San Pedro

Lying just east of the city in the Montes de Oca municipality, San Pedro and Los Yoses are two of the most popular areas of the greater San Jose Metropolitan Area. Offering both economical student housing and upscale neighborhoods, these city suburbs are home to professors, students, bohemians, urban professionals, artists, young families, musicians, and so much more.

Though the road from Los Yoses through San Pedro measures no more than 4 kilometers (2 miles), the area is simply packed with lazy afternoon activities, ways to exercise your brain, and restaurants where you'll get your gastronomic groove on. And like San Jose proper, all of these activities are found in a mountain setting with warm days and comfortably cool nights.

Just 15 minutes from downtown San Jose, San Pedro is home to the largest public university in the country, la Universidad de Costa Rica (the University of Costa Rica). Though Costa Rican students never live on-campus, their presence is warmly embraced by the town, with budget-friendly bars, restaurants, bookstores, and more cropping up all around the university's perimeter.

The university has much to offer the non-student public as well, beginning with its beautiful grounds that are perfect for a leisurely Saturday walk. University gardens are well-maintained and simply beautiful, and the rest of the grounds are also well-manicured and almost constantly in bloom. While on campus, take time to stop by the Museo de Insectos (Insect Museum - www.miucr.ucr.ac.cr), offering the largest collection of insects in Central America. And if you're in town for an extended period of time, check the local papers for free workshops and lectures that the university's faculty offer monthly.

If you have a yen for partying, San Pedro is your best bet in the city. The infamous Calle de la Amargura (Street of Bitterness or Street of Extreme Drunkenness) is lined with small college-oriented stores like print shops and bookstores, in addition to its cheap pizza and bars famous for their thumping music and eclectic party scene. Dancers are also well taken care of on La Calle, as many bars double as discos, playing everything from the latest salsa rhythms to (more commonly) popular reggaeton and rap music.

For a slightly more refined scene, head to San Pedro's famous Jazz Café, located right on the main road. A live-music locale, the café serves any alcoholic drink you can imagine, in addition to lots of finger food and soft drinks. Musical instruments decorate the brick walls and candles light your table, adding to the ambiance of the place. Many popular bands play there, like the Emmy-winning Editus and local favorite Malpaís, and for great prices: most shows will run you less than $10. Reserve your tickets in advance or take your chances at the door. San Pedro is both quiet and rowdy, inexpensive and classy. If you take an hour to walk the streets, you may see most of the area, but will have only scratched the surface, so take your time and budget at least a day or two to explore the country's biggest college town.