City features:

San José, the lively capital of Costa Rica, is an exciting base for your semester abroad. The city blends a bustling urban atmosphere with quick access to rainforests, volcanoes, and beaches — perfect if you want both cultural life and weekend adventure. It’s known for its friendly locals, vibrant arts scene, and great coffee culture.

San José is known for excellent coffee — the high‑altitude growing conditions are ideal. Try café hopping between Libertario Coffee Roasters, Cafeoteca, and Modo Café, all student favorites and great for study sessions.

Easy Weekend Trips
One of the perks of studying in San José is how quickly you can reach Costa Rica’s natural treasures — volcanoes, beaches, rainforests, and national parks are all within a short drive. Many students spend weekends exploring Arenal, Monteverde, Manuel Antonio, or Poás Volcano.

Address in San José, Costa Rica:

Universidad Latinoamericana de Cienca y Tecnologia
Parqueo ULACIT, Calle 3, Tournón,
San José, Costa Rica

Population:

400,000

Closest Airport:

Juan Santamaría International Airport

Sightseeing:

1. Pre‑Columbian Gold Museum
Hidden beneath Plaza de la Cultura, this museum houses an impressive collection of ancient gold artifacts and offers a fascinating tour through Costa Rica’s pre‑Columbian history. It’s a top pick for understanding the country’s cultural roots.

2. National Theatre of Costa Rica - Teatro Nacional Costa Rica
A stunning neoclassical building right in the city center. Whether you catch a performance or just visit the ornate interior, it’s one of San José’s most iconic landmarks.

3. Jade Museum
One of the world’s largest jade collections awaits you here — a great stop to learn more about indigenous cultures and their craftsmanship.

4. Central Market (Mercado Central)
Perfect for budget‑friendly lunches, souvenirs, and soaking up local life. Expect everything from tropical fruits to handcrafted goods.

5. Barrio Escalante – Foodie Heaven
This trendy neighborhood is San José’s culinary hotspot. Whether it’s street food, cute cafés, or more upscale spots, you’ll find it here. Don’t miss Jardín de Lolita, a favorite hangout for students.

6. La Sabana Metropolitan Park
San José’s “Central Park” — perfect for jogging, picnics, or studying outside. A peaceful escape from city noise.

7. Spirogyra Butterfly Garden
A small but beautiful oasis near downtown. Great if you want a quick nature break without leaving the city.

8. Avenida Central
A long pedestrian street full of shops, cafés, and street performers — ideal for people‑watching and grabbing snacks between classes.

9. Mercado Borbón
Another lively spot to experience daily Costa Rican life, especially if you want fresh local produce.

10. Museum of Contemporary Art and Design
A great stop for anyone interested in Costa Rica’s modern creative scene.

Shopping:

San José offers a fun mix of modern malls, local markets, and unique artisan spots — perfect whether you're looking for souvenirs, fashion, food, or just a fun afternoon between classes.

Major Shopping Malls:
Mall San Pedro
One of the city’s biggest and most popular malls, with 200+ stores, a large food court, and plenty of clothing, electronics, and accessories. Great for everyday shopping or a casual hangout.

Multiplaza Escazú
A more upscale mall with international brands like Zara, H&M, Ralph Lauren, Forever 21, and more. Ideal if you’re into fashion or looking for higher‑end goods.

Lincoln Plaza
A medium‑sized mall with a variety of shops and eateries — a good all‑round option.

Local Markets & Authentic Experiences
Mercado Central (Central Market)
San José’s oldest and largest market — a must‑visit if you want local food, coffee, spices, handicrafts, and small traditional eateries (“sodas”).

Mercado Borbón
Perfect for fresh produce and local food culture. Great if you enjoy cooking or just want to explore Costa Rican flavors.

National Artisan Market
Located near the National Museum, this market is ideal for handmade crafts, ceramics, textiles, wood carvings — perfect for souvenirs that actually support local artists.

Mercado de la Coca‑Cola
A quirky, eclectic market known for second‑hand and vintage finds — excellent for thrifters and treasure hunters.

Boutiques & Outdoor Shopping Streets
Avenida Central
A pedestrian street lined with shops selling clothes, accessories, everyday essentials, and souvenirs — lively, budget‑friendly, and fun to explore.

Avenida Escazú
A “modern lifestyle district” with high‑end boutiques, cafés, restaurants, and even an IMAX theater. More upscale, great for window‑shopping or a nice evening out.

Eco‑Friendly & Organic Options
Feria Verde de Aranjuez
A lovely Saturday farmers’ market featuring organic food, handmade eco‑products, natural cosmetics, and live music — perfect if you enjoy sustainable shopping.

Tips for Students

Bargaining is more common in outdoor or artisan markets; malls have fixed prices.
For souvenirs, the artisan markets or Mercado Central are the best value.
For fashion, head to Multiplaza Escazú or Mall San Pedro.
For budget shopping, try Mercado de la Coca‑Cola or Avenida Central.

How to get to university:

ULACIT is located near downtown San José, so your first step is getting into the city center. From there, it’s a short taxi/Uber or local bus ride to the campus.

Option 1: By Public Bus (TUASA) — Cheapest & easy

At the airport, go to the TUASA bus stop, which is located along the main road behind the parking garage. Walk left around the garage until you reach the stop.

Take the TUASA bus to San José (“San José” will be displayed on the front).
The ride takes 30–40 minutes and costs about 675 CRC (≈ $1.10 USD).

The bus arrives at Parque de la Merced / downtown San José.
From there, take a short Uber or city taxi to ULACIT (approx. 5–10 minutes).

Option 2: Train to Downtown San José
If you prefer the train:

First take a taxi or bus from the airport to Río Segundo Station (approx. 2.5 km from SJO).

Take the train to Estación Atlántico (Atlantic Station), which is in the city center.
The full train ride takes ~50 minutes, costs about $2–4, and runs between 05:45–18:30.
From Estación Atlántico, ULACIT is very close — just a few minutes by taxi, Uber, or even walking depending on the exact building.

Option 3: Taxi or Airport Transfer — Fastest & easiest

Taxis are available 24/7 and are red with a yellow triangle. The ride to San José city center takes about 30–35 minutes.
You can also book a private transfer (€28–29), which takes the same time and drops you directly at ULACIT.

Getting to ULACIT from Nearby Train Stations
From Estación Atlántico (closest major train station):
This is the typical arrival point if you take the train.

Travel time to ULACIT: 5 minutes by taxi/Uber, or 10–15 minutes walking depending on the campus building.
Since train services to downtown are frequent, this is an easy option for daily commuting.

Getting to ULACIT from Nearby Bus Terminals
From TUASA Bus Terminal (from the airport):
If you arrive by TUASA bus to Parque de la Merced:

From the bus arrival point, take a short taxi/Uber to ULACIT (5–10 minutes).
The bus travel time from airport to San José is 30–40 minutes.

Housing Off-Campus:

950 USD per month incl. meals at host family - ULACIT works with host families in San Jose who have welcomed international students into their homes for years. Each home has been carefully selected by ULACIT program administrators to ensure comfort and safety for international students.
The Home Stay Program allows our international students to experience authentic Costa Rican culture, while staying in a safe family environment, benefit from the host families' support during their stay, establish unique lasting friendships, and practice Spanish with native language speakers.
Host families provide independence and a safe environment for our international guest students. Each home has been carefully vetted to ensure comfort, independence, and safety for our international students.
All Host Families are located at the most 30 minutes away from campus and downtown San José. Students can choose how long to stay with a host family, stay per month, or pay for the complete academic period.