"Pleasant, but don't dawdle here" a San José Travel Page by zrim

By default most visitors to Costa Rica will spend some time in San Jose since it is home to the one major airport in the country. It has very pleasant weather due to its relatively high elevation (around 3000 feet). But the city itself is not all that exciting. It was made the capital city shortly after Costa Rica gained its independence in the 1830s. Therefore, San Jose does not really have the impressive old Spanish colonial style buildings. There are a few monuments, a couple of little parks and the usual skyscrapers. Downtown you will find crowds and diesel fumes. San Jose is fine for a quick exploration, but I would advise against scheduling any more than an afternoon in the city. The real charm of Costa Rica is found in the countryside.