Sightseeing in San Jose - what to see. Complete travel guide

San Jose is the capital of Costa Rica. The city, which was founded in 1737, is famous for its pleasant mild climate. The style of decoration of the local houses is a combination of a variety of styles from traditional Spanish architecture to the ultra-modernist trends. The main city square, Plaza de la Cultura, is located in the center of San Jose. The square is surrounded by a national theater, museum and ICT information center gold.

Not far away from the central square you will find another one named Plaza de la Democracia. The former barracks of Bellavista are located here. Nowadays these barracks have been turned into a national museum, an amazing museum of jade, several administrative agencies and Parc de la Ekspreson that has become a home place to the exhibition of works of the talented local artists.

For those, who like to travel, San Jose offers the opportunity to visit the nearby neighborhood of the city - Poas Volcano, ancient Spanish fortress Fortin, El Bosque-Encantado children's entertainment complex, the local zoo, the museum and the institute coffee, La Guácimo butterflies breeding farm, and various neighboring cities. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

Cerro San Jose cliff is a significant natural symbol of the capital. Many travelers know it as The Mountain of Death. It's the highest point of Costa Rica. It is incredibly difficult to climb the mountain, many professional climbers have lost their lives while conquering the cliff. Once the Pan-American Highway is completed, it became possible to conquer the peak. There are guided walks on the mountains. Here, you can see a special species of tiny bamboo and rare species of fern, as well as large glades with blueberries and wild gooseberry. The main inhabitants of this region are birds.

The most interesting cultural object is the Museum of Numismatics and Pre-Columbian Gold. In fact, it represents two unique museums located in the same building. Its main values are items made of precious metals related to pre-Columbian times. During the colonial era, many valuables taken from the indigenous populations were melted down into gold bars. However, some of them survived. Nowadays, golden statues of the gods, jewellery and ritual things, that previously belonged to the indigenous tribes are available to visitors.

Lovers of natural attractions are invited to visit Orosi valley. It is not by accident considered one of the most beautiful places in Costa Rica. The valley is known for a unique cool climate that supports rare plants and flowers. Special climatic conditions made these places ideal for growing coffee. Some plantations are open to visitors. Several coffee processing plants operate here. There are also national restaurants and specialized shops.

Braulio Carrillo Natural Reserve is in the immediate vicinity of San José. It was founded in 1978 and covers an area of more than 40000 hectares. This natural park astonishes with striking contrasts. Mountains in luxuriant tropical vegetation, volcanic landscapes, and all kinds of other natural sights can be seen there. The entire territory is covered by a network of cable cars. Tourists are always welcomed to admire the natural beauty from above.