San Jose Travel and Things to Do Guide
San Jose is Costa Rica's capital and its main gateway for international groups. It sits in the country's Central Valley, surrounded by mountains, with the main international airport a short drive from downtown. Convention infrastructure is strong, anchored by a purpose-built convention center and a set of large hotels with serious meeting space.
The city pairs urban culture with fast access to nature. You'll find museums, well-preserved historic neighborhoods, a lively theater scene, and busy nightlife. Mild, spring-like temperatures year-round make it easy to plan outdoor receptions and offsite experiences.
San Jose keeps investing in meetings infrastructure, from a sustainably designed convention center to renovated hotels near the airport and in Escazu. If you're looking for event space in San Jose, you can choose from large convention halls, full-service hotels, and boutique properties.
Why San Jose is Ideal for Event Planning
Logistics are simple. The convention center and several major hotels sit near the airport and the main highway, so transfers stay short and attendees spend less time in transit.
Costa Rica's small size works in your favor. Rain forests, volcanoes, and coffee country are all within reach, so you can add memorable day trips without long travel days.
Air access is solid, with direct flights from major U.S., European, and Latin American cities. That makes San Jose a practical choice for both regional and international audiences.
Major Convention Centers
Costa Rica Convention Center
Central America's premier purpose-built venue for meetings, conventions, exhibitions, and special events.
• 156,238 sq. ft. of total meeting space across 27 meeting rooms
• Largest room of 40,246 sq. ft., with a main hall for about 4,000 people that divides into two sections
• Six conference rooms for about 1,800 people in total
• 10-hectare property with parking for 1,000 vehicles, truck loading zones, and storage
• Portable partition walls, AV capabilities, videoconferencing, and VIP services
• LEED Gold certified, with a program that offsets the operational carbon emissions of every event
• About five miles from the airport, with access via the General Cañas Highway
It hosts large conventions, trade shows, association meetings, corporate gatherings, and leadership summits.
Strengths: scale, flexibility, and a sustainability story your attendees will notice.
Accessibility and Connectivity
Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) is the country's main hub, about 12 miles from downtown San Jose. It offers direct service from cities including Atlanta, Miami, Dallas/Fort Worth, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, and Orlando.
• Taxis and private transfers between the airport, hotels, and venues
• Chartered buses and shuttles for group movements
• Hotel airport shuttles at several properties near SJO
The General Cañas Highway links the airport, the convention center, and the city center.
Headquarters Hotels and Accommodation
San Jose's larger hotels combine guest rooms with substantial meeting space, from Escazu to the airport corridor.
• InterContinental Real San Jose-Costa Rica: 372 rooms, 40,365 sq. ft. of meeting space, and a ballroom for up to 1,000 people in Escazu
• Costa Rica Marriott Hotel Hacienda Belen: 299 colonial-style rooms, 15,134 sq. ft. of meeting space, and a free airport shuttle
• Crowne Plaza San José La Sabana: about 20,850 sq. ft. of meeting space, renovated in 2020
• Hilton San Jose La Sabana: 131 rooms, 4,898 sq. ft. of meeting space, plus AV and videoconferencing
• Courtyard by Marriott San Jose Escazu: 120 rooms and 2,678 sq. ft. of meeting space
• Wyndham Garden San Jose Escazu: 111 rooms and 3,417 sq. ft. of meeting space
Most major hotels are a short drive from the convention center rather than within walking distance, so plan shuttle service into your program.
Unique Event Venues
When you want something more intimate than a ballroom, these properties add local character.
• The Alta Hotel: a 23-room boutique hotel on the hills of Alto de las Palomas, with three meeting rooms and views over the Central Valley
• Hotel Grano de Oro: a boutique hotel in the city with outdoor and private event space
• Gran Hotel Costa Rica, Curio Collection by Hilton: a historic hotel in downtown San Jose
• Costa Rica Tennis Club & Hotel: a club-and-hotel setting in San Jose
These settings give attendees a sense of place that's hard to recreate in a standard function room.
Dining and Culinary Experiences
Costa Rican cooking centers on fresh produce, local coffee, and relaxed hospitality.
