San Jose

11-01-21

Early this year, I went on my first trip to Costa Rica. I was itching to do something exciting. Travel had ground to a halt with covid. And this was a perfect time to get away. I was still working full-time at my retail job. But I was able to finagle six days off to escape to Central America. It would be a short trip, but it would be action-packed. I would be staying somewhere different almost every night I was there.

Since I would be bouncing around in the country, I decided to rent a car. Taking a bus is a good alternative here, but it can be very time-consuming. The buses are very affordable, so if you have time and would like to save some money, they'll be helpful. The roads in Costa Rica are not in the best shape. A host at one of the AirBnB's I booked even warned that a truck or SUV would be necessary to get to the property. I booked an SUV before my arrival and only had to take the shuttle to the car rental lot to check-in and pick up the SUV. From there, it was into the city. I got a hotel for the night. And early the next day would be heading off for the coast.

San Jose is a smaller city but has plenty to offer. I happened to arrive during holy week, so almost all businesses closed up for the holiday. From what I understand, a good part of the population takes advantage of this time to retreat to the coast. If you find yourself here and it isn't during a week everyone is celebrating a major holiday, you'll have more luck finding things open for business. There are a couple of museums in town that happen to be right next to each other. The Museo Nacional de Costa Rica, a big yellow building that is hard to miss and boasts a complete history of the country inside. And the Museo del Jade, an archaeological museum containing the largest collection of American jade.

I enjoyed some great food while in San Jose. Gallo Pinto is a staple for breakfast. Rice and beans with eggs and some fresh fruit are a great way to start the morning. And don't forget to try the Lizano salsa too. I saw this sauce everywhere I went. It has a taste very similar to A-1 or Worcestershire sauce. My favorite meal while in San Jose was at Restaurante Silvestre. The tasting menu here is famous for being extraordinary. For vegetarians, there are some great options on the menu too. They present the food in a way that is exciting and whimsical. Located in an old mansion with walls adorned in art, the entire experience here is incredible.

Know Before You Go

Museo Del Jade
Museo Nacional de Costa Rica
  • Admission is 11 USD for foreign visitors 
  • Open from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm Tues. - Sat.
  • & 9 am to 4:30 pm on Sundays
  • Tickets only sold in person at the museum
  • https://www.museocostarica.go.cr/
Restaurante Silvestre