Hotels in San Jose Costa Rica

San Jose hotels such as the Holiday Inn and El Presidente, are right smack dab in the middle of downtown. You can stroll along the pedestrian walkway, taking pictures and photos of local vendors, historic buildings, and pot holes. Shop for souvenirs at the outdoor artisan mall near the National Museum, only a five minute walk from the neighborhood.


Gringo Gulch is usually defined as the area that extends south from the Holiday Inn past the Tropical Casino to the pedestrian walkway on Avenida Central, east to around Calle 13, and west to the Cultura de Cultura. (For locals, the heart of the city is considered to be Parque Central, which is at Avenida 2 and Calle 2, a bit west of the Gulch.) Some visitors view the corner up the block from the New York Bar as the heart of the Gulch.


Marriott Hotel offers a special architecture and setting and first class restaurants and lounges with breathtaking views of the Central Valley mountain ranges, also very nice recreational facility in San Jose

The newest hotel in this area is the Sleep Inn, an 86-room hotel on Avenida 1 (a block from the cobblestone walkway of Avenida Central). Part of the Choice Hotels chain and is owned by the Casino Colonial, conveniently located next door

It opened in mid-July, 2005.

The Sleep Inn offers special services for business travelers, and each room has high speed Internet and an executive desk, plus a gym and wi-fi.


Staying in a room in this area gives you the convenience of being within walking distance of the many adult entertainment opportunities found within the Gulch area; look for top reviews of these in local papers. You can avoid the expense and hassle of taking taxis, and see more the city as you stroll from your room to the bar across the street and later down Calle Central for lunch. (You can find lots of fast food joints, simple Tico
Rates for Downtown Rooms

How much do rooms and lodging cost in this part of the country? You can expect to pay a minimum of $55 a night for a room or accommodations in this part of the city. And you can go all out and spend several hundred dollars for a suite at one of the classier places. You will not find a resort or villa in the main part of town. The Coribici is a five star resort located near Parque Sabana.


You will find plenty of local tours that can take you on day trips to Poas Volcano, a rainforest or jungle, and other tourism attractions near or inside the city limits of the capital. With a local travel agency, tours are easy to find and reserve. Just check inside the lobby

Downtown San Jose Costa Rica Hotels

Lodging choices range from the inexpensive Hemingway Inn to the lofty Holiday Inn. Both are convenient to the main part of the city. Juan Santamaria International Airport, and the Coribici near Parque Sabana in the cosmopolitan West Side near Paseo Colon, offer all this and more.


The pedestrian walkway provides countless opportunities to take pictures and photos, buy souvenirs, and relax as you meander along the cobblestoned Calle Central. Just a few steps from any of the places to stay in this area, and you can walk up the hill from Mas por Menos supermarket and discover a world of arts and crafts, from hammocks to jewelry, at the open air market.


The newest hotel to open in the downtown area is the Sleep Inn, next door to the Colonial Casino (which by some odd coincidence, happens to be the proprietor.)