San Jose
The CouchSurfing Wiki, an informal workspace which anyone can edit.
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
San José is the capital of Costa Rica located in the central valley in the middle of the Tilaran and the Talamanca mountains. The City of San Jose in itself has a population of 500,000 and, merged with the "Gran Area Metropolitana" (Metro Zone), the area totals about 1.5 million people.
Though our small city is often overlooked by the guidebooks in favor of spewing volcanoes, cool cloud forests, and sprawling beaches, San José has much to offer visitors and tourists. In fact, San José is the country's cultural heartbeat, home to museums housing pre-Columbian treasures, international cultural festivals, and grand theaters that host incredible orchestras, operas, and ballets. Chepe, as San José is often called, also offers the country's best eating, most active nightlife, and a central location from which all Costa Rican trips are made possible.
Contents |
Meetings
The San José area Couchsurfers are very social, usually getting together weekly. For general information and events, check out the Costa Rica Group and San José Group. For good eating, look no further than Los Comelones.
CouchSurfing and Requesting in San José
There are almost 250 CouchSurfers listed in San José, though not all of them have a free couch or bed. When searching for a couch, be flexible, and remember that not many people live in downtown San José. Make sure to check surrounding neighborhoods like Curridabat, Escazú, and San Pedro - they're only a 15 minute bus ride to the city center, and much more residential. In addition, have a look at Heredia and Alajuela -- both are just 25-30 minutes from downtown San José -- where you'll find an additional 120+ CouchSurfers.
When looking for a San José couch to surf, please do not post to the San José or Costa Rica group. On the whole, San José CouchSurfers prefer individual, personalized CouchRequests - no generics!! Though it may seem obvious, reading a profile will help you identify whether you will make a good host-surfer fit, so make sure to read through their everything carefully, especially their couch info. Remember CouchSurfing is not about finding a free place to stay, but rather about cultural exchange and personal connections! When making your CouchRequest, address your host by name, and add in a few tidbits from his profile to show that you've read it thoroughly. Doing this, in addition to having a completed profile, will greatly increase your chance of being hosted. Please see How to write a CouchRequest page for more ideas.
If you're in a last-minute rush, or have had no luck in finding a couch, please post to the Costa Rica Last Minute CouchRequest Group
Getting to San José
By air
Many major airlines fly into the Juan Santamaría International Airport (airport code: SJO), which is located in Alajuela, just 25 minutes from downtown San José.
For a general overview of flights, check out the usual websites, like Travelocity, Expedia, Kayak, and Orbitz, or deal with the major airlines directly:
Arriving from North America:
- Air Canada
- American Airlines
- Continental
- Copa
- Delta
- Mexicana
- Northwest
- Spirit Air
- Taca
- United
- US Airways
Arriving from Latin America/Caribbean:
Arriving from Europe:
By Bus
Many budget travelers and backpackers prefer bus travel for its incredible prices and opportunity to see the countryside. There are several companies that bus into and out of San José:
By Car
By law, you may drive your own car (not a rental) into Costa Rica, and keep it here for up to 6 months. However, due to road conditions and theft, this is not a recommended form of transport.
Getting To and From the Airport
Contrary to popular belief, the Juan Santamaría International Airport is located in Alajuela, not San José. Not to worry, though, since it's just a short 25-minute trip into downtown San José, which you may take in rental car, taxi, or public bus.
Rental Car: There are several rental car agencies ready and willing to greet you at the airport, though this is definitely the most expensive and terrifying option. If you've never driven in Latin America or the Caribbean before, be prepared for crowded streets, aggressive driving, and advanced maneuvering that would worry even the most seasoned New York City taxi driver.
Taxi: Outside the airport doors, there are taxis waiting to take you anywhere you please. Make sure to only take the designated airport taxis - they're marked by their orange exteriors. There's no negotiating with the airport taxistas - prices are fixed, and paid at the airport. Though a bit on the expensive side ($15-$30, depending on your San José destination), these taxis are generally safe, and there's no chance of getting ripped off at the end of your ride.
Public Bus: As you walk out of the airport, walk about 100 meters to the main road, just past the waiting taxis and parking garage. For about $0.60, the public bus, which runs every 15-20 minutes, will take you into the heart of downtown San José, where you can take another bus or taxi to your final destination. If you have lots of luggage, ask the bus driver to open up the under-bus compartment.
Getting Around San José
Buses
Taxis
Walk!
Neighborhoods
San José Tips
