The capital, San Jos was founded in 1737 and is a pleasant mixture of traditional and modern Spanish architecture. Places of interest include the Teatro Nacional and the Parque Central. On the Caribbean coast there are a number of beaches, ports and towns worth visiting. Braulio Carrillo National Park in the central region of the country has five kinds of forest. Orchids and ferns, jaguars, ocelots and the Baird tapir may all be seen here.
Coffee is good value and has an excellent flavour.
San Jos has many nightclubs and venues with folk music and dance. There are several theatres and cinemas.