At a glance · 5 reasons to go
Why San José, Costa Rica.
San José, in the temperate Central Valley, is Costa Rica’s practical hub — the jumping-off point for both coasts and the cloud forests.
The Gold and Jade museums hold the country’s pre-Columbian treasures; the National Theatre is a belle-époque jewel.
Coffee built the valley — plantation tours at Britt and Doka explain the bean from cherry to cup, with volcano views.
Poás and Irazú, two accessible volcanoes with crater lakes, make easy day trips from the city.
Within a few hours lie Monteverde’s cloud forest, Arenal’s volcano and hot springs, and the wildlife of both coastlines.
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San José, Costa Rica
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Reviewed: 2026-05-23
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