Enjoy an independant travel experience with your rental car in San Jose
Welcome to San Jose, the heart of Costa Rica. The capital is situated on the Valle Central high plateau at roughly 3800 ft above sea level in the center of Costa Rica and on the Panamericana, the legendary all-American highway. Apart from being the administrational center it is also the economic engine and cultural epicenter of the Latin American country, which is reflected in the high number of educational and cultural institutions. Be an independent traveler in Costa Rica thanks to your rental car.
Pay a visit to San Jose's great museums and theaters
San Jose has numerous museums, but three of them are a must-see for tourists. The
National Museum has exhibitions of pre-Columbian art, making genuine Costa Rican culture accessible to the visitor. The
Jade Museum exhibits a fantastic collection of jewelry and sculptures made from the precious stone as well as ceramics and other crafts. The museum is located on the 11th floor of the INS building (the national insurance agency) from where you also get a great view over the city. Right next to the INS building you will notice a great old colonial house, the Casa Amarilla. With your rental car you will be able to visit all of these great locations without missing a thing!
The National Theater, the
Melico Salazar Theater, and the central post office are among the most important landmarks of San Jose. The latter theater was built in the 1920s and named after Manuel Salazar Zuniga, the tenor who gained worldwide fame with his singing. The theater stages opera and symphonic orchestra performances. Drive with your rental car and discover the landscape.
Enjoy the rich culture and all of the attractions that come with it
Right opposite you will get to
Parque Central, the main square in town during colonial times. There is a music pavilion in the center of the park and on Sundays around 10am you can attend free concerts, a tradition much treasured by the locals. The pavilion’s basement houses an art gallery.
On the eastern edge of the park you can visit the cathedral, San Jose’s most important house of worship which is entered through a large gate supported by four mighty pillars.
Recently the
Plaza de la Cultura has replaced Parque Central as the actual center of town. This is where tourists meet locals who enjoy a cold drink after a long day of work, and this is where you can come in the evenings if you are looking for some friendly buzz. With your rental car, enjoy your freedom.
With a rental car you will be able to hit every attraction, even the Parque Morazan
Continuing a tour of the city you should stop at the
Parque Morazan which also has a music pavilion in the center. From here you should take a detour to Amon, a district characterized by colonial town houses from the 19th and early 20th century. This used to be a fancy district, reflected in the sophisticated architecture, though bars and nightclubs have loosened the atmosphere slightly. A walk through Amon should include the Parque Espana, a quiet place perfect for a little afternoon nap in the shade. The Centro Nacional de la Cultura on the eastern edge of the park houses the national ministry of culture, youth and sports, a few theaters, as well as numerous exhibition halls including the Museum for Contemporary Art. Book your rental car and discover the area.
After so much cultural education you might want to settle for some lighter entertainment. In this case you could check out one of the colorful markets. The biggest is Mercado Central where you can best observe the Josefinos, as the locals are known, during their daily business and sample some of the local cuisine. Be enchanted by the view while driving your rental car.
