Your guide to a surf trip layover in San Jose, Costa Rica.
There was a time, and that time probably still includes now, when surfers heading to Costa Rica would spend as little time in San Jose as possible. They would basically get off the plane and head straight to the beaches (can’t blame them) and depending on how much time they have will scatter near and far.
On the way out of the country, most surfers will just head to a hotel that will make the most convenient exit to the airport for early flights the next morning. I have done this maneuver plenty of times, so I get it, and that’s not even mentioning the fact that Liberia airport will be much more convenient for many surf destinations.
However, on a recent surf trip to Costa Rica, I had a meeting set up in San Jose that took me a bit out of my normal surf trip routine but added so much to the experience. I had a chance to meet with a group of students from Ticos y Nicas: Somos Hermanos, a group that is helping Nicaraguan students who are seeking refuge in Costa Rica from the recent unrest in their own country.
But that’s a whole different story that I have written about here:
The reason for my stop in San Jose aside, I ended up being really glad I spent a couple of days in this city that I hadn’t explored in decades.
Barrio Escalante
Quick answer, be sure to check out Barrio Escalante.