Surrounded by beautiful mountains and ancient volcanoes is the San Jose area or Central Valley region of Costa Rica. San Jose is home to half of the Costa Rican population and is the starting point for the majority of Costa Rica vacations.

Most people only stay a night or two in the San Jose area and they enjoy some of finest hotels, restaurants and nightlife Costa Rica offers. If you have the time and interest, San Jose is worth exploring.

The area is made up of dozens of small communities each with its own unique character and traditions. There are museums, theaters, historic sites, local festivals, shopping, golfing and affordable day tours to volcanoes, coffee plantations and more.

There is a wide range of hotels in the San Jose area. Luxury 5-star hotels, charming bed and breakfast, and everything in between, San Jose has it all. There are also dozens of great restaurants in San Jose, some fancy and some fun. Choose your favorite cuisine; Japanese, French, Italian, Thai, Argentinean, Peruvian, American, Costa Rican and more.

International flights arrive at the newly remodeled Juan Santamaria International Airport in San Jose. Several major airlines affordably service Costa Rica with numerous arrivals and departures every day.

The local airlines have daily flights out of San Jose to every region in Costa Rica.

Taxis, buses, rental cars and tour guides are widely available in San Jose. Driving in the city is a challenge and doing your own driving in a rental car is not for everyone, traffic can be terrible and street signs are rare. For some people the best way to see San Jose is with an experienced guide.