SAN JOSE HOSTELS

Whether your final destination is the party town of Jaco, the wilderness at Osa, the Caribbean surfing beaches, you'll likely stay a night or two in San Jose along the way. Of course, you will find many with dorms but, increasingly, many are more like nice, cheap Costa Rica hotels with private rooms and internet.

Many offer private baths and have televisions in rooms, too.

These hostels are not just for college kids anymore.

Indeed, whatever your age, if you're on a budget or just can't see spending a chunk of change for a clean bed, check these San Jose hostels out while on your Costa Rica vacation.

Think of them more as cheap Costa Rica hotels than traditional hostels.

About Cheap San Jose Hostels

Three final notes:

1. Prices often are higher from high season (mid-Nov to end of April and sometimes around July);

2. Availability also depends upon season; and

3. Advertised online prices through third party booking companies are often lower than rates quoted on the website for particular Costa Rica or San Jose hostels (exception, Lonely Planet, which seems to regularly charge a premium).

San Jose Hostels

Casa Ridgway Hostel

Calle 15/Avenida 6-8 (15th St. between 6th and 8th Ave.), San Jose, located near the Turriable bus terminal, directly west of the Justice Tribunals

Tel: 22-33-26-93/22-22-14-00

Website: www.amigosparalapaz.org/english%20index.htm

Email: casaridgway@yahoo.es

Rates: from $14(shared room)-$19(single, private)-$34(room for 2)

Casa Yoses Hostel

Los Yoses/San Pedro, avenida 8 41 calle (8th Ave 41st St), 250 meters west from Spoon Restaurant in Los Yoses close to the University of Costa Rica (2 kms from San Jose)

Tel: 22-34-54-86

Website: www.casayoses.com

Email: info@casayoses.com

Rates: from $12 (dorm)-$54(triple w/private bath)

Cinco Hormigas Rojas

Calle 15/Av 9 & 11 (15th St. between 9th and 11th Ave.), Barrio Amón, close to Calderon Hospital, downtown San Jose. If you take a taxi: "De la Rampa Hospital Calderón 100 metros oeste y 70 metros sur"

Tel: 22-55-34-12

Website: www.cincohormigasrojas.com

Email: info@cincohormigasrojas.com

Rates: from $40/room (private room for 2)

Costa Rica Backpackers Hostel

Downtown San Jose (Barrio Amon), avenida 6 calles 21/23 (6th Ave between 21st and 23rd Streets) close to the Supreme Court building

Tel: 22-21-61-91 or 22-23-24-06

Website: www.costaricabackpackers.com

Email: costaricabackpackers@gmail.com

Rates: from $12 (dorm)-$42

Galileo Hostel

San Jose, Avenida 2, Calle 40, De la Soda Tapia en Sabana, 100m este (2nd Ave. 40th St., 100 meters east of the Soda Tapia Restaurant near Sabana Park)

Tel: 22-48-20-94

Website: www.hostelgalileo.com

Rates: from $9 (mixed dorm)-$15(4ppl/private bath)

Gaudy's Backpackers Hostel

Ave. 5, Calle 36 y 38, Casa 3636 (House 3636, 5th Ave between 36th and 38th street), downtown San Jose

Tel: 22-58-29-37 or 22-48-00-86

Website: www.backpacker.co.cr

Email: gaudys@backpacker.co.cr

Rates: from $30

Green House Hostel

San Jose, Plaza González Víquez, calle 11 , avenida 16 y 18 (11th St. between 16th-18th Aves.)

