A few days in San José, home to over one third of all Ticos, will give you an insight into the true character of the nation. The city's markets are colorful and vibrant, and its nightlife is as sophisticated (or as debauched) as you want it to be.
San José is also home to a number of galleries and museums, and there are a few neighborhoods in the city still show colonial style. The assault on the senses that is Chepe is perhaps your best opportunity for understanding the complexities of modern-day Costa Rica.