San Jose car rentals and San Jose Shopping

No va cation is complete without a quick shopping trip for souvenirs, and a visit to San Jose, Costa Rica is no exception. While it's hard to find anything that's distinctly Costa Rican in the city's stores, travelers in San Jose car rentals will have no problem finding wares imported from all over Central and South America. From crafts to clothing, there's plenty to see when shopping in the streets of San Jose, so what are you waiting for? It's time for a little retail therapy.

Make your way to a modern mall

Globalization and modernization are all too apparent in San Jose's shopping districts, thanks to the creation of major megamall retail destinations. American travelers in San Jose car rentals will feel right at home in the multi-level affairs, complete with Cineplex's, food courts and international brand- name stores. The largest and most modern of these malls include the Mall San Pedro, Multiplaza and Mall Real Cariari.

Enjoy a traditional day of bargaining at a market

Travelers in San Jose car rentals can escape big box madness by visiting one of the city's numbers downtown markets. The largest of these is the Mercado Central, which is located between avenidas Central and 1 and calles 6 and 8. While primarily a food market, travelers in San Jose car rentals will also uncover unique vendors selling everything from crude leather goods to musical instruments. The Mercado Central is always a hive of activity, so remember to keep a close eye on your purse or wallet. Travelers in San Jose car rentals can also find a daily market on the west side of the Plaza de la Democracia. Here, you'll find two long rows of vendors, as well as plenty of low prices. A note to first-time market customers: bargaining is not a traditional part of the vendor culture here, so be wary when bartering; you'll have to work hard to save a few dollars.

Avendia Central is where it all happens

If you're looking for a truly unique shopping experience during your upcoming visit to San Jose, Avanti highly recommends parking your rental car and heading to the pedestrian-only Avenida Central. Here you'll find store after store of inexpensive clothing, as well as unique tourist shops. Travelers in San Jose car rentals can pop into the stores Monday through Saturday from 8am to 6pm. And what's more, the sales and import taxes have already been figured into the display prices, saving travelers the additional expensive.

An important thing to remember when shopping in Costa Rica

Travelers in San Jose car rentals should know that international laws prohibit trade in endangered wildlife. Under no circumstance should a visitor purchase a plant or animal, even if they are readily for sale. Visitors are especially warned against buying any kind of sea-turtle product, cat skins, corals, or non-commercially grown orchids. Regardless of how beautiful, insignificant, or inexpensive your purchase may seem it will still be directly contributing to the further hunting and commercialization of these endangered species.

Can't go without a cup of Joe

Coffee is the best thing you can purchase in San Jose, not to mention one of the cheapest commodities. Although some of the best coffee is shipped to the States anyways, it's still hard to bead the beans that are roasted right in front of you. Travelers in San Jose car rentals can purchase a pound of coffee for about $3 at a local shop, including the popular Cafe Britt, Cafe Milagro and Cafe Monteverde. You can also purchase great coffee at any supermarket - why pay more at a gift or specialty shop? A note to first-time coffee buyers: remember to ask for whole beans as Costa Rican grinds are often too fine for the standard coffee filter. If you're buying pre-packaged coffee at the market, look for the back marked grano entero (whole bean).