San Jose

For budget travelers, San José is often the 'necessary evil' entry point to Costa Rica, but it has a growing urban charm if you know where to look. In February 2026, the weather is perfect—dry and sunny—making it easy to walk between the Central Market and the various pedestrian plazas. To keep costs down, stick to 'Sodas' (small local eateries) where a ‘Casado’ plate will cost you about $6-8 and keep you full all day. Hostels here are of high quality, offering organized shuttles to the coast, which saves you the headache of navigating the complex public bus system. While not as cheap as Nicaragua or Guatemala, the backpacker scene is social, centered around craft beer bars in Barrio Escalante. Free activities include strolling through Sabana Park or visiting the National Museum on Sundays when admission rules are relaxed for residents (though tourists usually pay around $15). Stay in San Pedro or Barrio Escalante to be near the younger, student-heavy crowds where prices for drinks and snacks are lower than the tourist-heavy downtown. Your daily budget will mostly go toward high-quality coffee and secure accommodation, so use the local ‘colectivos’ instead of private taxis to save your colones.