Boutique Hotels in San Jose, Costa Rica

The capital of Costa Rica, San Jose is a vibrant city that’s home to lush rainforests, impressive Spanish colonial architecture, some of the best food in Central America are near many of our unique boutique hotels in San Jose.

Steeped in colonial history, San Jose was built on the coffee trade. A major source of economic development, coffee would go on to become one of the nation’s greatest exports. A combination of the country’s fertile soil, elevation and climate have made the area a top producer in coffee beans. You can take a tour of many of the coffee plantations still in operation today when staying at a boutique hotel in San Juan!

If you’re on Paseo Colon— a pedestrian-only street in the heart of San Jose— grab a cup of Puerto Rican coffee! There’s also some great shopping to be found on this stretch, lined with shops, restaurants and bars.

If you’re traveling with children, be sure to stop at the Parque La Sabana. Located in the center of San Jose, this park has a variety of attractions, including museums, waterfalls, and even a zoo! Parque La Sabana is a popular destination for locals as well as tourists. The park also offers a variety of activities like hiking and taking in some beautiful views.

A must see for history lovers, the Pre-Columbian gold museum is one of the most popular in the city. It features a collection of pre-Columbian gold artifacts dating back to 300-500 BC! Located in the city center, the museum is open from 9:00am to 4:00pm every day except Mondays—a good time to visit would be on a weekday afternoon, when you can take advantage of shorter lines and lower crowds.

The Ujarrás Ruins at Parque Nacional Monumento Historico Guayabo are a must-see in Costa Rica and worth of an excursion when staying at a boutique hotel in San Juan. This national historic monument protects 1,942 acres of tropical rainforest and several ancient ruins. When you tour rainforests, you’ll see plenty of canopy bridges. In an effort not to disturb wildlife, Costa Rica is home to thousands of these bridges, designed to go up and above the rainforest, instead of cutting through it.

The park contains several buildings that were constructed by the early Spanish settlers between 1561 and 1707, including two colonial forts: El Castillo de la Real Fuerza (Castle of the Royal Force) and La Bateria del Morro (the Battery). These structures were first built as defenses against pirates who attacked ships traveling along Costa Rica’s shores during this time.

Located in the heart of San José, Mercado Central is one of the city’s most popular tourist spots and features hundreds of stalls displaying a wide variety of goods including fresh produce and artisan gifts. Live music plays throughout the day and plenty of food stands serve everything from ceviche, tamales and fried plantains (patacones). If you're looking for souvenirs, there are many vendors selling everything from keychains to handcrafted jewelry pieces to bring back to your boutique hotel in San Juan.

Don’t forget to check out our boutique hotels in Cartagena, Tela and Tulum!