Details About San Jose, Costa Rica

San Jose is the heart of Costa Rica. It is located in the Central Valley Region, and has a population of around 350,000 inhabitants. The surrounding suburbs and major cities of Alajuela, Heredia, and Cartago help to make up over a third of the entire population of Costa Rica. San Jose was founded in 1738, which makes it one of the youngest capitals in all of Latin America. It has become a bustling modern city, and continues to grow at a substantial pace.

View Real Estate in or Around San Jose.
Or view homes for rent in or Around San Jose.

San Jose has many famous landmarks, but the most intriguing is probably the Teatro Nacional de Costa Rica.  This beautiful building was constructed in 1897, and initially open with a performance of Faust. The theater is one of the most visited tourist attractions in the city, and still holds regular performances several times a week. The National Orchestra performs here, and includes both local and foreign composers. These performances attract many tourists, as they are of the highest quality and also, affordable.

San Jose is serviced by Juan Santamaria International Airport which is located about 15 miles to the  west of the downtown area. There are direct flights from many North American cities with flight times ranging from 3-5 hours. If purchased in advance, most round trip flights from the USA are very affordable in the $500.00 per ticket range.

There are many ways to get around in San Jose, whether it be by bus, taxi, or rental car. Travelling by bus is the most affordable means of transportation, and San Jose has an extensive bus system, but it can also be very confusing to someone not familiar with the routes. Taxis are affordable in San Jose when compared to most North American cities, but most drivers do not speak English, and the communication barrier could easily lead to a longer ride than anticipated. For those that are a little more daring and that enjoy more freedom to roam, renting a car is the best option. However, be prepared for a hectic pace of driving that most North Americans are simply not accustomed to. You will not see many people chatting on a cell phone while driving, as the frantic nature of driving in San Jose is not conducive to any type of distraction.

San Jose has a very active nightlife, and many North Americans come here just for this. Prostitution is legal in Costa Rica, but any acts that involve minors are prosecuted to the full extent of the law. Costa Rican authorities are very clear in their zero tolerance approach to sex with minors. If a person is even suspected of engaging in this type of behavior, they can be held without bail for up to a year. Prostitutes are required to carry a card that has current information about their health, and most establishments that cater to these prostitutes will require them to provide this information before entering.

San Jose is quickly becoming a hub for technology related industry as well. Intel produces a large volume of their chips here, and chose Costa Rica because of its excellent educational system. With the passing of the new CAFTA referendum, it is inevitable that more large corporations will soon be adding San Jose to their list for global expansion. The future looks bright for San Jose.