Hidden Gems of San José: Must-See Spots Beyond the Tourist Trail

Mar 2

Costa Rica is full of wonder and surprise. Whether you want to wander in a rainforest, go white water rafting, or immerse yourself in the culture of a vibrant city, you can do it Pura Vida style.

San José, Costa Rica’s capital, is located in the central part of the country, in the San José Province. This was the last stop of our two-week adventure and, while we spent one day exploring the city, we also took advantage of its central location to book one more adventurous excursion to the beautiful Limón Province on the Caribbean side of Costa Rica.

San José was vastly different than the Arenal and Guanacaste regions where we started our trip. We stayed at the Hotel Santo Tomas, a registered historic landmark built in 1908, centrally located just blocks from San José’s Central Avenue. Connected to a Wellness Center, the entrance to the hotel was a little unexpected, but then we discovered it’s hidden gem - a courtyard with a swimming pool, hot tub and open-air cafe where a fresh-cooked, hot breakfast was served daily (included with our room).

We only had one full day in San José and like we have in so many other cities we’ve visited around the world, we spent it exploring on foot. We walked through Morazán Park, filled with numerous sculptures, and Parque Central de San José (Central Park of San Jose). We toured the Museo National (National Museum of Costa Rica), walked along Graffiti Wall, and sipped cappuccinos at the National Theater of Costa Rica. Then, we stopped to say a prayer in the Metropolitan Cathedral of San José.

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Before arriving in San José, we had a three-and-a-half-hour drive from Guanacaste in the northern region. Along the way, we stopped at the Natuwa Wildlife Sanctuary, a volunteer-run wildlife sanctuary that is home to birds and wild animals who have been injured, raised in captivity or moved from their native environment due to deforestation, and are no longer able to survive in the wild. A stop here is well worth the time! While it’s sad to see animals in captivity, Natuwa offers these stunning creatures a safe place to recover and thrive.

After leaving Natuwa, we stopped in the small fishing village of Puntarenas for another typical Costa Rican lunch. Located on a small peninsula in the Gulf of Nicoya, it was the perfect place to get fresh seafood, including fresh ceviche and arroz con mariscos.

Between Puntarenas and San José, we stopped at a couple of roadside fruit stands to pick up some snacks for later in our hotel. Fresh fruits are definitely one of Costa Rica’s treasures! I highly encourage taking the time to stop along your travels to explore the bountiful options you’ll find at the roadside markets.

Pacuare River, Limón Province

The last day of our two-week adventure - and possibly our favorite - we spent white water rafting down the Pacuare River. We booked a group tour and took a ride about 2 1/2 hours east of San José - heading toward the Caribbean side of Costa Rica. To our surprise, the tour turned out to be just the two of us and our two guides - Diego in the raft with us and Jorge kayaking alongside for safety.

Our trip down the river was 30k (approx. 18 miles) and featured four class 4 rapids, eight class 3s, and several class 2s. The idea of that was intimidating to me since it was my first white water experience, but Diego made it easy and fun!

Along one side of Río Pacuare is the rain forest where some of Costa Rica’s indigenous people live. One family welcomed us to their home where we enjoyed a buffet lunch halfway into our trip down river and learned a bit about how they live.

All along the river, we saw so many birds and butterflies and waterfalls! If this isn’t Pura Vida, I don’t know what is.