Luxury holidays in San José Province

Sprawling the striking plateaus of Central Valley, San Jose Province serves la Pura Vida with a side of metropolitan modernity. Home to Costa Rica’s capital, the city of San Jose has undergone a cultural renaissance in recent years, its blossoming barrios now thronged with art galleries and museums, craft breweries and sophisticated sodas, all the while retaining its colourful Tico charm. Outside of the city, natural pursuits are plentiful. The province’s undulant terrain is bestrewn with soaring mountains, dense jungle and jagged volcanos; climb the lofty crater of Irazu, Costa Rica’s tallest volcano, or experience the steaming cobalt caldera of Poas. For those partial to a caffeine hit, explore the region’s world-famous coffee plantations. Or, if it’s adrenaline you’re chasing, try white-water rafting down the Pacuare River through postcard-worthy rainforests and cascading waterfalls – and keep an eye out for the locals: the Rio is home to an incredible roster of wildlife, from swift-footed jaguars to smiling, laissez-faire sloths.
See All Hotels

Recommended offers

See our boutique hotel deals

When to go

Oscillating between sea-level planes and cloud dipped peaks, San Jose Province has varied climes at its extremes. For the most part, however, the region is pleasantly mild. Visit in the dry season (December–April) for peak sunshine, or green season (May–November) to see the region at its, well, greenest.

Getting there

  • Planes

    San Jose International Airport is the nearest international hub, with direct flights from London and major US cities. Located in the neighbouring province of Alajuela, the airport is 11 miles from the city of San Jose.

  • Automobiles

    Patience is a virtue when driving through the main city of San Jose, with notoriously slow and heavy traffic. Outside of the city limits, however, roads open up to spectacular views. If you’re feeling brave, take the Cerro de la Muerte Pan American highway through the Talamanca mountain range, reaching 3,335 meters at its highest point.