Tel: 22-58-90-84/22-58-01-02

Website: www.greenhousehostel.altervista.org

Email: oriettaaraya@infowebco.net

Rates: from $14(shared bath)-$49 (3 persons/private bath)

Hostel 1110

San Jose, downtown, 500 meters east of Clinica Biblica (a major hospital) and close to train station

Tel: 22-21-94-12

Website: www.hostel1110.com

Email: info@hostel1110.com

Rates: from $12 (dorm)-$39

Hostel Bekuo

Los Yoses/San Pedro close to the University of C.R. (about 2 kms from San Jose)

Website: www.hostelbekuo.com

Rates: from $12 (dorm)-$30 (double)

Hostel Casa del Parque

Avenida 3, Calle 19 (3rd Ave. and 19th St.), right across the street from the National Park, downtown San Jose

Tel: 22-33-34-37

Website: www.hostelcasadelparque.com

Email: info@hostelcasadelparque.com

Rates: from $12 (dorm)-$30 (private, shared bath)

Hostel Pangea

Downtown San Jose, avenida 7 calles 3/5 (7th Ave. between 3rd and 5th Streets) in front of the Hotel Santo Tomas

Tel: 22-21-19-92

Website: www.pangea.hostel.com

Rates: from $12 (dorm)-$15

Hostel Sol y Luna

22nd. Street, Ave. 1-3, San Jose, east side Juan Rafael Mora School. 125 mts. north from the Torre Médica, in Paseo Colón

Tel: 22-21-43-37

Website: www.hostelsolyluna.com

Email: hostel@hostelsolyluna.com

Rates: from $12 (dorm)-$20

Hostel Taruma

San Jose, Avenida Central 29, calle 31 (29th Ave. 31st St.), downtown

Tel: 22-34-81-86 / 22-24-40-85

website: www.hosteltoruma.com

Email: hosteltoruma@yahoo.com

rates: from $12 (dorm), $30 (double), $60 (triple)

JC Hostel and Friends

34th Street & Avenue 3, Paseo Colon, downtown San Jose

Tel: 23-74-82-46

Rates: from $12(dorm)-$14

Downtown San Jose(Barrio Amon), 225 metres Norte del Kiosko Parque Morazan, Calle 7, Avenida 9 - 11, #927 7th St. between avenues 9-11 #927)

Tel: 22-83-20-00, 22-55-03-55, 22-55-32-64

website: www.kabatahostel.com

Email: info@kabatahostel.com

Rates: from $12 (dorm: $11 for group of 5 paid in advance)-$32

Mi Casa Hostel

San Jose, Sabana Norte (a major park), 50 meters west and 150 meters north of I.C.E. (a major governmental utility building)

Tel: 22-31-47-00

Website: www.micasahostel.com

Email: info@micasahostel.com

Rates: from $12 (dorm)-$26

Tranquilo Hostel

San José downtown. From Parque Morazán, 250 meters north, 7th Street between 9th and 11th avenue. Yellow house to the right.

Tel: 22-22-24-93 or 23-55-51-03

Website: www.tranquilobackpackers.com

Email: tranquilobackpackers@hotmail.com

Rates: from $10 (dorm)-$28 (private)

Tuanis Hostel

Los Yoses/San Pedro close to University of C.R. (2 kms from San Jose) and San Pedro Mall

Tel: 89-93-98-49

Website: www.tuanishostel.com

Email: info@tuanishostel.com

Rates: from $12 (dorm)-$28

Have I missed some San Jose hostels? Tell me!

Transportation to San Jose Hostels

Expect to pay at least $25 to get to the heart of San Jose (more late at night).

Or. . .Pay about $1 by bus.

Buses are everywhere in Costa Rica and they are really, really cheap. From the airport, it's about $1.

Though buses aren't allowed in front of the terminal where you'll come out, you'll see a parking garage. Go around the garage to the street on the other side.

From the bus stop out there, take a red colored TUASA bus. It'll take you downtown.

If you don't know your way around downtown, get off downtown and hire a taxi from there.

Also, some San Jose hostels provide, for a reasonable fee, ground transportation.

Money Saving Tips

1. If you take a taxi, be sure it is red and has a taxi light on top. There are many illegal private taxis and you'll probably pay more for them.

2. Should any taxi driver (legal or illegal) tell you that your hostel is full, either change taxis or tell him in no uncertain terms to take you to the hostel you want. Don't fall for this scam: the driver will take you somewhere he gets a commission.

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