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Costa Rica's friendly 4 million people, or ticos as
they affectionately call themselves, invite you to
come and experience their tranquil country, with its
long and beautiful coastlines, alluring Caribbean and
Pacific waters, pristine beaches and some of the most
picturesque surroundings you have ever laid eyes on.
Many visitors say Costa Rica is even more beautiful than
Hawaii, and, best of all, still unspoiled. In fact, Costa
Rica took over Hawaii's place as best adventure destination
last year, according to the publication Pacific Business
News. Travel Weekly selected Costa Rica as the
2004 best destination for tourists traveling from the United
States.
Costa Rica has Hawaii's weather, spectacular
green mountains, and beaches without the high prices.
The country offers more beauty and adventure per acre
than any other place in the world.
In
the heart of the Central Valley, surrounded by beautiful
rolling mountains and volcanoes, sits San José, the
capital and largest city in the country. Viewed from above,
this area looks like some parts of Switzerland.
Downtown in San José
San José is the center of the country's politics and
cultural events. It has a mixture of modern and colonial architecture,
yet remains charmingly quaint and retains a small-town feel
despite being a fairly large city with a slightly international
flavor. It feels more like a town that has grown in all directions,
rather than a metropolis. Though San José and adjacent
suburbs have a population of approximately 1 million, you
get a small town feeling because of the layout of the city.
San José and Panama City are considered the most cosmopolitan
cities in Central America.
In a 2004 survey by Mercer Human Resource Consulting,
San José ranked 130 out of 140 cities world
wide with respect to cost of living. Tokyo and London
were at the head of the list. The British publication The
Economist ranked San José as the second
most affordable city in Latin America. The cost of
living is only 45 percent of that of New York.
San José or Chepe, as the locals call it, is
also the cultural and business center of the country and a
mecca for North Americans. There is something for everyone.
The city boasts the three largest shopping malls in Central
America, with lots of stores to which you are accustomed back
home. San José also offers a variety of night life,
a wide range of hotels, restaurants serving international
cuisine, casinos, quaint cafés, lovely parks, the old
National Theater with a wonderful orchestra and lots of outside
attractions on a regular basis. Other things of interest are
a zoo, art galleries, theaters, museums, parks, two English-language
newspapers, places for people watching and much more. Virtually
everything in a large U.S. city can be found here. Americans
have no trouble feeling at home. It is very easy to find something
to do to entertain yourself. At an altitude of just over 3,750
feet above sea level, San José offers year round spring
like temperatures add to its appeal.
The city is laid out on a grid plan. Calles (streets)
run north and south and avenidas (avenues) run
east and west. Avenues to the north of Avenida Central have
odd numbers and those to the south even numbers. Streets
to the east of Calle Central have odd numbers
and those to the west even.
San José's convenient central location makes
any part of the country accessible in a matter of hours
by automobile. We recommend you use San José as
a gateway, starting point or home base while you explore
Costa Rica and look for a permanent place to reside.
Because of the county's small size, it is possible
to spend the morning at the beach, visit a volcano
by noon and enjoy dinner at a mountain resort overlooking
the Central Valley.
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