What to do with one day in San Jose, Costa Rica?
 

Folks I will be in San Jose Costa Rica for business in early May, and I will have partial days/evenings and one full day on my own. Any recommendations as to what I should do, especially on the full day that I have for myself? I am staying at the Sheraton in Escazu if that makes any difference. This is my first time in CR and I will be on my own. I am a pretty experienced traveler though so no qualms about the solo status.

Should I stay in town? Should I head towards the coast? If so, where should I go and what's the best way to get there? Any advice greatly appreciated.

San Jose's two must-sees are the Teatro Nacional and the Gold Museum. Both are on the same plaza in the heart of the city. Depending on time of day, they'll be 30 minutes by taxi from the Sheraton in Escazu. You could see them both in one of your half days. The third must-see, the Jade Museum, is presently closed and will reopen at a new location this summer.

A full day is possible for a daytrip to the beach, but you'll spend an awful lot of time in transit. I'd recommend instead pairing a couple of sights in the Central Valley, the mountain valley that surrounds San Jose:

Poas Volcano - You go right up to the crater rim and peer inside. It's eerie and very cool.

Doka Coffee Estate or Cafe Britt - They're two coffee plantations that offer tours. You'd obviously choose one or the other.

Unless you'll have your own vehicle, a tour operator will be the easiest way to visit. Most do a tour that combines the volcano with one of the coffee plantations. Your hotel could fix you up with something.

All three are crowd-pleasers.

Another option - La Paz Waterfall Garden (http://www.waterfallgardens.com/la_p...ll_gardens.php)
Zoo-like, expensive - but very nicely done.