San Jose is the largest and the capital city of Costa Rica. It was founded in 1738 and has evolved into a modern city. It has a busy commercial life, dynamic culture and a much improved tourism industry. It is no wonder that it has become a major tourist destination of foreign visitors. San Jose is the seat of the Costa Rican political government. It is also the center of the country’s commercial and cultural life. It is located at the heart of the Gran Area Metropolitana (GAM) in the highland of the Central Valley of Costa Rica. Around it are magnificent green mountains and valleys.

The city has a relatively warm climate with temperatures that usually stay from 70 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Thus, at certain times of the year, some tourists appreciate the respite it offers from the cold climate of the temperate countries. The southern parts of San Jose extend into rural areas and rain forests that Costa Rica is well-known for. These are the Talamanca Mountain Ranges. You can find the airport, embassies of other countries, museums, hotels, restaurants, big and small business establishments and the Universidad de Costa Rica in the City of San Jose.

San Jose has some of the more scenic and magnificent sties and attractions around. For one, the very interesting Museo Oro Precolombino (Gold Museum) holds more than 1,600 parts of gold artifacts that date back from around 500 AD to 1500 AD. The Poas Volcano and the Botos Lagoon, part of the National Park, is very near San Jose. It is an active volcano with dense forests around the crater, making the area one of the most visited places in the country. The Insect Museum inside the Universidad de Costa Rica contains an extensive collection of exotic bugs and insects. The guided tour here will prove to be a short but fruitful learning trip.

Theater lovers would find the Teatro Nacional de Costa Rica (National Theater of Costa Rica), the Cathedral and the Melico Salazar Theatre very interesting. These are the regular venues of cultural presentations, depicting both the old and modern cultures of Costa Rica. Various presentations such as concerts, operas, cultural presentations and the like are being held here all year round.

Nature lovers can look forward to going to Lankester Botanical Gardens which can be found at the outskirts of San Jose. Bring your family to Pueblo Antigo, the famous theme park in town. There are also other museums modeled after 19th century San Jose and the ones located inside a massive complex called Parque de Diversiones de Costa Rica. Likewise, in the north of the city is a community called Barrio Amon which is the location of old and historic buildings having architectural importance to the country.

Tourists who love the night life will also enjoy the numerous bars, clubs and restaurants that line El Pueblo’s picturesque cobblestone streets. These are also within walking distances from hotels and resorts. Nightlife can last from 9 o’clock in the evening until the wee hours of dawn. Foreigners should never miss the local coffee which is served in a typical Costa Rican way. This can be bought in some coffee shops along the downtown area.

Located in the southernmost Central America, Costa Rica is surrounded by three different surface waters including Panama Canal On south-east, the Pacific Ocean on the south-west and in the west and the ocean of the Caribbean on the east. Costa Rica is geographically a small country, but despite this, nobody can deny that it has an endless number of attractions and places to see. It has over 50 beaches and more than 160 parks, reserves and conservation areas and several of the most active volcanoes in the world Site seeing is a never ending pleasure in Costa Rica. Costa Rica has plenty of activities to keep each visitor active.

Lets take for example the highlight of Costa Rica’s southern Pacific coast, the Manuel Antonio Park. The park is a small but popular place because of its white sandy beaches and dense rain forest. Sunbathers flock to the beaches throughout the week. This stretch of coastline between the Nicoya and Osa peninsulas has several other low-key beach towns, including Playa del Jaco. Costa Rica is one of the most biologically diverse places in the world. In regard to this, more than a quarter of Costa Rica is under protection that includes some conservation areas and forest reserves. The Monteverde Cloud Forest Preserve, on the other hand, requires an arduous uphill drive on unpaved roads. Upon reaching it, the trek is worth the hike through the cloud forest. There are a lot of flora and fauna that thrive in the environment.

The quetzal, an iridescent green bird with an extravagant long tail, is the most popular spot in the Forest. Many one of a kind species can be seen. It includes the rain frog and other colourful amphibians. You can also lure the dangerous tarantulas out of their lairs should you choose to. In San Jose and the Central Valley, there are a lot of activities that it sure to keep every tourist on the go. One of its many interesting attractions is the Museo del Oro Precolombino, which exhibits gold dating back to 500 A.D. The Museo del Jade, with its impressive, ornate jade collection. The distant surrounding has many rainforest between villages. People can explore the rain forest by boat through a system of canals that bring each one close to spider monkeys and three-toed sloths.

Lake Arenal is one of the country’s largest bodies of water, it is a relatively undiscovered region. People can easily find last minute accommodation to rent, even during high seasons. The activities can range from horseback riding to windsurfing. The most popular attraction is the Volcan Arenal. Many tourists spend the night here just to catch a glimpse of the country’s most active volcano. They watch the lava flow down the volcano’s western side. This experience is truly awesome and completely unforgettable.