Costa Rica - Costa Rica's capital is San José

(Pronounced kos-tuh ree-kuh and san-ho-zay)

To remember the capital of Costa Rica, use the following mnemonic:

The coast reeked (Costa Rica) because there were sandwiches left everywhere. It all needed hosing off (San Jose).

Interesting facts about San José:

- High-Altitude Capital: San José sits at an elevation of nearly 1,170 meters above sea level in the Central Valley, giving it a comfortable, spring-like climate year-round despite its tropical location.

- Architectural Shift: Much of the city’s early colonial architecture was replaced by grand European-style metal buildings, most notably the National Theatre, which was constructed in the late 1890s using prefabricated steel imported from Belgium.

- Coffee Hub: The city grew rapidly into a major economic and cultural center primarily due to the massive success of the country’s coffee export industry during the nineteenth century.