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Cosmopolitan San José lies to an altitude of 3.770 feet above sea level. This Central American city with nearly perfect climate, modern surroundings and warm, friendly residents has lured many travelers to stay and call it home. Daytime temperatures average between 70 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit with a rainy season that lasts from May to October. During the rainy season, showers fall primarily during the afternoon hours and produce refreshing breezes. The Central Valley in which San José finds itself is the central nervous system of the country. Government, finance and economic sectors all headquarters is sleek San José. Many visitors to the capital city will find themselves pleasantly surprised by the smooth blend of modern skyscrapers and classic architecture. If there is one city that is pleasure to walk through, it is San José. San José is home to nearly a third of Costa Rica's population. The bustling streets can attest to that figure in the early morning hours when everyone is heading to work. But don't be intimidated by the rush - head on out among them and take in the sights as you walk along. Before you begin your walking tour (taking it on foot is the best way to really experience the hustle and the beauty), be sure to visit the offices of the ICT, the Costa Rica Institute of Tourism. Here you can pick up a comprehensive map of the city of San José and of Costa Rica. Personnel here can point you in the right direction of several city sights as well as provide you with a bus route and schedule for sights that are farther away. The city offers a variety of sights for the visitor. Museums, the National Theater, and elegant cathedral are waiting to be explored. Below the Plaza of Culture lies the impressive Gold Museum, as well as the offices of ICT. The Plaza's museum complex also houses a collection of contemporary art exhibits. he Gold Museum houses an impressive collection of pre - Columbian gold objects including jewelry, breast plates and even gold tweezers! The displays are as informative as they are appealing. You will see how the indigenous worked their gold using wax and solid casting methods. Try not to miss this wonderful museum! When you want to visit an outdoor sight, head for the National Zoo which boasts some of Costa Rica's native species as well as a few from far away lands. Or head for one of the many tree - shaded parks found throughout the city. Take a stroll along the path or take a few minutes rest on a beach. Needless to say, there is a great variety of hotels and restaurants available for visitors intent on staying a few days in the city. All offer typical Tico hospitality and comfortable lodging. From San José, day trips can be taken up two semi - active volcanoes, where roads climb to the very brink of the craters! Irazú Volcano, just 35 miles from the capital, towers eight thousand feet above the Central Valley. With an altitude of 11.260 feet, the summit is chilly enough to warrant using a sweater or jacket. Although often Irazú's fumarolic activity cannot be seen because of clouds, a strong sulfur smell permeates the air, a subtle reminder of the subterranean forces pent up just below your feet. A striking, yellow - green lake fills the volcano's large, principal crater, and is surrounded by jagged cliffs of sulfur - streaked lava. Just above the park's visitor area, the road forks and continues to the very summit of the volcano, from which, on a clear day, both the Atlantic and the Pacific oceans can be seen. No less impressive is the 8.871 foot Poás Volcano, less than an hour's drive from San José. The road to the top winds through fertile hillsides planted with terraced rows of dark - green coffee bushes which look, from a distance, like a patchwork quilt. At the top of Poás, tourists may wander through a National Park visitors center and hike about a half - mile of nature trails. There are many activities that await travelers making their way through Costa Rica. Begin them in San José and enjoy the country to the fullest! |
Central Valley
