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San José, Costa Rica

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San José (Spanish: San José; ) is the capital and largest city of Costa Rica. Located in the center of the country, sprawling across the Central Valley, the city is the seat of the government, the focal point of political and economic activity, as well as the major transportation hub of this Central American nation.

Founded in 1738, San José is one of the youngest capitals of Latin America by its year of foundation, though it was not named capital until 1823. Nowadays it's a modern city with bustling commerce, brisk expressions of art and architecture, and spurred by the country's improved tourism industry, a significant destination and stopover for foreign visitors.

Officially, the city's current population is 346,799, inhabiting the area corresponding to San José Canton, the first of twenty administrative units in San José Province, though the metropolitan area stretches beyond the canton limits and comprises a third of the country's population. Besides, San José exerts a strong influence on a wider range because of its proximity to minor cities (Alajuela, Heredia and Cartago) and the country's demographic assemblage in the Central Valley.

The city lies at a mean elevation of 1,161 m above sea level, and enjoys a stable climate throughout the year, with an average temperature of 23C and precipitation of 150 mm per month.

The University of Costa Rica was established here in 1843, in that time with the name of "University of Santo Tomás". San José also serves as the headquarters of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights. The city is served by Juan Santamaría International Airport, 23 km west of downtown, near Alajuela.

History

The latter half of the 20th century was a period of rapid growth for the city, considering that in 1950 its population was a mere 8,900.

San José was a small village of little significance until 1824. In that year, Costa Rica's first elected head of state, Juan Mora Fernández, moved the government of Costa Rica from the old Spanish colonial capital of Cartago. This was a time of much optimism in the newly independent nation of Central America, of which Costa Rica was at that time a state (see: History of Central America).

City Landmarks

Important places in the city include the Banco Central de Costa Rica building, the Banco Nacional building (much taller than other buildings nearby, giving the city its particular skyline), La Sabana Metropolitan Park, Avenida Central (a pedestrian thoroughfare and one of the major commercial areas in the city). The Central Park and the Plaza de la Cultura are visited by thousands of workers and tourists every day. The Teatro Nacional de Costa Rica (National Theatre of Costa Rica), Melico Salazar Theater, and the Cathedral are other landmarks in the central area. In the south, the Clínica Bíblica (a private hospital) and the Pacific Train Station are important buildings.

Climate

San José City lies in the Torrid Zone, like the rest of the country, but its elevation gives it a mild climate. The temperature ranges between 15 °C and 26 °C (59-79°F). The rainy season is from April to late November, but cloudiness and rainfall can occur during the dry season. Also very windy which decreases the temperature. Relative humidity tends to range between 60% and 90%.

Tourist attractions

There are numerous touristic places around San José:

  • El Pueblo is a mix of more than 50 bars, clubs, restaurants, art galleries and shops. Lining the picturesque cobblestone streets within walking distance of several hotels and resorts, it is a lively place from 9 p.m. until dawn.
  • Calle de la Amargura in San Pedro near the University of Costa Rica has a wide selection of bars, restaurants and discos and caters to University students with food and drinks for relatively low prices. Pickpockets and low-level criminals are a cause of concern.
  • Neighbourhoods around Heredia have a lot of bars and nightclubs.
  • The cantons of Escazú and Santa Ana offer many options and quality places, though sometimes at inflated prices.
  • There are many red-light districts around the city and in the San José Metropolitan Area, where the adult entertainment business is growing.

Prostitution

Although prostitution among adults is legal in Costa Rica, child prostitution is illegal. Local media regularly report on child prostitution. It is also covered in the annual reports of the U. S. State Department regarding prostitution and the international trafficking of minors. Government statistics show that the problem is prevalently domestic in origin, but foreign governments have blacklisted Costa Rica as a haven for paedophiles. However the government deals harshly with those criminals they arrest. There are a large number of small establishments in San Jose catering to locals seeking prostitutes.

A small number of hotels might be tolerant of guests bringing in prostitutes, but most require that prostitutes show identification such as passports or national identification cards.

Attractions

The National Theater and the Melico Salazar offer hectic calendars of cultural activities, featuring theater and dance groups and orchestra music throughout the year.

There are some cafés in the downtown area, in the Central Mail building, The National Theater and the Melico Salazar, where national coffee is prepared and served in typical Costa Rican ways.

There are many museums and other attractions offering alternative ways of exploring the city. One of these is the Gold Museum, which offers a rare look at various gold artifacts of the ancient Latin American civilizations. An interesting attraction for the less adventurous is the Lankester Botanical Gardens just outside of San José. Other attractions include various bars and clubs which concentrate on holding musical shows and events. One for example is the bar "Sand Live" which is a massive inside/outside bar and concert hall which usually holds rock and extreme metal shows.

References

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Last updated on Thursday March 13, 2008 at 20:04:15 PDT (GMT -0700)
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