8 Unexpected Reasons to Fall in Love with San José, Costa Rica

When people think of Costa Rica, it’s almost always the wild coastlines, the picturesque beaches, the lush rainforest hikes, the zip-lining adventures, and the fascinating wildlife that bask in the spotlight. It’s rarely San José.

Costa Rica’s capital city might not make a dramatic first impression. It might feel a little chaotic or unpolished, but it has its own particular charm that you’ll discover when you stick around long enough (say, a semester).

Here, you’ll find community, character, and beauty in everyday moments. If you’re curious enough to dig below the surface, you’ll be richly rewarded by finding something quite extraordinary within the ordinary that will make it feel like a second home.

Here are eight unexpected reasons that might make you fall in love with San José:

SAN JOSÉ FEELS REAL AND UNFILTERED.

This is a city that doesn’t perform or show off for tourists. It’s unapologetically San José—and that’s all part of the appeal. It’s a working city. It has grit. It has soul. Aging buses rumble down Avenida Central. A golden light spreads over the mountains in the morning. There are handwritten signs and handmade tamales sold in corner shops. An intricate mural you walk past daily has layers of stories hidden in its paint. As you wander through the streets of the historic neighborhoods, hang out in the parks, and go about your daily life with your host family and class schedule, the rhythms of the city will start to make sense, and you’ll become part of them too.

IN SAN JOSE, YOUR SPANISH WILL GET A WORKOUT.

There’s no better way to learn a language than immersion, and you’ll be truly immersed with lots of opportunities to practice your Spanish—at the market, at the bus stop, waiting in line for empanadas. It might be intimidating at first, but the best way to build confidence is to dive in and make mistakes. Locals will be thrilled with your efforts and will likely be friendly and encouraging, even curious. And if your mistakes lead to a good laugh, you’ll have made a funny memory to look back on. Before you know it, you’ll be ordering your gallo pinto with confidence, asking for directions in Mercado Central, and jumping into full conversations with classmates, taxi drivers, and your homestay family about politics, daily life, fútbol, and your weekend travels.

SAN JOSÉ IS THE PERFECT LAUNCHING PAD FOR ADVENTURE.

It might not be the biggest city you’ve ever visited, but the role of San José as the logistical and cultural hub of Costa Rica is huge, and its central location and reliable bus network make it an amazing base for exploration. During the week, you’ll frequent your favorite panadería, get to know your local barista, and master your route to class. On weekends and breaks, you can choose a corner of the country to visit pretty easily, whether that's hiking and sloth-spotting in the wilds of the Monteverde Cloud Forest, soaking in Arenal’s hot springs, or surfing in Jacó. Take your pick. And then come back to the capital with some thrilling stories for your host family, maybe a couple of bug bites, and some beautiful photos to share. The contrast makes both experiences even better.

YOU’LL FIND SO MUCH MORE THAN INGREDIENTS IN SAN JOSÉ’S MARKETS

Whether you’re wandering through Mercado Central, Mercado Borbón, or Feria Verde, a trip to the market is more than a simple grocery run. It’s an experience for all the senses and a great space to find insight into local life. You’ll hear vendors shouting their specials, take in the scent of roasted coffee and fresh herbs, spot stacks of fruits you’ve never tasted before laid out in vibrant rows, rummage through the goods in overflowing stalls, taste a handmade tortilla or fresh maracuyá juice, and come across stalls that have been in the same family for generations. With time, you’ll become a familiar face, and you might find people will open up and share stories. The market is a place to connect and understand the local community, what they value, what they eat, how they grow their food, and so much more. It’s been around since 1880, so it’s a true part of San José's history, culture, and tradition.

NATURE IS ALWAYS PRESENT, EVEN IN BUSY SAN JOSE.

Even in the most bustling, urban bits of San José, you’ll find that nature is still king. Tree roots burst up through sidewalks reclaiming their space, stunning pink and purple bougainvillea tumbles over walls, and vines climb through the gaps in fences. Walk through Parque Nacional, and moss-covered trees and tropical birds are just a short walk from government buildings. And in the leafy neighborhoods around San Pedro, you might even spot sloths high up in the trees. Birds chirp from telephone wires, hummingbirds hover in gardens, and majestic volcanoes rise over the city in the distance, giving you a daily reminder that you’re never too far away from something wilder and wonderful just waiting to be explored.

YOU’LL SLOW DOWN FOR CAFECITO CULTURE.

Coffee is a national treasure, known as "el grano de oro" (the golden bean), and has long played an important role in Costa Rican life, especially as it’s connected to the “pure vida” lifestyle—taking time to enjoy the simple pleasures. San José is right in the midst of the coffee-growing region, so as you can imagine, it is popular here. The pace of life in the US is often rush-rush-rush, so students tend to enjoy the chance to slow down over a cafecito, which is as much about connection as it is about caffeine. There’s a tradition around 3 pm to enjoy a cup and a conversation with family or friends, along with some small snacks. Pastries, bread, or fruit are typical.

SAN JOSÉ HAS A THRIVING ART SCENE.

Whether it’s contemporary paintings from a Central American artist hanging in a brightly lit professional gallery space, beautiful hand-made crafts from the community of indigenous artisans laid out on tables in a market, or colorful street murals that nod to identity and politics in Barrio Escalante that catch your eye, there’s no denying the culture of creativity here. Some of the popular pieces to seek out are Chorotega pottery, sarchi ox carts, and güiro musical instruments. The Museum of Contemporary Art and Design (MADC) which is set within an old alcohol factory, the Costa Rican Museum of Art, Galería Namu, and Galería Sophia Wanamaker, are all great places to immerse yourself in the world of Costa Rican art.

THE SAN JOSÉ SOUNDTRACK IS UNIQUE.

The soundtrack of daily life in San José is a mix of sounds that capture the character of the capital and reflect the rhythm of the city. You’ll hear a group of pensioners playing marimbas and guitars at crosswalks, the calls from street stall vendors selling everything from phone covers to fresh avocados to underwear, the crackling speakers in Mercado Central announcing deals of the day, rumbling buses in the streets, the hiss of a tortilla hitting a griddle, honking traffic, overlapping chatter of Ticos (Costa Ricans) as they pass, birdsong, church bells, and roosters all mesh together to create a backdrop to your day in San José.

With a semester in San José, you'll have time to peel back the layers of local life and really dig into the experience, discovering your own version of this vibrant city with each wander, encounter, and spontaneous moment that you decide to embrace.