Top Reasons to Go

Eating out: Instead of relying on mostly rice and beans and chicken like the rest of Costa Rica, San José's diverse restaurants offer a welcome change of pace.

Gold and jade museums: For a sense of indigenous Costa Rica, frequently forgotten during the nation's march to modernity, the country's two best museums are must-sees.

Historic Barrios Amón and Otoya: These northern neighborhoods abutting and sometimes overlapping downtown have tree-lined streets and century-old houses turned into trendy hotels and restaurants.

Location, location, location: From the capital's pivotal position, you can be riding river rapids or taking a coffee tour atop a giant volcano in an hour or less.

Shopping: San José is the best place to stock up on both essentials and souvenirs. Look for leather-and-wood rocking chairs, ceramics, textiles, and, of course, wonderful coffee.