Banks: 09.00 to 16.00, Monday to Friday
Post Offices: 08.00 to 16.00, Tuesday to Saturday
Government Offices: 08.00 to 17.00, Monday to Friday
Business Centres: 08.00 to 17.00, Monday to Friday
Shops: 09.00 to 18.00, Monday to Saturday

Although San Jose is not nearly as dangerous as other Central American capitals like San Salvador, it still has a crime problem and tourists need to be aware of the dangers. Most Ticos are friendly and honest, but as in any poor nation, theft and violent crime are seen as a means of survival.

Tourist attractions are generally safe, but be careful if you are in a remote part of the city and don’t venture anywhere on foot after dark. Use taxis to travel. Watch your belongings at all times. Even when you take the bus keep them with you. Theft is rife in this city and tourists are natural targets.

Police: 911

110V AC, 60Hz, two-pronged flat blade plugs used in the US are standard in Costa Rica.

The health concerns in San Jose are the same as in any developing country. Water from the tap is best avoided. Be cautious when choosing places to eat. Ice can be a problem in San Jose so avoid it. Milk should be fine as it is pasteurised. Tropical diseases aren’t a major concern in San Jose, but cover up at dusk to avoid getting bitten by mosquitoes.

As San Jose is the largest city in Costa Rica, it has the best public and private hospitals. Tourists are advised to use the private hospitals, and you can pay with cash or credit card. Local pharmacies are fine for minor illness like a bad stomach or a cold. Travel insurance could be a useful option in San Jose since the private hospitals can be rather expensive.

Clinica Biblica: +506 522 1000
Emergency services: 128

Spanish is the main language spoken in San Jose and Costa Rica, but quite a few Costa Ricans speak good English in the capital.

The colon is Costa Rica’s official currency, and can be divided into 100 centimos. There are two types of coin in circulation. The older style is made from nickel and are the larger of the two. They come in denominations of one, two, five, 10 and 20 colones. The smaller new golden coloured coins, which are more common, come in denominations of five, 10, 25, 50, 100, and 500 colon. Banknotes come in denomination of 1,000, 2,000, 5,000 and 10,000 colones.

All visitors to Costa Rica may bring 500 grams of tobacco, five litres of spirits, cameras, laptops and electronics for personal use, and up to US$500 of personal merchandise without incurring a duty fee.

Overall, Costa Ricans are very polite and friendly. Greetings are typically a handshake and a quick peck on the cheek if you are more familiar. Family is extremely important in the culture, so asking about someone’s family will win you serious points. The dress code in San Jose is much more formal than in the countryside or beaches. Locals don’t wear shorts unless they are at the beach or playing sports.

Citizens of the US, UK, Canada and most nations in Europe can visit Costa Rica without a visa for a stay of up to 90 days. You need only have a valid passport which you are supposed to carry with you at all times. Citizens from Australia, New Zealand and Ireland can enter without a visa but can only stay for 30 days. Extensions are easily acquired once in the country.

The main ICT visitor information centre in San Jose is next to the entrance of the Gold Museum. Their information is not very extensive, but they are open Monday to Friday from 09.00 to 17.00.

ICT Visitor Centre
Plaza de la Cultura
Phone: +506 222 1090