Overview
Take a trip to San Jose on your Costa Rica Vacation
Located in Costa Rica’s Central Valley, San José is the country’s largest city and serves both as Costa Rica’s capital and as the head of the San José province while on a Costa Rica vacation.
Named in honour of St. Joseph of Nazareth, the city was originally founded in 1737 as the result of an edict from the Catholic Church to allow the many scattered inhabitants of the region a place to concentrate and worship. A small village initially, the area’s fertile soil made for excellent farming conditions and with the introduction of coffee to the Central Valley in the 19th century, San José became quite prosperous. When Spain abandoned its colonial interests in Central America, both San José and Cartago prepared to battle for control with San José being the victor in 1823.
Despite being an agriculturally based city for much of the 20th century, San José has grown into a modern city that is the centre of political and economic activity in Costa Rica. It is also a cultural hub hosting some of the finest museums in Central America including the Gold Museum, the Jade Museum and the Costa Rican Art Museum which features an open-air sculpture garden. San José’s markets are colourful and vibrant and the city offers a sophisticated nightlife when on Costa Rica tours. Its central location means that the city is an excellent base from which to explore the rest of this fascinating country.
At a Glance
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Costa Rican Colón (CRC)Trending Trips
Unforgettable Journeys.13 Trips Found
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13 Trips Found
Costa Rica Coast to Coast
Arenal and San JoseA journey through Costa Rica, from canal-side lodges in Tortuguero to Lagarta Lodge’s coastal calm, where rainforest and ocean meet.
10 days
From US$3,585/p.p.
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Costa Rica Odyssey
Manuel Antonio National Park, Monteverde, Arenal, and San JoseDiscover Costa Rica’s magic, from Arenal’s lush jungles to Monteverde’s misty cloud forests and Manuel Antonio’s Pacific cliffs, all while feeling the unique embrace of Pura Vida on Goway’s exclusive Costa Rica Odyssey.
10 days
From US$4,049/p.p.
Request a Quote
Costa Rica For Families: Tortuguero & Arenal
Arenal and San JoseThis Private-guided Costa Rica adventure drifts from rainforest canals to volcanic trails, with chocolate tastings, sloths, and hot springs along the way.
8 days
From US$3,245/p.p.
Request a Quote
Essential Costa Rica: Volcanoes, Cloud Forest & Pacific
Manuel Antonio National Park, Monteverde, Arenal, and San JoseSmall group journey through Costa Rica, from Chayote Lodge’s cloud forest calm to coastal rainforest retreats, where wildlife, rivers, and rich nature unfold.
9 days
From US$3,253/p.p.
Request a Quote
Classic Costa Rica: Wildlife, Volcanoes & Coast
Monteverde, Arenal, and San JoseDiscover Costa Rica on this Private-guided journey from rainforest canals to cloud forests and Pacific sunsets, with volcano views, wildlife, and warm coastal days.
12 days
From US$5,366/p.p.
Request a Quote
Romance in Costa Rica: Arenal & Guanacaste
Arenal and San JoseDiscover the romantic allure of Costa Rica on this getaway, from the iconic Arenal volcano’s hot springs to the serene beaches of Guanacaste’s coastline.
8 days
From US$6,020/p.p.
Request a Quote
Costa Rica Deluxe: Arenal & Manuel Antonio
Manuel Antonio National Park, Arenal, and San JoseEase into Costa Rica’s vivid landscapes on this Independent journey, from misty volcanoes to Pacific shores, with hot springs, waterfalls, and rainforest wildlife.
8 days
From US$4,673/p.p.
Request a Quote
Birdwatching in Costa Rica
Rincon de la Vieja National Park and San JoseOn this captivating 10-day Costa Rican adventure, unravel the sights and sounds of one of the world’s most enthralling birding destinations.
10 days
From US$3,089/p.p.
Request a Quote
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perfect trip idea?
Request a custom quote.
Turn your travel dreams into reality with Goway. Our customized vacations take travellers to all corners of the world.
Costa Rica Coast to Coast
Arenal and San JoseA journey through Costa Rica, from canal-side lodges in Tortuguero to Lagarta Lodge’s coastal calm, where rainforest and ocean meet.
10 days
From US$3,585/p.p.
