Overview
Take a trip to San Jose on your Costa Rica Vacation
Located in Costa Rica’s Central Valley, San José is the country’s largest city and serves both as Costa Rica’s capital and as the head of the San José province while on a Costa Rica vacation.
Named in honour of St. Joseph of Nazareth, the city was originally founded in 1737 as the result of an edict from the Catholic Church to allow the many scattered inhabitants of the region a place to concentrate and worship. A small village initially, the area’s fertile soil made for excellent farming conditions and with the introduction of coffee to the Central Valley in the 19th century, San José became quite prosperous. When Spain abandoned its colonial interests in Central America, both San José and Cartago prepared to battle for control with San José being the victor in 1823.
Despite being an agriculturally based city for much of the 20th century, San José has grown into a modern city that is the centre of political and economic activity in Costa Rica. It is also a cultural hub hosting some of the finest museums in Central America including the Gold Museum, the Jade Museum and the Costa Rican Art Museum which features an open-air sculpture garden. San José’s markets are colourful and vibrant and the city offers a sophisticated nightlife when on Costa Rica tours. Its central location means that the city is an excellent base from which to explore the rest of this fascinating country.
At a Glance
Languages
SpanishCurrency
Costa Rican Colón (CRC)Trending Trips
Unforgettable Journeys.12 Trips Found
Showper page
9
12 Trips Found
Costa Rica Coast to Coast
Arenal and San JoseA journey through Costa Rica, from canal-side lodges in Tortuguero to Lagarta Lodge’s coastal calm, where rainforest and ocean meet.
10 days
From US$3,533/p.p.
Request a Quote
Costa Rica For Families: Tortuguero & Arenal
Arenal and San JoseThis Private-guided Costa Rica adventure drifts from rainforest canals to volcanic trails, with chocolate tastings, sloths, and hot springs along the way.
8 days
From US$3,197/p.p.
Request a Quote
Essential Costa Rica: Volcanoes, Cloud Forest & Pacific
Manuel Antonio National Park, Monteverde, Arenal, and San JoseSmall group journey through Costa Rica, from Chayote Lodge’s cloud forest calm to coastal rainforest retreats, where wildlife, rivers, and rich nature unfold.
9 days
From US$3,206/p.p.
Request a Quote
Classic Costa Rica: Wildlife, Volcanoes & Coast
Monteverde, Arenal, and San JoseDiscover Costa Rica on this Private-guided journey from rainforest canals to cloud forests and Pacific sunsets, with volcano views, wildlife, and warm coastal days.
12 days
From US$5,287/p.p.
Request a Quote
Romance in Costa Rica: Arenal & Guanacaste
Arenal and San JoseDiscover the romantic allure of Costa Rica on this getaway, from the iconic Arenal volcano’s hot springs to the serene beaches of Guanacaste’s coastline.
8 days
From US$5,932/p.p.
Request a Quote
Costa Rica Deluxe: Arenal & Manuel Antonio
Manuel Antonio National Park, Arenal, and San JoseEase into Costa Rica’s vivid landscapes on this Independent journey, from misty volcanoes to Pacific shores, with hot springs, waterfalls, and rainforest wildlife.
8 days
From US$4,605/p.p.
Request a Quote
Pura Vida Adventure: Pacuare River & Arenal
Arenal and San JoseA Costa Rica escape mixing rainforest thrills and river canyons with serene hot springs, inviting travellers into the heart of wild, lush nature
7 days
From US$2,564/p.p.
Request a Quote
Best of Costa Rica & Panama
Bocas del Toro, Panama City, and San JoseA mixed guided journey through Costa Rica and Panama, weaving rainforest canals, colonial charm and Caribbean shores into a dreamy escape for curious travellers
12 days
From US$4,617/p.p.
Request a Quote
Don't see the
perfect trip idea?
Request a custom quote.
Turn your travel dreams into reality with Goway. Our customized vacations take travellers to all corners of the world.
Costa Rica Coast to Coast
Arenal and San JoseA journey through Costa Rica, from canal-side lodges in Tortuguero to Lagarta Lodge’s coastal calm, where rainforest and ocean meet.
10 days
From US$3,533/p.p.
Request a Quote
Costa Rica For Families: Tortuguero & Arenal
Arenal and San JoseThis Private-guided Costa Rica adventure drifts from rainforest canals to volcanic trails, with chocolate tastings, sloths, and hot springs along the way.
8 days
From US$3,197/p.p.
Request a Quote
Essential Costa Rica: Volcanoes, Cloud Forest & Pacific
Manuel Antonio National Park, Monteverde, Arenal, and San JoseSmall group journey through Costa Rica, from Chayote Lodge’s cloud forest calm to coastal rainforest retreats, where wildlife, rivers, and rich nature unfold.
9 days
From US$3,206/p.p.
Request a Quote
Classic Costa Rica: Wildlife, Volcanoes & Coast
Monteverde, Arenal, and San JoseDiscover Costa Rica on this Private-guided journey from rainforest canals to cloud forests and Pacific sunsets, with volcano views, wildlife, and warm coastal days.
12 days
From US$5,287/p.p.
Request a Quote
Romance in Costa Rica: Arenal & Guanacaste
Arenal and San JoseDiscover the romantic allure of Costa Rica on this getaway, from the iconic Arenal volcano’s hot springs to the serene beaches of Guanacaste’s coastline.
8 days
From US$5,932/p.p.
Request a Quote
Costa Rica Deluxe: Arenal & Manuel Antonio
Manuel Antonio National Park, Arenal, and San JoseEase into Costa Rica’s vivid landscapes on this Independent journey, from misty volcanoes to Pacific shores, with hot springs, waterfalls, and rainforest wildlife.
