Guide to San Jose to San Jose, Costa Rica - Useful information about San Jose

Now that you know you want to purchase real estate property in Costa rica, here is some useful information about the city of San Jose, Costa Rica and the country of Costa Rica in General.

We have put this San Jose, Costa Rica guide to facilitate your move to Costa Rica and includes the following information:

• Important Phone Numbers in Costa Rica
• Hospital List in San Jose, Costa Rica
• Transportation Information in San Jose, Costa Rica
• Costa Rica Tour Companies
• Things to See and do in San Jose, Costa Rica
• Holidays in Costa Rica
• One Day Activities in Costa Rica

Important Phone Numbers in costa Rica

• Any type of emergency: 911
• Information: 115
• Operator Assistance: 116
• Red Cross: 233-7033
• Fire Department: 223-8055
• Traffic Police: 222-9330, 222-9245

Hospital List in San Jose, Costa Rica

Hospital CIMA
San José: 2208-1000 or 2208-1061
Emergencies: CIMA del Este in San Pedro: 2208-1800

Hospital Clinica Biblica
San José: 2295-7630
Pinares Curridabat: 2295-7721
Mall San Pedro: 2224-1519, 2224-1162
Heredia: 260-4959, 2263-2880
Clínica Católica: 2283-6616
Clínica Bíblica: 2257-5252

Transportation Information in San Jose, Costa Rica

From San Jose by Air Transportation

If you’re headed out of San José to a more tropical beach destination and want to arrive as quickly as possible, flying on one of Costa Rica’s national airlines is a good option.

Sansa and NatureAir use small planes and make frequent trips to popular destination.

Sansa

• Main Office: (506) 2221-9414
• Fax: (506) 2221-9414
• http://www.flysansa.com/

Leave from Juan Santamaria International Airports and flies to Flies to Barra Colorado, Drake Bay, Coto 47, Drake Bay, Golfito, Liberia, Limón, Nosara, Palmar Sur, Puerto Jiménez, Punta Islita, Quepos, Samara-Carillo, Tamarindo, Tambor and Tortuguero.

Nature Air

• Main office: 220-3054
• Fax: 220-0413
• http://www.natureair.com/

Flies daily from Tobías Bolaños Airport in Pavas, west of San José and flies to Arenal, Barra del Colorado, Drake Bay, Golfito, Liberia, Palmar Sur, Puerto Jiménez, Punta Islita, Quepos, Nosara, Tamarindo, Tambor, Tortuguero.

Airport and Some Airline Phone Numbers:

• Juan Santamaría Airport: +506 443-2622
• American Airlines: +506 2257-1266
• United Airlines: 0 800 052-1234
• Delta Airlines: 0-800-056-2002
• Continental: 0-800-044-0005
• TACA: +506 2223-4314
  

Taxis

• Coopeirazú: 2254-3211
• Coopettaxi 2235-9966, 236-7070
• Alfaro: 2221-8466
• Taxi Coopeguaria: 2227-9300
• Taxis Unidos Aeropuerto (for airport): 2221-6865
  

Bus Company Numbers

Renting a Car

Renting a car is a quick way to get from San José to nearby beaches or towns. A car can make getting around the city quicker too, though those who aren’t very familiar with the city (and the aggressive Costa Rican driving style) may be better off sticking to buses and taxis until they become comfortable. To rent a car, you’ll need your passport and U.S. drivers’ license.

San Jose car Rental Agencies

Avis

http://www.avis.co.cr/

4 San José locations :

• Airport : (506) 293-2222 Fax: (506) 2293-1111
• Heredia : (506) 293-2222, Fax : (506)2293-1111
• Hotel Melia Cariari (4 miles from airport): (506) 2239-0022 ext. 3163
• Hotel Tryp Corobici (downtown): (506) 2232-9922

Budget

http;//www.budget.co.cr

• Alajuela: (506) 436-2000, Fax: (506) 440-0744
• Airport: (506) 441-4444
• San José (downtown): (506) 255-4750, Fax: (506) 255-4966

Nacional Car Rental

http://www.natcar.com/

San José offices in 6 locations:

• Airport, Hotel Marriot, Plaza Viquez, Paseo Colón, Hotel Real Intercontinental, Hotel Best Western Irazú.
• (506) 2290-0431 or 800-CAR RENT from U.S.

Dollar Rent a Car

http://www.dollarcostarica.com/

• San José main office: (506) 2443-2950, (506) 2443-2736, U.S. toll free 866-746-7765
• Paseo Colon: (506) 2257-0671, Fax: (506) 2440-1401
• Airport: (56) 2443-2078, Fax: (506) 2440-1401

Alamo

http://www.alamocostarica.com/

• San José main office : (506) 2242-7733, fax : (506) 233-5555
• Paseo Colón : (506) 2221-4700, fax : (506) 2257-6811
• Hotel Irazú : (506) 2290-0437, Fax : (506) 2290-0437

Toyota Rent a Car

http://www.toyotarent.com/

• San José: 2258-5797
• Alajuela: 2441-1411

Economy Rent a Car

http://www.economyrentacar.com/

• downtown San José, airport
• (506) 2299-2000
• Fax (506) 2299-2095

Hertz Rent a Car

http://www.costaricarentacar.net/

• Paseo Colón, airport
• 506) 2221-1818, Fax: (506) 2233-7254, (506) 2257-1569

Payless Car Rental

http://www.paylesscr.com/

• San José main office: (506) 2257-0026, fax: (506) 2221-5761
• Paseo Colón: (506) 2233-8605, fax: (506) 2233-8605

Toyota

http://www.carrental-toyota-costarica.com/

• 2258-5797

Tour Companies in Costa Rica

Signing up for an organized tour is the easiest way to get out of the city for the day. If you’d like to sit back and let someone do all the planning and organizing for you, look into one of these tour companies.

