San Jose – 1 full day

2 nights at Urban Green Hotel & Suites, Avenida Primera, Calles 1 y 3 Distrito Carmen, 10101, Costa Rica

  • Price: 152.48€
  • Review: I’d like to praise this hotel, as it provided excellent value for money. Every arrangement we made with the hotel staff was seamless, especially when they assisted us in arranging taxi transportation from the airport to the hotel. The room was neat, and the bed was exceptionally comfortable. We were grateful for the air conditioning, which was essential for cooling the room before bedtime. The breakfast served in the morning was freshly prepared, and really delicious. Also, the hotel was situated in the heart of the city, making everything within walking distance. We regret not rebooking the same hotel for our final night in San Jose.

1 night at Hotel Milan Costa Rica, Calle 20 con Av 7, esquina San Jose, 10102, Costa Rica

  • Price: 75.15€
  • Review: The hotel was a bit disappointing. We couldn’t get any sleep at night due to minimal soundproofing, with young people returning from their night out. They were disturbing us as they were really loud. Someone even knocked on our door. We were waking up every half an hour… Although it looked good from the outside and in the pictures, the rooms were extremely small. We almost struggled to fit into the room, the two of us with 3 large suitcases and 2 backpacks. However, I must praise them for the breakfast they prepared for us to take away in the morning, and for the smooth arrangement of a taxi to the airport at 5 AM.

Some travelers choose to exclude San Jose from their travel plans, while others don’t. I’m undecided on what to recommend. However, I’m inclined to suggest spending a day in San Jose to experience its unique contrast from the rest of the country. San Jose arguably stands out as the most untidy and chaotic part of the country, at least in our perception.

During our stay, we observed a notable presence of homeless people and street beggars. The streets were littered with garbage and there was a hustle of people selling various goods, often loudly. Yet, all of these aspects contribute to the vibrant life and cultural tapestry of the capital. We’re pleased that we chose to stay and witness this firsthand.

San Jose offers attractions like its cathedral, Plaza De La Cultura featuring the National Theater, and Los Presentes by the National Bank symbolizing the workers vital to Costa Rica’s economy. A walk along Avenida Central reveals the city’s vibrant atmosphere with its diverse shops. Aslo, if in San Jose, nobody should miss out on trying local food and shopping at Central Market and Farmers Market for unique items or spices. Although recommended, we were too exhausted to visit the Pre-Columbian Gold Museum.

Expenses

  • Peri = 52,000 colones spent on food and drinks to bring back home (our last night in San Jose)
  • Taxi to the airport = $30
  • Airport souvenirs = 60€

Journal

5.4., Friday, Day 1

The day turned out to be quite long. We kicked off from Vienna relatively early, catching a train from the main station at 7:12 for the airport. By 10:30, we were already aboard a lengthy 9-hour flight to Toronto. During the flight, we were seated next to an elderly gentleman, and out of consideration, we didn’t disturb him to move for us. Consequently, we only used the restroom when he did.

Upon arrival, we had a three-hour layover before our flight to San Jose. However, due to delays on some connecting flights, our wait extended to more than 4 hours. Nonetheless, we remained optimistic about our Costa Rican adventure. Yet, a word of advice to fellow travelers: do not take off your shoes after a full day of traveling. We had a fellow passenger who arrived late due to a previous flight, and upon sitting next to us, he promptly removed his shoes, resulting in an uncomfortable experience. While the smell eventually became tolerable, the initial few minutes were quite challenging. Despite being unsure whether to politely ask him to put his shoes back on or simply endure the discomfort, I chose the latter for the time being.

Fortunately, we managed to catch some rest during the flight, which was crucial as the following day consisted of extensive walking and activities.

Navigating through the airport was straightforward, with clear directions and efficient security checks. Despite a slight delay caused by delayed connecting flights, we eventually made it to our destination.

Our pre-arranged taxi driver was waiting for us upon arrival. We communicated with him beforehand via WhatsApp to inform him of our delay. My familiarity with Spanish made communication effortless, allowing for a pleasant conversation about our journey and plans.

Upon reaching the hotel, we were checked in, with the staff already aware of our arrival. After settling in, taking care of the necessary paperwork, and receiving some useful information, we headed to our room for some much-needed rest.

6.4., Saturday, Day 2

I woke up at 5:30, and Tin got up around 6:30. This gave us enough time to get hungry and enjoy the breakfast. I must say, the breakfast was excellent. They had eggs, gallo pinto (rice with black beans), sausages, and vegetables – just the right combination. Fortunately, our bodies hadn’t adjusted to the time zone yet, so the meal didn’t feel heavy. Along with our meal, we had some delicious coffee and tried Tamarind juice, although we weren’t exactly sure what it was. Later, we looked it up and found out it’s some type of legume.

Before we set out, we decided to check the weather outside. This turned into a brief walk around the center. We even queued up at the currency exchange, but after 5 minutes, we realized we didn’t have our passports with us, so we couldn’t make any exchanges. We returned to the hotel (which was just a 5-minute walk away) and grabbed the items we needed for the tour. We exchanged $200 into colones, which amounted to 98,500 colones at the exchange office, whereas the mid-market rate would have been 101,600 colones. The exchange rate wasn’t too unfavorable.

