San Jose & Central Valley
Our first trip to San Jose was when we bought our RAV4 in 2017, and we took many more over the years, mostly for shopping. We got to know several areas — Escalante was our favorite, followed by Escazú and Alajuela.
Chris and Lakai visited the Starbucks farm, the only farm the coffee chain owns. There's plenty to do and some good malls for shopping. We didn't mind San Jose at all, despite the bad rap it tends to get.
Watch San Jose & Central Valley
What we'd tell a friend
- Eat your way through Barrio Escalante.
- Stay near the stadium to be central.
- Get up into the hills around San Jose.
- Ride the train to Cartago.
Who should come here?
- You want to see what the capital is like
- You want to shop
- You want to see some history
- You want food from around the world
- You only want beaches
- You don't like craziness
- You have limited time in the country
The Dufresnes Verdict
Questions we actually get
Is San Jose worth visiting?
Yes — it gets a bad rap, but we didn't mind it. The food is the standout (we scored it 10/10), especially Barrio Escalante, plus history, malls, and the hills around the city.
How many days do you need?
Five max. It's a city-and-shopping stop more than a long stay.
Do you need a car?
Recommended — we drove in and used a car to reach the different neighborhoods and the hills. You can also ride the train to Cartago.
Where should you eat?
Barrio Escalante — eat your way through it. It was our favorite part of the city.