San José
Libby: “Thanks to your Selfguided Cityour, we really enjoyed San José.”
San José is the capital of Costa Rica. Over the years, the city has drastically changed from a city of agriculture to a free cosmopolitan city. The city is packed with modern office buildings and shopping centers and -sadly- only a few small enclaves of well-preserved architecture can be found in the city. What you often see in the capital of Costa Rica are squares and parks. Cultural activities are often organized on the squares, such as local markets and other happenings that nicely introduce you to the culture of Costa Rica. After all, a lot of it culture is in the people itself.
Sightseeing in San José
San José has several attractions that you can visit when you are in the city. Think of various museums, but also of the national theater that was built at the end of the nineteenth century from materials brought from Europe. The construction of the theater was financed through a tax on coffee. This tax was imposed on coffee barons around 1890, so that the national theater could be built without taxing the residents of San José. The Jade Museum is also definitely worth a visit: a new and modern museum that is well illustrated.
If you are a lover of tropical plants and animals, then you are also at the right place in San José. In the capital of Costa Rica you will find various tourist attractions that are dedicated to tropical plants and animals, including the Spyrogya Butterfly Garden and the Simon Bolivar Zoological Park.
Cultural activities on the Central Market
The Central Market is the heart of all of San José’s vibrant attractions and cultural activities. Whatever time of day you will visit this market, there is always something to do or see. Are you looking for the cultural heart of the capital of Costa Rica, then you’ve come to the right place!