8 days
From US$4,605/p.p.
Request a Quote
Pura Vida Adventure: Pacuare River & Arenal
Arenal and San JoseA Costa Rica escape mixing rainforest thrills and river canyons with serene hot springs, inviting travellers into the heart of wild, lush nature
7 days
From US$2,564/p.p.
Request a Quote
Best of Costa Rica & Panama
Bocas del Toro, Panama City, and San JoseA mixed guided journey through Costa Rica and Panama, weaving rainforest canals, colonial charm and Caribbean shores into a dreamy escape for curious travellers
12 days
From US$4,617/p.p.
Request a Quote
Don't see the
perfect trip idea?
Request a custom quote.
Turn your travel dreams into reality with Goway. Our customized vacations take travellers to all corners of the world.
What do the experts say?
Costa Rica is not just all about the beaches. There is so much more to discover, including volcanoes, lush rainforests, and abundant wildlife.
Costa Rica is also globally admired for its environmental values. The country’s commitment to sustainability and eco-friendly practices is deeply ingrained in its DNA.
If your main interest is beach time, December to April offers the best weather. However do not discount visiting during the Green Season in September, which reveals a different side of the country, full of wildlife and vibrant scenery.
I love the country’s rich biodiversity and stunning natural beauty. It combines rainforests, volcanoes, and beaches in one destination.
One of San Jose icon locations, The National Th...
Enjoy san jose tour
san jose vacation
San Jose is typically the starting point of all...
Most Popular Time to Travel
Know when to go.
Place
Conditions
Daily max temperatureMonthly rainfall
San JoseLight Rain
28°C / 82°F
93mm / 3.7"
Weather data is based on monthly averages.Popularity rating
-
Travel Stories
Get Inspired About Your Trip to Costa Rica
Unlock more by subscribing to our newsletter.
With our newsletter, you’ll get access to regular communications that inspire you and help you explore the world your way.Exclusive Savings
Insider Benefits
Trending Stories
ExcellentBased on 5,290 ReviewsHarpreet Litt provided us with a rich experience for our week. She offered good choices for local tour companies. We had a very good guide in Osaka. She is an Osaka resident with good English skills. She took extra pains to include opportunities we requested Osaka was a beautiful city at night. My photos of restaurants and street food were colorful and fun. Food was good too.Noel ChrismanAlways a great experience working with GoWay. My destination specialist, Jaime, was wonderful throughout the planning process of a trip as well as when my clients hit a few snags in the road due to a hurricane. Grateful for Jaime’s assistance! Marissa JenningsI had a fantastic experience working with Lisa D. on the Goway team. She was helpful, attentive and made sure we were comfortable with our bookings and itinerary before departure, and also checked in with us following our trip. Would definitely book with Goway again!Mandi S.1186952 trip reference - Croatia and Montenegro.
Dear Goway Travel Team!
I wanted to reach out and share some well-deserved praise for Jacqueline, who has assisted me closely with several of my travels. She recently curated a trip for me to Croatia, the beautiful islands, and Montenegro, and it was an absolute home run.
Jacqueline has an incredible ability to listen to her clients' needs and translate them perfectly into a flawless itinerary. Her articulation, guideline execution, and professionalism are unmatched. What sets her apart is her forward-thinking approach—she always knows the exact hotspots and trends, ensuring the pace of the trip matches my speed perfectly.
Everything transitioned seamlessly thanks to her attention to detail and care. She is a massive asset to your organization, and her consideration makes every vacation stress-free. I will absolutely continue to use her for all my future travels.
Kindest regards,
Vince Sacco Vince SaccoAbsolutely incredible trip! From beginning to end! All accommodations were excellent. If you want to experience Safaris this trip will fulfill all your expectations! A special thanks to our driver we had for our entire trip Evans! He made our trip over the top! The Hot air balloon ride in the Masai Mara is a must…it’s breathtaking!Pam SeitzI have worked with Goway several times in the past two years and every single trip has been unforgettable. Specifically, our travel advisor, Maria, has helped us book phenomenal trips to Thailand, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Ireland, and most recently, Iceland. Maria is so wonderful and easy to talk to, but what really stands out is her ability to get to know her clients so she can plan trips that perfectly align with our interests and desires. I cannot recommend her strongly enough! Her expertise, hard-work, and dedication towards each trip has given myself, my family, and friends memories to last a lifetime! Kayla CovelloJamil made our 40th birthday trip to Portugal so so very amazing and special! Great service, fabulous hotels, and wonderful day trips! Lane StricklandKatie was great, planned everything we needed, was great with changes and trip schedule conflicts. Fantastic working with her.CTI have been booking with GoWay for more than 2 years and feel so fortunate to have the best Travel Advisor, Maria Spitman, making our vacations unforgettable. I can’t say enough about Maria… she is personable, efficient, detail-oriented, and extremely knowledgeable about her specialty destinations. We have booked many trips with her, including Thailand, Spain, Portugal, Sicily, Iceland, and our most recent trip in Greece. Maria has not only curated nuanced itineraries, but has done so combining her vast knowledge of each region with our interests and needs being met perfectly. With that, it is evident that Maria learns about her clients to create vacation packages that far exceed expectations. I won’t book with anyone else! GoWay has a gem that is irreplaceable! I highly recommend seeking Maria out for all your destination needs. DarleenGoway has been amazing to work with. Farooq was my agent through Goway and she communicated promptly, planned a great international trip for my clients and was always organized. The trip was flawless to Rome and Malta from beginning to end!Kim Kamelesky
Verified
Verified
Verified
Verified
Verified
Verified
Verified
Verified
Verified
Verified