24-Hours in Costa Rica

A few weeks ago, I spent a day and a half in Costa Rica. Even though my trip didn’t go exactly as planned, I checked off quite a few things on my itinerary. Here’s a rundown of my trip for the next time you have 24 hours to spare in San Jose.

I took an early flight from Guatemala City and arrived in San Jose at 7:20 AM. From the airport, I took an Uber to the Mercado Central (Central Market). I should note here that Ubers are not allowed in the airport. While you can still request a ride, and a driver will most likely pick you up, don’t be surprised if you are asked to ride shotgun to stay under the radar. Of course, taxis are readily available too.

Moving right along—the Mercado Central is a bustling and vibrant marketplace located in the heart of San Jose. I highly doubt there’s anything you can’t find there. From traditional foods to artisanal souvenirs, the Mercado Central encapsulates the rich cultural tapestry of Costa Rica. Though, I must say, I was caught off guard when my casual stroll through this cultural hub landed me right in front of a Starbucks.

I also noticed designer shops, which were unlike anything I imagined when I heard “market.” These additions were the characteristics that set this market apart from similar places I’ve visited in the past.

During my tour of the market, I stopped for breakfast at a local cafe. I ordered a sandwich and smoothie, which turned out to be quite underwhelming. I was tempted to call my stop at this eatery a fail, but a man approached the shop while I was forcing myself to eat my sandwich. He stood there for a while, admiring the sandwich counter. Eventually, we made eye contact, and he started speaking to me. Despite the language barrier, I knew he was asking for a meal.

At that moment, I took the opportunity to be kind to my fellow human being. Just like that, I realized that my stop at that restaurant was for a reason greater than myself, and I no longer felt like I had wasted my time.

From the market, I walked to the National Museum of Costa Rica (the market essentially ends at the museum). This museum is housed in a historic fortress. It showcases exhibits on Costa Rican history, archaeology, and colonial art and is home to a stunning butterfly garden! Right across from this museum is another, the Jade Museum. Renowned for its extensive collection of pre-Columbian jade artifacts, this museum provides insights into Costa Rica’s indigenous cultures.

Although my itinerary also included a tour of this museum, I decided to postpone for a future visit. I had barely slept the previous night, having to wake up in the middle of the night to make my 5:45 AM flight. So I was running on fumes when I exited the National Museum.

After the museum, I headed back to the market for lunch. I was enjoying the seafood rice I ordered—until I found a piece of hair on my plate. By this point, it was mid-afternoon, and my energy was depleted, so I made my way to the Airbnb. It was a gorgeous building in a trendy area known as Barrio Escalante. When I arrived at the 28th-floor apartment, it looked like the cleaner had just started cleaning.

By that point, I was so drained that I simply waited until she finished cleaning one of the bedrooms and went straight to sleep as she worked on the rest of the apartment. By the time I woke up, it was almost midnight!

The next morning, I ordered breakfast to the apartment via Uber Eats while I prepared to check out of the rental. I decided to try a staple Costa Rican breakfast, Gallo pinto. Gallo pinto is a traditional Costa Rican dish made primarily from cooked rice and black beans. It’s often seasoned with cilantro, onions, and bell peppers and served with eggs, plantains, tortilla, and Lizano sauce. I thoroughly enjoyed every bite. It was definitely the best meal I had on that trip.

After breakfast, I headed to the Costa Rican Art Museum. Located in the eastern part of San Jose, this museum focuses on Costa Rican visual arts from the 19th century to the present. This free museum is significantly smaller than the previous ones I mentioned, so I was able to complete my tour in about an hour. I was especially taken by the piece “Cabeza Pensamiento II” by artist Crisanto Badilla Argüello. It’s a giant sculpture of a head with smaller figures standing inside—you really have to see it.

I thought it was a great representation of the viral phrase: “lives in my head rent-free.” Cabeza Pensamiento itself translates to “head thought.” My final stop before heading to the airport for my flight out of the city was a local restaurant highly recommended by Google reviewers. It had a 4.7-star rating on Google, but the service that day was a solid 2—and that’s only because I eventually got a meal.

So, the food scene in San Jose left a lot to be desired, but keep in mind this trip lasted just a little over 24 hours. That’s hardly enough time to create an informed opinion about anything. I will definitely return for a more extended stay. I hope you will, too!

Adventure bound! Until Next Time, Wanderers.