| Tips and photos of unusual, out-of-the-way San José attractions, posted by real travelers and locals. San José Map |
 | San José Off the Beaten Path | Tips 1 - 10 of 41 |  |
 by grets
90 minute journey in ski-lift type aerial tram, outwards though the lower level of the forest and return amongst the higher levels at 35 metres.
Each car has a naturalist guide to help you
spot wildlife and explain about the plants and life in the canopy.
We found the trip very interesting, even though we didn't spot many birds or animals.
This aerial tram was the first of its kind in the world. It was created with minimum impact on the rain forest by carrying all the building materials by hand or cable systems, and the pilons were helicoptered in by the Nigerian Air Force.
Restaurant, shop and toilets available at the site.
After the tram trip, you are taken on a guided tour of the grounds - in the pouring rain! Leave a Comment
|
Visiting San José?
Read reviews about San José Hotels
Real Reviews from Real VirtualTourist Members.
 by grets
Led by professional actors posing as plantation workers, you are guided through the whole process of coffee growing, harvesting, roasting, tasting and buying.
There is also a multimedia show, plant tour and tasting session, with the ubiquitous shopping experience at the end. Their coffee liqueur is to die for! Leave a Comment
|
 by grets
Between February and April is the best time to visit the gardens to see most orchids in bloom.
There are over 800 species of orchids in these gardens, as well as many other plants and an arboretum Leave a Comment
|
 by grets
If you would like to bring home one of the painted carts, but are worried about space in your luggage, the same painting style is also used to decorate wooden trays, plates and other souvenirs.
Many other crafts are for sale here including unpainted woodwork and leather rocking chairs. Leave a Comment
|
We arrived about mid-day on Sunday, and by the time we got to the hotel and checked in, we didn't have much time left for sightseeing. We took a cab (expensive) into San Jose to the Serpentarium at 1st Ave., 9 & 11 Streets. I figured the chances of encountering a poisonous snake were small, but I wanted to know what one would look like if I did run across a snake.
This was a VERY interesting place, and I enjoyed it very much, but then I'm not freaked about snakes. The website says: "Most notorious is the terciopelo, responsible for more than half the poisonous snakebites in Costa Rica. The menagerie also features boa constrictors, Jesus Christ lizards, poison dart frogs, iguanas, and an aquarium full of deadly sea snakes. There are also such exotic creatures as king cobras and Burmese pythons."
According to my information at the time, the serpentarium is closed Monday, but it was one of the few things open on Sunday.
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 9:00-18:00 / Sat-Sun 10:00-17:00
Admission: Approx. US$5, per person Leave a Comment
|
 | |  |
Visiting San José?
Read reviews about San José Hotels
Real Reviews from Real VirtualTourist Members.
 Garden by grandmaR
A short taxi ride later, we were dropped off in the university district behind the zoo. The garden is at 50 east, 150 south from the main entrance to "El Pueblo" shopping center. Open every day from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. We had a hard time actually finding the garden entrance and wandered around quite a bit first.
We paid what I thought was an exhorbitant admission charge (something like $10 each). Then we saw a film about the butterfly life cycle (good for Bob who as an engineer didn't know any of that kind of thing) and went through the exhibition area and out into the garden. For some reason I had not expected that the gardens were covered. Inside were not only numerous butterflies but also hummingbirds.
We sat in the garden and watched the butterflies and hummingbirds and listened to the lions roaring below us at the zoo. After we had regathered our strength, we left and got a bus back to town where we had an icecream drink at Pops.
I think now there is a cafe at Spirogyria. Leave a Comment
|
| | |
 Entrance to the Zoo by penumbra
Address: North on Calle 9 Leave a Comment
|
 Board of Explanation next to
Crater Poás Volcano by besbel
- you can visit the crater of the Poás volcano (around 2700 m. over sea level) which is the second largest accesible crater in the world. The volcano is still active, but it is safe though, considering that its activity consists on, eventually, throw out steam and stone, but not lava.
My big frustration: the day I went to the Poás... it was cloudy!! That means that I could neither observe the turqoise lagoon in the crater nor take a picture of it :-( That's why I had to conform myself with the pic of the board of explanation of the crater, next to it.
- you can observe the rich flora and fauna of the national reserve, which conserves 79 types of exotic birds, as hummingbirds and quetzals, as well as other animals like coyotes and the green-yellow squirrell, this last one only found in this park. You could also enjoy the different types of forests that it conserves.
|
| | |
 Estación del Pacifico by penumbra
Address: Avenida 20 - Calle 2 Leave a Comment Phone: (506) 233-3300Website: (506) 233-3311 Other Contact: http://www.ticotraintour.com/
|
This train station was the jumping off point for the “jungle train” which connected San Jose to Moin harbor near the town of Limón. Service has been discontinued in 1991 when an earthquake destroyed more than 50 miles (80 km.) of track on the Atlantic slopes. Currently, the 1908 Victorian-style building houses the National Train Museum which contains pictures and documents from that era. Outside there is a steam engine of the Northern Railway (as the line was called before nationalization) that was brought from Philadelphia in 1939. Open 10 am to 3 pm. Small admission.
Address: Avenida 3 - Calle 21 Leave a Comment
|
|
- Vesuvio
Avenida 11, Calles 13 y 15 Barrio Otoya, San José - Palma Real Hotel San Jose
200 Mts.Norte Del Ice Sabana Norte, San José - Hemingway Inn
Avenida 9, Calle 9, San José - Lands In Love - Tierras Enamoradas Hotel And Resort
Rte 272 btwn San Ramon and La Fortuna 32 km from San Ramon, 1 km to the right, San José - Best Western San Jose Downtown
7th Avenue & 6th Street, San José - Crowne Plaza Hotel Corobici San Jose
Sabana Norte (formerly Tryp Corobici), San José - The Alta Hotel
Altos de las Palomas, San José - Sleep Inn San Jose Downtown
Avenida 3 entre calles 9 y 11 Frente al Parque Morazan, San José - Cano Negro Villas
Barrio Mexico Apdo. Postal 436-1005, San José - Ramada Plaza Herradura San Jose
Autopista General Cañas & San Antonio de BelĂ©n crossing (formerly Herradura Hotel Golf Resort & CCtr), San José - Grano De Oro Hotel
Calle 30, Avenidas 2/4, San José - Hotel 1492
Avenida 1era, calle 31-33 P.O. Box 4988-1000, San José - Punta Islita Hotel
Plaza Mayor, San José - Fleur De Lys
PO Box 10736 Calle 13 between avenidas 2 and 6, San José - Taylor's Inn San Jose
Ave 13th, between 3rd and 3 Bis St, San José
|
