Moravia

Just a bit farther north of Guadalupe lies Moravia, a suburb with three districts, San Vicente, San Jerónimo, and La Trinidad. When Moravia became a canton in 1914, it was named after former President Juan Rafael Mora (1849-1859), defeater of the famous invader William Walker. Since the Central Valley already had one Mora canton, Moravia had to settle for a slightly modified name.

Moravia is a beautiful canton, though its old coffee plantations have mostly given way to urban sprawl. Today, it is known for a wide variety of souvenirs and artesanía, or local crafts. In fact, one of its most recognizable roads is named La Calle de la Artesanía (the Arts & Crafts Road), and is lined with vendors selling exquisitely-carved woods and beautifully hand-beaded jewelry. And if you want a slice of the country and canton's artistic pass, you may want to consider a miniaturized version of the famous, impeccably-decorated Costa Rican oxcart.

Finally, though you may not know it, Costa Rica is also home to fine leather craftsmanship, and if you're interested in learning how it's done, Moravia's Hidalgo de Rueda leather shop offers tours, in addition to a large selection of beautiful leather products.

Both Moravia and Guadalupe have welcomed change and modernization, but have retained a bit of their pasts. Though you may be tempted to skip a trip to these eastern suburbs, a day in San Jose deserves at least a pass through both.