Ecoscape Nature Tour - Offers an 11-hour tour including a sunset jungle hike, boat trip and dinner. Contact them at 2240-5106

Costa Rica Temptations - will whirl you to a coffee plantation, Poás Volcano and La Paz Waterfall Gardens all in one day. Contact them at 2239-9999

Grayline Tours - also offers a variety to day trips to various destinations around San José including three different volcanos (Arenal, Poas and Irazu), butterfly farms, canopy tours, coffee plantations and horseback rides. Grayline also offers a tour of San José.

• http://www.graylinecostarica.com/
• 2220-2126

Things to Do and See in San Jose, Costa Rica

Fun Family Activities

It shouldn’t be hard to keep kids entertained in San José. From nature museums to butterfly gardens to amusement parks, there are many options and activities that are fun for the whole family. Here are a few:

The Children’s Museum (Museo de los Niños) - has hands-on exhibits that teach kids about history, science and music.

• 2258-4929
• Located inside old jail building, Calle 4 and Avenida 9.

Spirogyra - You can see a variety of butterflies and learn about these beautiful creatures.

• 2222-2937
• 50 meters east, 150 meters south of “El Pueblo” shopping complex.

INBioparque - Has extensive grounds featuring the biodiversity and ecology of Costa Rica including house snakes, butterflies, fish and more.

• 2244-4730
• Santo Domingo de Heredia, north of San José

Parque Nacional de Diversiones - For the adventurous, this modern amusement park with rides and attractions. There is also a lake and living replica of an old Costa Rican pueblo.

• 2231-2001
• West of Hospital Mexico in La Uruca.

Fossil Land - offers different tour packages for groups. You can choose from activities like rapelling, spelunking, paint-ball, trout fishing, mountain bike trails, cave exploring and canopy tours. Contact them at 2276-6060

Ojo de Agua water park - For those looking to cool off and make a splash, has a three different pools including a waterfall pool and kids’ pool, all filled with fresh spring water. There are also tennis courts, running trails and restaurants.

• 2441-2808
• road between the airport and San Antonio de Belen

Zoo Avenue - A great place to see birds, mammals and reptiles in exhibits with plenty of educational materials.

• 2433-8989
• http://www.zooave.org
• La Garita, Alajuela

One Day Activities

If you’re looking to get out of the city for a day, there are many great spots in the surrounding Central Valley area. Most are easy to get to by bus or a quick drive if you’ve got a rental car.

The Rainforest Aerial Tram - Only 45 min. from San Jose along the Guapiles Highway was built on a private reserve near Braulio Carillo Park. The 90-minute ride lets you observe all the wildlife of the rain forest. The area also has trails and restaurants; many tourists make a day out of the trip.

• http://www.rainforestram.com
• 2257-5961.

The Dole Banana Tour - This tour will show the ins and outs as well as some history of this massive banana producer.

The Café Britt Tour - To learn all there is to know about coffee. Contact them at 2260-2748

The La Paz Waterfall Gardens - A park containing four impressive waterfalls with hiking trails and viewing platforms as well as a butterfly observatory. Contact them at 2225-1082.

The Butterfly Farm - Another great spot to see these beautiful insects.

• http://www.butterflyfarm.co.cr
• 2438-0400

Irazú Volcano - This volcano measures 3,378 meters (11,080 ft), and hasn’t erupted since 1963, the day President Kennedy visited Costa Rica. A paved road leads up to the volcano’s rim, which is surrounded by gray sand. On a clear day visitors enjoy views of the Orosi Valley and maybe even the Pacific Ocean. Irazú Volcano is a national park; admission is $6. A visitor center offers information about the volcano and the park houses a restaurant.

Buses leave daily from near the National Theater. It’s best to get there early to get the best views of the volcano before the clouds roll in. You can contact them at 2551-9398

Poás Volcano - A natural wonder close to San José that you shouldn’t miss. Like Irazú, Poas is located in a national park Surrounded by a forest of part of a national park, is also a unique site, with a crater lake full of steaming turquoise water. The hike up to the rim takes you through a dwarf cloud forest. You can contact them at 2482-2165

Braulio Carrillo National Park - A jungle in the Central Valley Mountains with hiking trails. You can contact them at 2268-1038

Costa Rican Holidays

Costa Ricans love to celebrate. Throughout the year there are numerous national holidays and festivals, and many provinces also have their own celebrations commemorating unique historical events or traditions.

One of the biggest holidays in Costa Rica and around Latin America is Semana Santa, or holy week, which falls in late March or early April. From Thursday to Sunday, businesses shut down. The streets are full of processions, including music and biblical costumes, depicting the stages of Christ’s crucifiction and resurrection.

Many Costa Ricans take advantage of the time off to head to the beach, so you can expect crowds at popular shore-side destinations.

If you’re in Costa Rica in December, you’ll get to see Tico-style Christmas celebrations. Nativity scenes and carolers create the mood for the season. Apples and grapes abound on street stands and create a taste for the season. The New Year also goes out in a bang with lots of parties and fireworks.

April 11 is Juan Santamaría Day commemorating the hero who fought against William Walker in 1856. Alajuela, the hero’s birthplace, celebrates with parades, concerts and dances.

Independence Day is September 15. Kids get the day off of school and celebrate with parades, drums and, of course, singing the national anthem.