After exchanging money and a short walk, we sat down at a café inside the Teatro Nacional. We ordered fresh fruit juice, which was quite refreshing. The prices were a bit high, but not unexpected. Having juice at the theater had its own unique charm, despite the price.

We returned to the hotel to freshen up and then made our way to the meeting point despite the light rain. Our guides arrived, introduced themselves, split us into two groups, and we started our journey towards the Farmers Market. It was bustling with activity. There was a lot of food and a lively atmosphere. People were calling out, offering their products, and trying to attract customers. The street was a bit dirty, and I was initially concerned about the hygiene. However, after sanitizing our hands, we decided to immerse ourselves in the experience. At a fruit stand, we tried various fruits, starting with an amazing pineapple. Everything was incredibly juicy and sweet. Moving indoors to the covered section of the market, we tried mini bananas, learned about the process of making banana vinegar, and heard about the arrival of banana bunches from the countryside.

After exploring the Farmers Market, we ventured into the Central Market, which offered a diverse array of goods, including food and other items. Here, we tried the ice cream made from a century-old recipe. We also learned about different spices, medicinal ingredients, and cultural beliefs surrounding certain products. It was an enriching experience.

Next, we visited Mr. Sloth café, where we made and ate cheese empanadas and enjoyed authentic tamales. We also drank sugarcane lemonade and learned about coffee production while savoring fresh arabica. Satisfied with our culinary journey, we purchased a pack of coffee to take home.

The tour exceeded our expectations, providing us with a wealth of culinary delights and cultural insights. After trying so many flavors, we felt content and ready for a brief nap.

Following a four-hour rest to combat our jet lag, we prepared for the Bar Crawl tour.

We were uncertain about what awaited us, but it turned out to be quite a lively experience. There’s a neighborhood packed with cafes and clubs within a short 5-minute walk, probably about 20 bars and clubs in total.

Our meeting point was at the first cinema in San Jose, and there were around 20 of us. Once everyone gathered, the excitement began. At the first bar, we kicked off with 5 shots. Some of them with salt on top were unappealing, tasting like salsa or meat sauce. However, the sweet ones, like chocolate and coconut, were tastier.

At the next bar, we enjoyed beer or vodka with a Red Bull flavor and engaged in drinking games with different categories, and drinking to the beat of the song “Thunder.”

The third stop was a club, a bit crowded but full of energy. There, we savored a refreshing cocktail and another round of shots. Yes, we indulged in quite a bit of alcohol, I admit. In the last club, we continued with shots, with the mojito shot being the highlight of the night.

We danced and enjoyed until I received a message notifying us that our transportation to La Fortuna at 8 AM was cancelled. Just like that, they informed us 8 hours in advance. What if we were already asleep? We would have found out in the morning, causing a bit of panic since we had the Farm Tour scheduled for the afternoon. Thankfully, our guide helped us secure alternative transportation, but at nearly double the cost. Considering it was late at night and the bus transportation could be chaotic, we decided to accept it and move on from the extra expense. It’s a situation that’s happened to us before, both in Cuba and now here.

We arranged for private transportation at 8 AM to ensure we arrive on time.

We weren’t particularly keen on more partying, especially since it was already past midnight. Hence, we opted to head back to the hotel and get some rest. After a quick shower, we were soon fast asleep.

Oh, I almost forgot to mention that on our way to the bars, we spotted two raccoons feasting in the yard of a beautiful, large house behind a tall fence. They likely lived nearby since just across the street was Parque Nacional with some greenery. It brought to mind memories of “Over the Hedge,” a movie my brother and I adored as kids, making the whole encounter quite charming.

26.4., Friday, Day 22

The trip from Sierpe to San Jose lasted a total of 8 hours as there was an accident on the road and we had to take a longer route. We were completely worn out and simply wanted to relax.

Upon reaching the hotel, we quickly headed to the store to use up some cash and purchase a few items for home. It was enjoyable to walk down Avenida Central around 5:30 PM when everyone was out; the street was bustling with activity. Experiencing the city in that manner was fantastic.

After returning to the hotel, we reorganized our belongings to reduce the weight of our suitcase, took a shower, and went to bed.

27.4., Saturday, Day 23

We didn’t get any sleep at night because the hotel was quite poor. The soundproofing was minimal, and young people kept coming back from their night out, disturbing us throughout the night. Someone even knocked on our door. We were waking up every half an hour…

Around 4:20 am, we finally finished packing, and by 5:10 am, we had arranged a taxi with the hotel. The taxi driver took us to the airport for $30, and that marked the end of our trip.

What followed was 27 hours of travel, involving 3 flights and a car journey from Austria to Croatia.

Despite it all, every flight and every moment of sitting and subsequent tiredness was worth it! I hope we’ll return to Costa Rica because there are many unexplored places. Also, I haven’t encountered such genuinely kind people anywhere else in the world. People there simply love to help and are inherently good. Life is uncomplicated and amazingly joyful in Costa Rica.

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