Request a Quote
Costa Rica Odyssey
Manuel Antonio National Park, Monteverde, Arenal, and San JoseDiscover Costa Rica’s magic, from Arenal’s lush jungles to Monteverde’s misty cloud forests and Manuel Antonio’s Pacific cliffs, all while feeling the unique embrace of Pura Vida on Goway’s exclusive Costa Rica Odyssey.
10 days
From US$4,049/p.p.
Request a Quote
Costa Rica For Families: Tortuguero & Arenal
Arenal and San JoseThis Private-guided Costa Rica adventure drifts from rainforest canals to volcanic trails, with chocolate tastings, sloths, and hot springs along the way.
8 days
From US$3,245/p.p.
Request a Quote
Essential Costa Rica: Volcanoes, Cloud Forest & Pacific
Manuel Antonio National Park, Monteverde, Arenal, and San JoseSmall group journey through Costa Rica, from Chayote Lodge’s cloud forest calm to coastal rainforest retreats, where wildlife, rivers, and rich nature unfold.
9 days
From US$3,253/p.p.
Request a Quote
Classic Costa Rica: Wildlife, Volcanoes & Coast
Monteverde, Arenal, and San JoseDiscover Costa Rica on this Private-guided journey from rainforest canals to cloud forests and Pacific sunsets, with volcano views, wildlife, and warm coastal days.
12 days
From US$5,366/p.p.
Request a Quote
Romance in Costa Rica: Arenal & Guanacaste
Arenal and San JoseDiscover the romantic allure of Costa Rica on this getaway, from the iconic Arenal volcano’s hot springs to the serene beaches of Guanacaste’s coastline.
8 days
From US$6,020/p.p.
Request a Quote
Costa Rica Deluxe: Arenal & Manuel Antonio
Manuel Antonio National Park, Arenal, and San JoseEase into Costa Rica’s vivid landscapes on this Independent journey, from misty volcanoes to Pacific shores, with hot springs, waterfalls, and rainforest wildlife.
8 days
From US$4,673/p.p.
Request a Quote
Birdwatching in Costa Rica
Rincon de la Vieja National Park and San JoseOn this captivating 10-day Costa Rican adventure, unravel the sights and sounds of one of the world’s most enthralling birding destinations.
10 days
From US$3,089/p.p.
Request a Quote
Don't see the
perfect trip idea?
Request a custom quote.
Turn your travel dreams into reality with Goway. Our customized vacations take travellers to all corners of the world.
What do the experts say?
Costa Rica is not just all about the beaches. There is so much more to discover, including volcanoes, lush rainforests, and abundant wildlife.
Costa Rica is also globally admired for its environmental values. The country’s commitment to sustainability and eco-friendly practices is deeply ingrained in its DNA.
If your main interest is beach time, December to April offers the best weather. However do not discount visiting during the Green Season in September, which reveals a different side of the country, full of wildlife and vibrant scenery.
I love the country’s rich biodiversity and stunning natural beauty. It combines rainforests, volcanoes, and beaches in one destination.
One of San Jose icon locations, The National Th...
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Place
Conditions
Daily max temperatureMonthly rainfall
San JoseRainy
27°C / 81°F
135mm / 5.3"
Weather data is based on monthly averages.Popularity rating
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Everything was looked after and no stress for usJean WilloughbyVanessa from Goway Travel did a fantastic job pulling together a really comprehensive itinerary for our trip to Egypt. Her advice about "must see" sites was extremely helpful and she also provided great tips based on her own experience travelling to Egypt. Excellent planning by Vanessa meant we were able to thoroughly enjoy our trip. OlgaI want to Thank Vanessa Lloyd for putting together the most perfect itinerary for my husband and my dream trip to Santorini, Greece. Every detail was perfectly executed. From the pick ups, to tours and most certainly our hotel location, it was truly a dream!! We were so happy and completely blown away, that we couldn't help but shared our experience with several folks we met during our trip... and I just bet they will be using Goway Travel for any future plans of theirs, just like us. Africa, here we come....Tanya KashExceptional Customer Service, Accountability, and Leadership — Thank You, Goway Travel!
