San Jose, Costa Rica’s capital, has a population of about 1.5 million and is spread out along a fertile valley.
This was the beginning, middle, and end of our Gate 1 Travel, 14-day Kaleidoscope of Costa Rica tour. We flew in and started our tour there, traveling to Tortuguero and then back to San Jose. We left again, headed around the country, and returned to the city for our final night.
We’ll try not to make this too confusing. In this blog post, we’ve grouped all our activities as we stayed in the same hotel for all three portions of our time in the San Jose hotel.
First, we must shout out to our incredible Tour Manager, Jose. He had a wealth of knowledge and an incredible sense of humor, making the trip enjoyable.
Park Inn by Radisson San Jose
Park Inn by Radisson, San Jose
Av. 6, CR-P, San José, San Bosco, 10103, Costa Rica
As mentioned, this hotel was our home base for much of the trip. The hotel was bright and modern, comfortable but slightly minimalist.
Unfortunately, the biggest drawback to the hotel was its location. The neighborhood appeared to be pretty safe. We were told we could easily walk to the center of town, about 20 minutes, but there was nothing close to the hotel. When you arrive early, you typically look for a convenience store or a place to grab a bite. But there was nothing in the neighborhood.
The biggest plus of the hotel was its restaurant, RBG. We ate there several times across the trip, and it was also the location of the included breakfasts. From the vegetarian Falafel Burger to a really good Bacon Cheeseburger and Quesadilla, the food and cocktails were excellent, and the staff was friendly and attentive.
Side Note: we arranged our airport transfers and had no issues.
However, several of our friends ended up at another Park Inn hotel, so be clear with the information you provided your driver.
Restaurante Pescatore
Multiplaza Escazú Golden Plaza Shopping Center, San Jose
As we met with friends we’d met on previous trips, we all arrived early and chose to have a group dinner before the tour started.
The group selected Restaurante Pescatore, an upscale seafood restaurant about a 15-minute Uber ride from our hotel. Pescatore offers a fusion of traditional Peruvian foods with Mediterranean cuisine.
Mark started his meal with Leche de Tigre, or Tiger’s Milk. This is often the spicey, milky mixture left at the bottom of Ceviche. This offering was served in a glass with pieces of fresh Corvina and was light, spicy, and delicious.
Mark’s entree was Linguine con Vongole, a delicious Pasta dish with Clams in Garlic, Olive Oil, and White Wine Sauce. As Chuck doesn’t eat Clams, we don’t make them at home, but it was a nice treat.
Chuck’s entree was a Chef’s Specialty: Gorgonzola Tenderloin. It was Grilled Tenderloin of Beef with homemade Tagliatelle in a creamy Gorgonzola Sauce. It was pretty amazing!
Everyone in our group enjoyed their meal, which was a great way to start our trip.
Centro Walking Tour
At the end of our tour, we returned to San Jose and took a walking tour of the downtown area. The tour took us through a park in the center of town and highlighted several museums, government buildings, and schools.
While it was interesting, we found that after nearly two weeks of exploring the country’s natural beauty, we weren’t blown away by the city.
The Gold Museum
The Pre-Columbian Gold Museum
Calle 5 San José Centro San José CR 10104, Av. Central, San José, Costa Rica
As part of our walking tour, we visited the Pre-Columbian Gold Museum, an underground building under the Plaza de la Cultura. Banco Central de Costa Rica owns and curates it.
The museum is well worth the visit. It houses an extensive collection of priceless pre-Columbian gold, historical currency, and other artifacts. It was a fun way to spend the afternoon.
The National Theater
The National Theater of Costa Rica
Avenida 2, C. 5, San José, Catedral, Costa Rica
This theater is located just around the corner from the Gold Museum and is a vast cultural asset to the country. It opened in 1897 when coffee exports were a big part of Costa Rica’s wealth and attracted incredible talent.
Today, it is home to the National Symphony Orchestra of Costa Rica, with multiple weekly performances.
Unfortunately, we only saw the lobby interior and statues. However, it was beautiful and a nice break before our farewell dinner.
Gran Hotel Costa Rica
Gran Hotel Costa Rica, Curio Collection by Hilton
2nd Avenue between 1st and 3rd Streets, San Jose
This 1930 building is located just across from the National Theater and was the site for our tour’s farewell dinner. The hotel played a considerable part in Costa Rica’s history, hosting many icons who performed in the theater, multiple US presidents, foreign dignitaries, actors, and athletes.
Unfortunately, the hotel’s four-star reputation didn’t help us during our farewell dinner. The food was bland, and the service was lacking. But the company made up for it.
But Wait, There’s More!
Honestly, San Jose was our least favorite part of our trip. Looking back, we confirmed that you go to Costa Rica for the incredible wildlife and natural scenery.
Be sure to follow along because the rest of the trip was pretty spectacular.
It was beautiful, from winding mountain roads to the boat trip to one of our hotels, an incredible coffee plantation, and a night walk for critters high above our resort in Monteverde, Costa Rica.
You’re Welcome
Yes, we refrained from making any references, jokes, or comments about knowing the way to San Jose. Sorry, Dionne.
