Known As The Switzerland Of Central America, Costa Rica Is The Most Politically Stable Country In Central America And Perhaps Because Of This, The Most Sought-after By Safety-conscious Tourists. The Capital Of Costa Rica, San Jose, Is Also Its Largest City. It Sits On The Central Plateau Of The Country, At An Altitude Of More Than One Thousand Meters. The Capital Of Costa Rica Was Founded In 1736 And Named Villa Nueva, Before It Was Made Into The Countrys Capital In 1823.At First Glance, The Capital Of Costa Rica May Seem More Like A Chaotic Jungle Of Buildings, Cars, People, And Buses. The Streets, Especially The Central Downtown Section, Are Almost Always In Constant Gridlock Of Traffic. However, San Jose Remains Central Americas Most Cosmopolitan City. While The Capital Of Costa Rica May Be No More Than A Brief Stopover For Most Tourists Out To Have A Great Time In Costa Ricas Famous Nature Preserves, Rainforests, Or Beaches, There Is Still Quite A Large Presence Of Diplomatic And International Business Transactions. Consequently, The Capital Of Costa Rica Boasts Of A Rather Large Proliferation Of Small, Elegant Hotels In Renovated Historic Buildings, As Well As Innovative New Restaurants That Showcase A Wide Range Of International Cuisines. Getting ThereThe Nearest Airport To The Capital Of Costa Rica Is The Juan Santamaria International Airport In The City Of Alajuela, About 20 Minutes From Downtown San Jose. If You Decide To Take A Taxi From The Airport To The Capital Of Costa Rica, Just Prepare Around Twenty Bucks. Buses Are Cheaper By Far, Less Than A Dollar, And They Often Run And Do Drop-offs Along Paseo Colon Or At A Station Near The Parque De La Merced. Another Option Is To Take A Car Rental From The Airport To The Capital Of Costa Rica. There Are A Few Car Rental Agencies With Desks And Offices At The Airport. However, Note That Traffic Can Be Very Difficult In Downtown San Jose So That A Car Is More Of A Liability Than An Asset. You Should Only Take A Car Rental If You Are Comfortable Driving Around San Joses Congested Streets Or You Know Exactly Where You Are Going And Are Planning To Stay Long. Otherwise, Buses Are More Economical And Practical. Side TripsAs Mentioned Earlier, The Capital Of Costa Rica Makes For An Excellent Base For Exploring Other Parts Of The Country. San Joses Neighbors Include The Beautiful Central Valley And The Surrounding Mountains. If You Are A First Time Visitor Looking To Explore San Joses Surroundings, It Would Be Best If You Take A Guided Tour. However, Side Trips Around The Capital Of Costa Rica Present One Of The Advantages Of Getting A Car Rental Since You Can Have More Independence This Way.
