Costa Rica car rental and San Jose Nightlife

Don't let the dark put a damper on your Costa Rica car rental plans. Instead, hit the streets of San Jose for an amazing night out. Whether you're looking to make new friends, or simply have a ball with old ones, you're sure to have an unforgettable evening out and about in Costa Rica's capital. San Jose caters to a mix of tourists, college students and all-around party people, so why are you headed to bed already? There are plenty of interesting clubs, bars, theatres and discos to discover in San Jose tonight.

See what's going on in San Jose

First-time visitors to San Jose may have trouble located the hottest places to hang out in the city. Luckily, the local papers often list upcoming events in their entertainment sections. Costa Rica car rental travelers are encouraged to pick up a copy of Tico Times (for English listings) or La Nacion (Spanish listings). The former lists local hotspots that are popular with the tourist crowd, while the latter's “Viva” and “Tiempo Libre” sections list discos, movie theatres, and live music venues.

Have a cold one with friends at a local bar

Thirst quenching beverages are always available in Costa Rica, especially those of the alcoholic variety. Costa Rica car rental travelers will find something for every taste in San Jose, including luxe lounges and youthful sports bars. Costa Rica car rental travelers will even find the odd brewpub mixed into the scene, providing patrons with an outstanding selection of domestic and imported suds. But by far the best part about San Jose's bar scene has to be the boca, or the Costa Rican equivalent to Spanish tapas. This little dish of snacks is delivered to bar booths whenever a drink is ordered. Sadly, this tradition is dying out in the newer, more modern establishments, but Costa Rica car rental travelers will still find the treat at traditional drinking establishments. In most places, the bocas are free, but this isn't always the case. As for drink prices, Costa Rica car rental travelers can expect to pay about $2 for a beer, and between $2 and $5 for a mixed drink.

Please don't stop the music - San Jose's dance scene

Want to cut a rug during your upcoming trip to Costa Rica's capital? Then grab some friends and head to the city's downtown club scene. A good place to sample the city's best nightlife is in El Pueblo, an entertainment district that's designed to look like an old Spanish village. Top spots in this area include Friends, Fiesta Latina, Twister and Copacabana. Costa Rica car rental travelers can also find great clubs in other areas of the city­ - simply check the local papers for address and events.

Get cultured during your upcoming Costa Rica car rental vacation

Theatre and the performing arts are extremely popular entertainment options in Costa Rica; downtown San Jose is practically overflowing with small theatres. Burlesque is also a crowd pleaser in the country's capital, providing audience members with simplistic sexual comedies. If you're looking for something a bit more cultured, Avanti recommends heading to the National Theater Company and the Abya Yala. Almost all of the city's theatrical offerings are in Spanish, expect for those performed at the Little Theater Group, a long-standing amateur troupe that periodically stages plays in English. Other cultural scenes in Costa Rica include modern-dance presentations at the University of Costa Rica and the National Symphony Orchestra. If you're lucky enough to be visiting the country during the month of November, remember to attend the El Festival Nacional de Las Artes (held during odd-numbered years) and El Festival Internacionals de Las Artes (even-numbered years). Most nights of these month long festivals feature between 4 and 10 performances, many of which are free to the public.