is the Costa Rica Center of Science and Culture and the Costa Rica Children’s Museum, which is housed in an old prison that looks now like a fairytale castle. A few blocks away is the Caribbean bus station, which will whisk you away to the beautiful palm tree-lined white sand beaches of Puerto Viejo. Just a few blocks north is the pedestrian walking street of Central Avenue, the Melico Salazar Theatre, Grand Hotel and National Theatre. The Costa Rica National Museum, Jade Museum and Gold Museum are also in close proximity.

Barrio Amon neighborhood was established in 1892 by wealthy residents who built elegant homes. Today, these beautiful old buildings are private residences, hotels, restaurants, offices and art galleries, and comprise one of the most photogenic regions of the city.

Themed like a butterfly garden, Cocoon Hotel features natural décor in green and white with bamboo walls, wooden floors and butterfly photographs. They offer 43 tastefully decorated single, double and triple occupancy rooms, with either air conditioning or ceiling fan. All rooms have private bathrooms with hot water, safety deposit box, flat screen TV with Cable, free Wi-Fi and local calls, and soundproof windows to shut out traffic noise. There is a business center, tour desk, currency exchange, hotel bar, and a deli serving lunch and snacks. Buffet breakfast is included in all room stays. An airport shuttle service is available for an extra fee.

The three-star Cocoon Hotel is one of the best accommodations in San Jose Costa Rica. It serves well as a business hotel and to let you explore the cultural attractions of Costa Rica. Low season discounts are being offered now through December 2014.

Article by Shannon Farley