Costa Rica

San José is Costa Rica’s capital and largest city, home to the president, legislature, and Supreme Court. It became the capital in 1823, when the seat of government moved from Cartago after a brief civil conflict. The other options are important cities—Liberia (capital of Guanacaste province), Cartago (the former colonial capital), and Heredia (a provincial capital)—but none is the national capital. San José grew with the 19th‑century coffee boom and today anchors the Central Valley’s culture and economy, with landmarks like the National Theatre and the Pre-Columbian Gold Museum. Memory tip: “San José, center stage”—it sits in the Central Valley at the heart of national life.