San Jose is the capital of Costa Rica and the biggest city in the country. Most people fly into SJO which is in Alajuela, just 15 min from the center of San Jose. The city is in the center of the central valley which has a population of 2.2 million people which is almost half of the population of Costa Rica. The city has an elevation of 3800 feet which makes for a great climate. It is still tropical but never gets too hot. It is a 1.5 hour drive to the nearest beach town of Jaco, a 3 hour drive to Quepos and Manuel Antonio, and a 3.5 hour drive to Dominical. The mountains surrounding San Jose are spectacular and there are several volcanoes including Volcan Poas and Volcan Turrialba. The city has come a long way in recent years with the construction of the new national stadium, many new luxury condos, new craft breweries, plus amazing new fine dining restaurants and trendy eateries. Some of the best neighborhoods include Escazu, Santa Ana, San Pedro, and Rohrmoser. Many foreigners are choosing to move to San Jose. It is a great affordable place to live with all of the luxuries of a modern city but a short drive away from all of the beauty and nature that Costa Rica has to offer.