Costa Rica is a small country in Central America. San Jose, the capital and largest city of the country, is located in the broad, fertile central valley, above sea level. 

When the city was founded in 1736, it was known as Villa Nueva. During the Spanish colonial era, the city started developing as a tobacco centre. Although the language spoken in Costa Rica is Spanish, the language has distinct characteristics; and therefore, it is a form of Centra American Spanish. 

The city is named after Saint Joseph, the foster father of Jesus Christ. 

San Jose is a modern city. Art, architecture and commerce thrive in the city. Two of the historic buildings of the city are a 19^th century cathedral and the National Theatre, modelled after the Paris Opera. 

San Jose boasts of a unique collection of Plazas including the Democracy, Culture, and Social Guarantees plazas that commemorate the country’s progressive and democratic traditions. 

The John F. Kennedy Park, the National Museum, famed for its archaeological and historical exhibits and several collections of pre-Columbian gold-work and binational cultural centres are among the tourist attractions of the city. 

San Jose is really the only big city in Costa Rica. Located in the centre of the country, the city has taken a beating over the years from the occasional earthquake. You’ll understand when you visit. The city is surrounded by mountain ranges populated with a number of volcanoes. Every so often, this combination of geography leads a good shaking.  

For a city in Central America, San Jose is surprisingly organized and lively. You can spend an evening in the cafes or just walking about. Crime isn’t much of a problem. There isn’t much to see per se, but this is where most of the international flights land. In traversing the country, you can expect to pass through San Jose a few times, so enjoy yourself. 

Evenings in San José can be cool due to the high altitude, but you will not forget that you are in a tropical place even in this bustling city. The city itself is busy and filed with traffic. There are many things to do, but travellers often miss these sites choosing instead to head straight from the airport to beaches or rainforests.  Although San José is not the most beautiful city in the world, it is generally safe and has a lot to offer tourists.