San José
San José, capital and largest city of Costa Rica. Pop. (2020) city, 1,453,500.
Situated in the broad, fertile Valle Central at 3,800 feet (1,160 meters) above sea level, San José was called Villa Nueva when it was settled in 1736. It developed slowly as a tobacco center in the Spanish colonial era. In 1823 the national capital was transferred there from nearby Cartago. In the 1840s the town became one of the important centers of coffee production, which remained the chief source of Costa Rica’s income throughout the 19th century.
The political, social, and economic center of Costa Rica, San José grew rapidly in the 20th century, both in population and in area. Most neighborhoods surrounding the city center were developed in a grid pattern. After 1950 the number of industrial establishments increased. A transportation hub, San José is an important point on the Inter-American (Pan-American) Highway and is at the junction of express highways to the Atlantic and Pacific coasts. Air traffic at the Juan Santamaría International Airport, west of the city, increased after the Contra war in neighboring Nicaragua ended in 1990 and continues growing because of the country’s popularity among tourists.
Some of the city’s important historic buildings include a 19th-century cathedral and the National Theatre (Spanish: Teatro Nacional de Costa Rica), modeled after the Paris Opéra. The Metropolitan Cathedral of San José, originally constructed in 1802, was destroyed by an earthquake in 1822. It was rebuilt in 1871, resulting in the impressive structure that stands today, blending Greek Orthodox, Neoclassical, and Baroque architectural styles. The National Theatre is also one of San José’s most important and architecturally impressive buildings. Located in the city center, the theater boasts an ornate interior, featuring lavish furnishings and marble statues. Historically, it was a key attraction designed to draw wealthy visitors to the city and country. Today the theater continues to operate, offering a wide variety of performances, including theater, dance, and music.
San José is home to many museums and educational sites. The National Museum of Costa Rica (Spanish: Museo Nacional de Costa Rica) features exhibits that explore Costa Rica’s history, archaeology, and natural history. The site of the museum is the former Bellavista Barracks, where the national army was abolished in 1948. There is also the Jade Museum, an archaeological museum renowned for having the largest collection of pre-Columbian jade artifacts in the world. Another prominent institution is the Museum of Contemporary Art and Design, which presents a diverse range of exhibitions, both individual and collective, showcasing works by Costa Rican and international artists.
San José also hosts a number of higher education institutions. Notably, the University of Costa Rica, founded in 1940, is the oldest and most diverse of the city’s four public universities. The political stability and democratic reputation of Costa Rica attract sizable numbers of international students to both public and private universities in San José.
Downtown San José and its surrounding areas offer a wide range of outdoor parks and activities. The area is home to a distinct collection of plazas that commemorate the country’s progressive and democratic traditions—notably the Democracy, Culture, and Social Guarantees plazas. There is a small park named for U.S. Pres. John F. Kennedy, memorializing his visit to the country in 1963. San José is also close to the Braulio Carrillo National Park, which is one of Costa Rica’s largest and most ecologically diverse protected areas. The park is expansive, with more than 108,000 acres, and features a primary forest and the Barva Volcano. The highest point of the park reaches an elevation of 9,534 feet (2,905 meters).
The trusted destination for professionals, college students, and lifelong learners.
SUBSCRIBE
Coffee, a key product of Costa Rica, holds significant importance in the region surrounding San José. Several coffee farms are near the city, with one of the closest being Hacienda Alsacia, which is owned and operated by Starbucks. Visitors to Hacienda Alsacia can explore the methods of coffee cultivation and processing while learning about its cultural and economic significance to the country.