Central Valley
San Jose, San Pedro, Los Yoses, Barrio California & Barrio Dent, Central Valley, Costa Rica
By Explore Costa Rica Staff
Jul 29, 2008, 14:17

San Jose, San Pedro, Los Yoses, Barrio California & Barrio Dent, Central Valley, Costa Rica

San Pedro Central Valley Costa Rica

A bustling metropolis, Costa Rica's capital city of San Jose has grown much since its founding nearly 300 years ago. A sprawling urban jungle, San Jose is now divided into many barrios or neighborhoods. As you head around 2 km east out of Downtown San Jose, you will come across the three main residential suburbs of Los Yoses, Barrio Dent, and San Pedro.

Well-to-do areas, these neighborhoods offer more quiet surroundings and a better quality of life. This part of San Jose also attracts a huge number of young people, mainly because the University of Costa Rica lies in San Pedro. The nightlife here is very active especially for those under 30, and the environs are also much safer compared to downtown San Jose.

San Pedro, Central Valley

Situated on the eastern end of the city, San Pedro is one of the most popular neighborhoods of San Jose. Attracting a number of young people because of the presence of the largest public university in Costa Rica, this area has a different feel to it when compared to the other neighborhoods in the area. A more youthful part of town, there are a number of good restaurants and bars surrounding the university campus as well as several affordable hotels. The bar scene and nightlife here is probably the best in the city as you can mingle with local Ticos, as well as a lot of tourists. San Pedro sits just 10 minutes from downtown San Jose and has one of the best malls in the city, the San Pedro Mall.

Los Yoses, Central Valley

The quiet residential district of Los Yoses has a number of foreign embassies and diplomatic enclaves in its vicinity. An upper-middle-class area, it is the most upscale part of Eastern San Jose. Situated very close to downtown, only 5 to 10 minutes by taxi or bus. The hotels in the area are also quite economical, with several small bed and breakfast options on hand. This part of the San Jose is a great place to live if you prefer to avoid the noise and traffic, yet stay close to the heart of downtown.

Barrio California & Barrio Dent, Central Valley

Essentially residential areas, these Costa Rica neighborhoods have a number of old beautiful Costa Rica homes that have been converted into restaurants and language schools. With quite a few Spanish learning institutes in these areas, you will find plenty of tourists and expats in Barrio California and Barrio Dent. Students both young and old mostly come to these areas to learn Spanish or brush up on their vocabulary. Most of the language learning institutes here offer between 3 and 5 hours a day of intensive Spanish study with home stay options. This way you can live with a host Costa Rica family who provide you with a room and daily meals, while you learn the language and immerse yourself in the Tico culture.