San Jose, Costa Rica

What to expect in... San Jose

13. Catholicism
Can be more of a tradition than a religion.
Although Catholicism dominates, other Christian groups (usually Evangelical) are growing rapidly.

12. Priciness
Relative to the region, the prices in San Jose are high. This is especially true for housing.

11. Rainforests

There's so many adventures waiting for you just outside the city.

10. Fresh fruit drinks
They're very refreshing.



9. Coffee beans
Costa Rica produces world-famous coffee beans.

8. Tucans, sloths, and more

There's all sorts of amazing creatures in Costa Rica.

7. Avenida Central
Avenida Central is the main pedestrian shopping street. Mercado Central's pretty fun too.

6. Rice and beans
Staple foods that can be eaten any time.
You won't find many tacos here - Latin America isn't just an extension of Mexico (contrary to what many North Americans believe!)

5. Mountains
San Jose is pretty high in altitude, so the heat isn't too bad.

4. Not a lot to do
San Jose is nice, but it's not that exciting. The real attraction is the nature outside the city.

3. Equality
Costa Rica has a relatively small divide in income and education. It's also a lot safer than its northern neighbors (which have the highest violent crime rates in the world.)

2. Ecotourism
Costa Rica protected its rainforests and boosted its economy by turning a quarter of its land into national park territory. This has drawn in millions of tourists (and their wallets) from around the world. After seeing the success from this strategy, several other countries have copied the Costa Rican model.

1. Happy people
Costa Rica ranks at the top of several world happiness rankings. Ticos (aka Costa Ricans) are generally friendly and positive. They're even happier when their team wins!

----- The End. Click on the archive at the top right to view more cities.