San José Tourist Attractions

Juan Santamaría International Airport is the main airport serving its capital city - San José. It is located approximately 20 kilometers from downtown.

The airport is named after Costa Rica's national hero, Juan Santamaría, a drummer boy who died in 1856 defending his country against forces led by American filibuster William Walker.

It welcomes passengers flying into one of Central America's seven countries from airports in South America, the United States, the Caribbean, Canada, and Europe.

Sansa Airlines, Avianca Costa Rica, Costa Rica Green Airways, and Volaris Costa Rica use the airport as a hub, and Copa Airlines operates it as a focus city.

According to reputable travel publications, Costa Rica is an international destination on the rise for world adventurers, digital nomads, and travelers seeking unconventional experiences such as spending their vacation learning about environmental care, promoting sustainability, and caring for nature in an unparalleled setting by staying in an eco-lodge instead of a resort.

You will love Costa Rica's tropical forests and dreamy coastlines in the Caribbean and Pacific oceans. You will enjoy it whether you come and see La Fortuna, Puntarenas, Copey, Playa Hermosa, Boca Tapada, Tamarindo, or all of them.

San Jose is famous for its natural diversity, museums, theaters, and historic structures. The city's many accessible cultural events, shopping opportunities, parks, and museums will appeal to the entire family.

Consider looking for things to do in San Jose while passing through Juan Santamaria International Airport. In that case, you'll find the following area attractions interesting and enjoyable:

San Jose: Manuel Antonio National Park Combo Tour from San Jose

Address: Puntarenas Province, Quepos, Puntarenas, Puerto Quepos, Costa Rica

Phone: +506 2777 2100

On this day trip from San Jose, you can explore the breathtaking beauty of Manuel Antonio National Park. Visit Crocodile Bridge and Tarcoles Beach. Explore the park's rainforest trails and eat breakfast and lunch at local restaurants.

Enjoy being picked up from the comfort of your San Jose area lodging. Travel by air-conditioned coach to a local restaurant next to the country's largest fruit market for breakfast.

Visit the market to see a wide range of tropical fruits. Continue your journey by stopping at the famous crocodile bridge, where you can see one of Costa Rica's largest crocodile populations.

Find scarlet macaws in their natural habitat at Tarcoles Beach, where they want to assemble. Take photos of Costa Rica's most popular coastal town from the Jaco Bay lookout point.

Travel to Manuel Antonio National Park and spend an hour hiking the rainforest trails with your guide in search of monkeys, sloths, toucans, and agoutis. Spend your free time relaxing on the park's beautiful beaches or hiking along the rainforest trails.

Enjoy a luscious lunch of local cuisine in a restaurant with spectacular jungle and ocean views. Lunch is served around 2 pm, after which you will be taken back to your hotel in San Jose.

San Jose: Jade Museum

Address: y 13 bis, Av. Central, San José, Costa Rica

Phone: +506 2521 6610

Visitors to Costa Rica come for a variety of reasons. They appreciate more than the natural beauty of the landscape or the ecological wonders of the country's wildlife. The government also provides tourists with unique cultural experiences.

Jade can be found all over Mesoamerica, and it is a semi-precious stone. It is prized for its vibrant colors and translucent properties. The stone comes in a variety of colors ranging from white to emerald green. Although the stone is opaque mainly, enough light can pass through it to make it appear to glow.

The ancients used jade to create enduring symbols of their cultural values. It was a product of time and effort to perfect the art, and artisans concentrated on creating images vital to them in jade.

The stone is difficult to come by. An advanced level of economic knowledge was required to obtain sufficient material to work with. It is a burdensome stone to carve because of its high hardness. Artisans' elaborate patterns required specific processes and professional talents.

The Jade Museum in Costa Rica has over 7,000 items on display. The majority of these are between 500 and 300 BC.

The jade trade was at its peak at the time. Pre-Columbian cultures traded with the Olmecs and Mayans to meet the demand for raw materials.

The majority of the jade pieces depict animals and societal organization. Jade artwork and jewelry were ornamental and frequently emphasized religious or shamanic rituals.