As a Canadian travel advisor with Discover Joy Travel, affiliated with TravelOnly, I want to recognize three exceptional individuals at Goway Travel: Jaime Vargas-Hernandez (Destination Specialist – North America and Latin America), Sean Hebert (Vice President, The Americas), and Jason Stratford (Business Development Manager).
I recently booked a cross-Canada vacation for my clients, and while the itinerary offered many wonderful experiences, there were several unexpected challenges along the way, particularly involving transportation, transfers, and certain aspects of the overall travel experience.
As a travel advisor, one of the most difficult situations is hearing that your clients are disappointed, especially when you've worked hard to create a memorable and seamless vacation for them.
What truly impressed me was how Goway responded when things didn't go as planned.
From the beginning, Jaime was responsive, professional, and genuinely committed to addressing our concerns. He listened carefully, communicated with the appropriate teams, and made sure our clients' feedback was taken seriously.
Jason Stratford was equally supportive, demonstrating the value of having a Business Development Manager who genuinely advocates for travel advisors and their clients.
I also want to extend my sincere appreciation to Sean Hebert, Vice President of The Americas, for his outstanding leadership and personal attention to our situation. His involvement demonstrated that customer satisfaction and accountability are priorities at Goway, even at the executive level.
What impressed me most was that Goway didn't simply acknowledge the challenges — they listened, took ownership, and made a genuine effort to rebuild our clients' confidence and trust.
In fact, despite the difficulties they experienced, my clients were so impressed with how Goway handled their concerns that they expressed interest in booking another international vacation through them, with another couple potentially joining!
To me, that speaks volumes.
Exceptional customer service isn't about everything going perfectly. It's about how a company responds when things go wrong.
As a travel advisor, I value supplier relationships built on trust, transparency, accountability, and genuine care for travellers. Knowing that I have a team willing to listen, take responsibility, and work toward a resolution gives me greater confidence when recommending Goway to my clients.
Jaime, Jason, and Sean — thank you for your professionalism, patience, dedication, and for making me feel genuinely supported as a travel advisor. You didn't just help resolve a difficult situation; you helped restore confidence and strengthen a valuable business relationship.
Goway is fortunate to have individuals like you representing the company.
I look forward to continuing our partnership and creating many more memorable travel experiences for our clients.
Highly recommended — not because everything was perfect, but because Goway demonstrated what genuine accountability, strong leadership, and exceptional customer service should look like.
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Discover Joy Travel | TravelOnly
Fort St. John, British Columbia, CanadaEvangeline de Torres - FisetThank you Vanessa, always a pleasure dealing with you and knowing you'll give us the perfect customized trip. Everything was spot on with excellent guides, drivers.Terry F.Every detail was managed and executed beyond our expectations and everything flowed from one destination to the nextClinton G HughesThis is a review for my Goway travel guide in Ho Chi Minh City. Mr. PHẠM HỮU THIỆN (TONY) was a very kind and knowledgeable guide during our 5 day stay in the city. Friendly, likeable and funny, Very accommodating to our needs during our visit. He and his driver were always early for every excursion as well as the final day for our airport departure. He gave us wonderful recommendations for sights and restaurants for our personal time. I highly recommend Mr. Pham (Tony) for your stay in the Ho Chi Minh area.George C.Brooke Theron has booked 3 trips for us, France and Tunisia in 2025 and we have just returned from a 2 week trip from China.
The entire trip was flawless, from the research to the booking Brooke is always soo helpful in whole process.
Brooke always works with us to answer any questions and make sure any request we have can be added.
Our tour guides James, Helen, Felicity and Keira and drivers were all top notch with lots of information on each stop and sent us onto our next stop with no problems.
The hotels, trains and tours were all excellent. We couldn't have asked for more
I look forward to working with Brooke and Goway tours on our next vacation.MaddieBijal and Martin (tour guide in Kenya) made this the trip of a lifetime. I felt safe every minute of the trip. I did not care for the travel from the Serengeti to Ngorogoro Crater. I felt the last hotel was too far from the crater i was exhausted not wanted to travel to the crater. The travel was absolutely brutal for 6 hoursKathie BeckerJosie was incredible to work with. She replied to all emails quickly and effectively. She was very knowledgeable and always willing to help. Would definitely work with Josie again!! Clients had an incredible 14 days in Italy with no complaints. A dream vacation!!Chattell Blue
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