• InterContinental Real San Jose-Costa Rica has four restaurants, including a steakhouse, an Italian restaurant, and a sushi lounge, plus a bar with live music
• The Alta Hotel has an onsite restaurant with valley views for smaller private dinners
• Coffee-country settings and hotel gardens work well for group receptions
Entertainment and Outdoor Activities
San Jose gives attendees plenty to do between sessions.
• Museums and well-preserved historic neighborhoods
• A lively theater scene and busy nightlife
• Canopy zipline tours through nearby rain forest
• Waterfall gardens and volcano day trips within a few hours of the city
Adding a nature excursion before or after your program is one of the easiest ways to extend the attendee experience beyond downtown.
Event Planning Support Services
Local partners can help you pull the program together.
• Hotel coordination and room block planning
• Airport transfers and group ground transportation
• AV, videoconferencing, and onsite production
• Sustainable event practices, including carbon-offset programs at the convention center
• Tours and group experiences through local destination management companies
San Jose supports everything from board meetings and incentive trips to large conventions and trade shows.
Climate and Best Time for Events
• Spring (March to May): March is still dry and sunny, ideal for outdoor receptions and excursions. Showers return by May, so keep backup indoor space.
• Summer (June to August): The rainy season brings sunny mornings and afternoon showers. Schedule outdoor activities early and hold main sessions indoors.
• Autumn (September to November): The wettest months. This is a good window for indoor conferences and value-focused programs.
• Winter (December to February): The dry season, with warm days and cool evenings. It's peak time for incentive trips, outdoor events, and day tours.
Conclusion: San Jose as an Event Destination
San Jose gives you a modern convention center, well-equipped hotels, and easy air access, all within reach of Costa Rica's rain forests and volcanoes. For planners who want a capital city with a strong culture and outdoor adventure close by, event space in San Jose delivers both.
The city pairs urban culture with fast access to nature. You'll find museums, well-preserved historic neighborhoods, a lively theater scene, and busy nightlife. Mild, spring-like temperatures year-round make it easy to plan outdoor receptions and offsite experiences.
San Jose keeps investing in meetings infrastructure, from a sustainably designed convention center to renovated hotels near the airport and in Escazu. If you're looking for event space in San Jose, you can choose from large convention halls, full-service hotels, and boutique properties.
Why San Jose is Ideal for Event Planning
Logistics are simple. The convention center and several major hotels sit near the airport and the main highway, so transfers stay short and attendees spend less time in transit.
Costa Rica's small size works in your favor. Rain forests, volcanoes, and coffee country are all within reach, so you can add memorable day trips without long travel days.
Air access is solid, with direct flights from major U.S., European, and Latin American cities. That makes San Jose a practical choice for both regional and international audiences.
Major Convention Centers
Costa Rica Convention Center
Central America's premier purpose-built venue for meetings, conventions, exhibitions, and special events.
• 156,238 sq. ft. of total meeting space across 27 meeting rooms
• Largest room of 40,246 sq. ft., with a main hall for about 4,000 people that divides into two sections
• Six conference rooms for about 1,800 people in total
• 10-hectare property with parking for 1,000 vehicles, truck loading zones, and storage
• Portable partition walls, AV capabilities, videoconferencing, and VIP services
• LEED Gold certified, with a program that offsets the operational carbon emissions of every event
• About five miles from the airport, with access via the General Cañas Highway
It hosts large conventions, trade shows, association meetings, corporate gatherings, and leadership summits.
Strengths: scale, flexibility, and a sustainability story your attendees will notice.
Accessibility and Connectivity
Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) is the country's main hub, about 12 miles from downtown San Jose. It offers direct service from cities including Atlanta, Miami, Dallas/Fort Worth, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, and Orlando.
• Taxis and private transfers between the airport, hotels, and venues
• Chartered buses and shuttles for group movements
• Hotel airport shuttles at several properties near SJO
The General Cañas Highway links the airport, the convention center, and the city center.
Headquarters Hotels and Accommodation
San Jose's larger hotels combine guest rooms with substantial meeting space, from Escazu to the airport corridor.
