Costa Rica Guide
San José
The Parque Nacional
San José's Parque Nacional, the city's finest open space, marks the heart of downtown San José. Bordered by Av 1 and 3 and C 15 and 19 and overlooked by rows of mop-headed palms and thick deciduous trees, it's popular among courting couples and older men discussing the state of the nation. After gaining notoriety as a hang-out for muggers and prostitutes, it was equipped with tall lamps to add extra light – a tactic which has apparently succeeded in drawing the courting couples back to its nocturnal benches. Even so, it's still probably not a good idea to wander around here after dark.