Regions of Costa Rica
Top 3 Hotels in San Jose
Three hotels in and around San José that we first listed in 2012, rechecked in November 2026: Hotel Grano de Oro, a boutique hotel in a converted mansion off Paseo Colón, and the Adventure Inn, near the airport, are both operating; we couldn't confirm the Mansión del Parque Bolívar. Useful if you need a night in the capital before or after a yoga retreat.
Update, November 2026: We rechecked all 3 hotels. The Adventure Inn is open and taking bookings on its own website. Hotel Grano de Oro is still listed by tour operators and booking sites, though its own website wasn't loading when we checked. We couldn't confirm the Mansión del Parque Bolívar is still open: it has no website of its own, and only old booking-site listings remain.
Most yoga trips to Costa Rica start or end with a night near San José, because the main international airport, Juan Santamaría (SJO), is in Alajuela just outside the city. These are the 3 hotels from our original 2012 list, in the same order, not a ranking. Check each hotel's website or a booking site for current rates.
Hotel Grano de Oro
Hotel Grano de Oro is a boutique hotel in a converted Victorian-style mansion on a quiet side street off Paseo Colón, a short taxi ride west of downtown San José. Its restaurant, which blends Costa Rican and European cooking, has long been one of the best known in the city. When we first wrote about it, the hotel had a rooftop terrace with 2 hot tubs, and rooms furnished in a tropical Victorian style. Travel companies that still sell it describe it the same way.
It suits you if you want a night or two in the city itself, close to the National Theater, the Gold Museum and the Costa Rican Art Museum in La Sabana park.
Adventure Inn Hotel
The Adventure Inn is in Ciudad Cariari, between San José and the airport. Its website puts it 10 to 15 minutes from SJO, depending on traffic, and it offers free round-trip airport transfers, with pickups at any hour and departures hourly from 3 am to noon. That makes it a practical choice for an early flight out or a late arrival.
The hotel has standard rooms and Jacuzzi suites, a solar-heated pool and Jacuzzi beside the garden, a 24-hour gym, and the Moon Glow restaurant and bar, open for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Mansión del Parque Bolívar
The Mansión del Parque Bolívar was a small bed and breakfast in a historic house on Avenida 9 in Barrio Carmen, north of downtown San José near Parque Bolívar. It was within walking distance of the Jade Museum, the National Museum and the Plaza de la Democracia, and catered to business travelers. We couldn't confirm it's still operating, so check a current booking site before planning a stay.
Yoga in San José
If you want a class during your stay, Yoga Mandir in San Pedro and Krama Yoga in Santa Ana are both open. Most people head to the coast for their retreat; our guide to where to do yoga in Costa Rica compares the regions and the drive times from San José.
Frequently asked questions
Where should I stay in San José before a yoga retreat?
If you fly out early or arrive late, a hotel near the airport such as the Adventure Inn saves time. If you want to see the city, stay closer to downtown, around Paseo Colón or Barrio Amón.
How far is San José's airport from the city?
Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) is in Alajuela, west of San José. The Adventure Inn, in between, puts itself 10 to 15 minutes from the airport, depending on traffic.
Is Hotel Grano de Oro still open?
Tour operators and booking sites still listed it, with guest reviews into 2025, though its own website wasn't loading when we checked in November 2026.
[Updated on: 4 November 2026]