• InterContinental Real San Jose-Costa Rica: 372 rooms, 40,365 sq. ft. of meeting space, and a ballroom for up to 1,000 people in Escazu
• Costa Rica Marriott Hotel Hacienda Belen: 299 colonial-style rooms, 15,134 sq. ft. of meeting space, and a free airport shuttle
• Crowne Plaza San José La Sabana: about 20,850 sq. ft. of meeting space, renovated in 2020
• Hilton San Jose La Sabana: 131 rooms, 4,898 sq. ft. of meeting space, plus AV and videoconferencing
• Courtyard by Marriott San Jose Escazu: 120 rooms and 2,678 sq. ft. of meeting space
• Wyndham Garden San Jose Escazu: 111 rooms and 3,417 sq. ft. of meeting space
Most major hotels are a short drive from the convention center rather than within walking distance, so plan shuttle service into your program.
Unique Event Venues
When you want something more intimate than a ballroom, these properties add local character.
• The Alta Hotel: a 23-room boutique hotel on the hills of Alto de las Palomas, with three meeting rooms and views over the Central Valley
• Hotel Grano de Oro: a boutique hotel in the city with outdoor and private event space
• Gran Hotel Costa Rica, Curio Collection by Hilton: a historic hotel in downtown San Jose
• Costa Rica Tennis Club & Hotel: a club-and-hotel setting in San Jose
These settings give attendees a sense of place that's hard to recreate in a standard function room.
Dining and Culinary Experiences
Costa Rican cooking centers on fresh produce, local coffee, and relaxed hospitality.
• InterContinental Real San Jose-Costa Rica has four restaurants, including a steakhouse, an Italian restaurant, and a sushi lounge, plus a bar with live music
• The Alta Hotel has an onsite restaurant with valley views for smaller private dinners
• Coffee-country settings and hotel gardens work well for group receptions
Entertainment and Outdoor Activities
San Jose gives attendees plenty to do between sessions.
• Museums and well-preserved historic neighborhoods
• A lively theater scene and busy nightlife
• Canopy zipline tours through nearby rain forest
• Waterfall gardens and volcano day trips within a few hours of the city
Adding a nature excursion before or after your program is one of the easiest ways to extend the attendee experience beyond downtown.
Event Planning Support Services
Local partners can help you pull the program together.
• Hotel coordination and room block planning
• Airport transfers and group ground transportation
• AV, videoconferencing, and onsite production
• Sustainable event practices, including carbon-offset programs at the convention center
• Tours and group experiences through local destination management companies
San Jose supports everything from board meetings and incentive trips to large conventions and trade shows.
Climate and Best Time for Events
• Spring (March to May): March is still dry and sunny, ideal for outdoor receptions and excursions. Showers return by May, so keep backup indoor space.
• Summer (June to August): The rainy season brings sunny mornings and afternoon showers. Schedule outdoor activities early and hold main sessions indoors.
• Autumn (September to November): The wettest months. This is a good window for indoor conferences and value-focused programs.
• Winter (December to February): The dry season, with warm days and cool evenings. It's peak time for incentive trips, outdoor events, and day tours.
Conclusion: San Jose as an Event Destination
San Jose gives you a modern convention center, well-equipped hotels, and easy air access, all within reach of Costa Rica's rain forests and volcanoes. For planners who want a capital city with a strong culture and outdoor adventure close by, event space in San Jose delivers both.
Weather and Seasonality
In San Jose, the dry season is partly cloudy and warm year-round, while the wet season is muggy and overcast. The yearly average temperature fluctuates between 63°F and 81°F, rarely falling below 60°F or rising above 84°F.
The best time to visit here is from mid December to late March.
The best time to visit here is from mid December to late March.
| Month | High/Low °F | Seasonality |
|---|---|---|
| January | -/- | High |
| February | -/- | High |
| March | -/- | High |
| April | -/- | High |
| May | -/- | High |
| June | -/- | High |
| July | -/- | High |
| August | -/- | High |
| September | -/- | Medium |
| October | -/- | Medium |
| November | -/- | Medium |
| December | -/- | Medium |