San José
San José is the capital and largest city of Costa Rica, in the center of the country, in the mid-west of the Central Valley. Together with Alajuela, Heredia and Cartago it forms the Greater Metropolitan Area (over 2 million). It is home to the Museo Nacional de Costa Rica, the National Theater, and La Sabana Metropolitan Park. San José is notable among Latin American cities for its high quality of life, security, level of globalization, environmental performance, and recognized institutions. In 2012, San José was one of the safest and least violent cities in the region. It is a UNESCO 'Design City'.
Typical weather
1981–presentCity Rhythm
measuredOpening hours, by kind of place
median across mapped venuesVital absurdities
measured · the Anti-AwardsSame time system
by rhythmWhat to do each season
2dry-season
the dry season; ~21-24 °C at the city's 1,170 m elevation (Wikipedia Apr hottest 23.7 °C); the driest months (Feb-Mar ~0.3-0.4 mm/day); 'average temperatures vary little' — the mild highland spring
- the dry comfortable window — the high tourist season; La Sabana Metropolitan Park and the National Theater at their most usable
- the coffee-harvest dry season; the clearest skies
wet-season
hot, humid and wet; the wettest months (Sep-Oct 6.7 mm/day; Wikipedia's wettest month 355.1 mm); afternoon downpours; the cloudiest period
- the wet season — heavy afternoon rains; the green Central Valley at its lushest
- the lowest tourist density; the rainforest surrounding the city at peak flow
What it is known for
Important moments in a year
2015 Fiba Cocaba
- San José hosted the 2015 FIBA COCABA Championship at the Gimnasio Nacional
Coffee Golden Age
- the 'Costa Rican coffee golden age' — the National Theater and Barrio Amón were built with coffee-boom wealth
On the record
source-trackedSan José has a tropical wet and dry climate (Köppen Aw). Precipitation varies widely between the driest month (6.3 mm) and the wettest month (355.1 mm), while average temperatures vary little.
The hottest month is April with an average temperature of 23.7 °C, while the coolest month is October with an average temperature of 21.8 °C.
San José is notable among Latin American cities for its high quality of life, security, level of globalization, environmental performance, public service, and recognized institutions.
In 2012, San José was one of the safest and least violent cities in the region.
Barrio Amón, as well as the National Theater, remain symbols of the so-called Costa Rican coffee golden age.
The most popular food is the national dish of gallo pinto, which is black beans served with white rice.
Costa Rican restaurants serving traditional food at an affordable price are called sodas.
La Sabana Metropolitan Park [is] the largest park and 'the lungs of San José'.
It is estimated that the lack of proper street names … causes the loss of $720 million a year by the Inter-American Development Bank in 2008.
San José joined the UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities in 2016 and is recognized as a 'Design City'.
The method behind this atlas — 196 pp. Not published yet.