Six exhibits highlight aspects of jade artwork to demonstrate the region's importance of jade:

• Threshold: An examination of the ecological and historical circumstances that led to the rise of jade societies.
• Jade: The ancient Mesoamerican craft, economy, and trade of jade stone and artifacts.
• The Day: Pre-Columbian society in Costa Rica's daily life.
• The Night: Jade's applications in religion, warfare, and burial rites.
• Memory: A musical, historical, and technological celebration.
• Jade art from Greater Nicoya, Central Region, and Greater Chiriqui.

Gold, ceramic, and stone works, along with the jade pieces, are on display. The museum's exhibits are enhanced with detailed graphics, maps, and textual explanations.

Visitors are encouraged to practice their foreign language skills. The majority of the information is in Spanish.

The modern structure also houses several other essential amenities for visitors. On their website, you can buy gifts. There is also a snack bar and a small café where visitors can purchase coffee or other drinks while on tour.

The museum's interior is serenely beautiful. Each jade piece sits quietly, waiting for visitors to enjoy it.

The dim lighting is adequate while also being easy on the eyes. The displayed items are individually illuminated to highlight their most impressive visual qualities.

A flowing fountain provides a soothing musical element to the experience.

When you visit Costa Rica, you are welcome to visit the Jade Museum. Stroll through at leisure and admire the country's most impressive jade collection.

San Jose: Pre-Columbian Gold Museum

Address: Bajos de la Plaza de la Cultura. Avenida Central. Calle 5 San José Centro San José CR 10104, Av. Central, San José, Costa Rica

Phone: +506 2243 4202

In San José, Costa Rica, there is a museum called the Pre-Columbian Gold Museum. It is owned and curated by the Banco Central de Costa Rica and is housed in an underground building beneath the "Plaza de la Cultura."

The museum has 3,567 Pre-Columbian artifacts, including 1,922 ceramic pieces, 46 stone objects, 1,586 gold objects, nine glass or bead objects, and four jade. The gold collection spans the centuries from 300 to 400 BC to 1550 AD.

Animal figurines, amulets, earrings, erotic statuettes, and several dioramas are included in the collection. Also, El Guerrero is a detailed scale model of a Pre-Columbian village and a life-sized warrior figure fully adorned with gold ornaments in a glass case.

Also, you can gaze upon a replica of a pre-Columbian grave containing 88 gold objects discovered in the 1950s on a banana plantation in southeastern Costa Rica. Gold was considered a symbol of authority in Costa Rican history.

The items are a testament to Pre-Columbian craftsmanship. The Museo Numismático, located on the ground floor of the same building, has displays dating back to 1236, including coins, banknotes, and unofficial items such as coffee tokens.

San Jose: Children's Museum

Address: Av 9, Bajos de La Union, San José, Costa Rica

Phone: +506 2258 4929

Costa Rica has lovely weather. Its beautiful scenery and rich culture have helped it to become one of the most popular tourist destinations in recent years. San Jose has grown in popularity in particular.

If you plan to visit the city, don't miss the Children's Museum or Museo de Los Ninos for a truly unique experience.

The Children's Museum is steeped in history. It was known as the Central Penitentiary for the first 80 years of its existence.

The museum was opened to public viewing in April 1994 and has become a popular destination for tourists and locals. Every year, nearly 300,000 people pass through its doors.

The variety of activities available at The Children's Museum will appeal to children and adults. The structure contains 40 interactive rooms, each offering a new adventure.

Begin by learning about the universe, archaeology, or Egyptian culture before moving on to interact in Costa Rica, nature, and transportation rooms. The human body, electricity, television, and recycling are other rooms.

In addition to the numerous daily tour activities, the museum hosts several events throughout the year. You can attend events commemorating Children's Day, the museum's anniversary, Christmas, and other holidays depending on when you visit.

Finally, the museum has a zone for young people to meet friends and hang out.

Visit the Children's Museum to experience Costa Rican culture on a budget, costing only USD 3.49 for children under 15 and USD 3.83 for everyone else. Except for Monday, the building is open every day.