San Jose

In the heart of the lush Central Valley, SAN JOSE is in a stunning location, surrounded on all sides by mountains, several of which are volcanoes.

Founded in 1738, it became the capital in 1823, making it is one of the newest capitals of America. Nowadays it's a contemporary city with active commerce and vigorous expressions of art and architecture, enhanced by the country's thriving tourism industry. The city's current population is 346,799, and it lies at an elevation of 1,161 m above sea level.

San Jose is the hub for many activities and has a strong influence on its neighboring cities such as Alajuela, Heredia, and Cartago. The close proximity to several volcanoes, amazing mountains ranges, and to both the Atlantic Ocean (3 and a half hours away by car) and the Pacific Ocean (an hour and forty-five minutes' drive away) make it very convenient for short trips. The delightful, unwaivering weather includes a standard temperature that ranges between 15 °C and 26 °C (59-79°F) and rainfall of 150 mm per month. The rainy season is from late April to early November.

Full of life, downtown San Jose includes Costa Rica's financial district, along with most government offices and institutions. The Central Avenue and its adjacent parks and plazas have been called the leading outdoor shopping hub in Central America. Time-honored shops have given way to contemporary art and souvenir shops, cafes and restaurants.

A restoration plan spearheaded by the San Jose Municipality, labeled "San Jose Possible", is giving a whole face-lift to the downtown area, adding more walking boulevards, planting trees, and painting murals.

Guests staying at Villa Lakshmi will appreciate its ideal location, which is only a mile from San Jose's cultural and historical landmarks, including the National Theatre, Gold, Jade, and Childrens' and National Museums and within walking distance from all universities, schools, the Human Rights Court, malls, movies, shopping and more.

Visitors will be close to significant remarkable buildings such as the Costa Rican Congress (Asamblea Legislativa), the Tribunal Supremo de Elecciones (Electoral Tribunal), the Supreme Court and the Central Bank.

Cafes, bars, restaurant, and theatres await you in downtown San Jose. Your stay at Villalakshmi will give you the chance to tour main historic and cultural landmarks during the day and to enjoy the active San Jose night life.

If you've been traveling throughout Central America, you'll find that compared to, say, San Salvador, Guatemala city, or Managua, San Jose is not only a reassuringly safe place (though street crime is rising) but also effervescent and cosmopolitan, with excellent museums, some elegant buildings and landscaped parks, good cafes and the odd intriguing art gallery. Most tourists to Costa Rica find themselves spending some time here – the city is a major transportation hub, tourist magnet and stopover point; many journeys across the country involve backtracking through the capital.

El Pueblo is a conglomeration of more than 50 bars, clubs, restaurants, art galleries and shops. Lining the picturesque narrow stone streets, it is a lively place from 9 p.m. until dawn that caters to many tourists.

A street known as the Calle de la Amargura in San Pedro near the University of Costa Rica is an area that offers food and drinks for relatively low prices.

The National Theater and the Melico Salazar offer complete calendars of cultural activities, featuring theater and dance groups and orchestra music throughout the year.

There are numerous cafes in the downtown area, including in the Mercado Central building. Many museums and other attractions offer alternative ways of exploring the city. One of these is the Gold Museum, which provides a rare look at various gold artifacts of the ancient Latin American civilizations. An interesting attraction for the less adventurous is the Lankester Botanical Gardens just outside of San Jose. Other attractions include various bars and clubs that feature musical shows and events.