Costa Rica's San Jose, Security and Leisure Program

Enjoy more of Costa Rica's San Jose nightlife as police increase security downtown.

Costa Rica's capital of San Jose aims to bring back nightlife with more police and cultural activities.

Beginning Sept. 1, 80 Costa Rica's police officers will be patrolling downtown San Jose to provide added protection for tourists as well as locals in the heart of the city. Whether people on their way home from work, or for those who want to do errands or enjoy a little of the city's nightlife.

In effect Monday to Thursday from 5 to 10 p.m. and during extended weekend hours, the policing measure is part of “ San Jose, Security and Leisure”. A joint program of Costa Rica's Public Security Ministry, the Culture Ministry and the San Jose Municipality.

The program will focus on the Central Valley area between Calles 2 and 23, from Avenidas 2 to 10 on the south side of the city and Avenidas 9 to 15 on the north side. Tourists strolling downtown, visiting local restaurants and bars around the Plaza de la Cultura and nearby casinos can feel safer. These along with those in the area of the refurbished La Aduana arts complex, will have late-night protection on weekends stretching from 5 p.m. to midnight Fridays, 9 a.m. to midnight Saturdays, and 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sundays.

In the various parks dotting downtown, the Culture Ministry will launch a series of activities starting Sept. 15; specifics will be announced. Check back for schedule of these Costa Rica events.

Enrique Arguedas, head of plans and operations for the National Police and special representative for the Public Security Ministry, said the added protection is available by the addition of  recently graduated officers. These will enable the ministry to beef up protection in the downtown area without cutting back elsewhere.

According to Arguedas, the project will be in effect at least until the end of the year.

“We review projects each week and each month to see the numbers of arrests,” Arguedas said. “Parallel to this, there will be other new actions in the peripheral zones of San Jose to support safety in the city; those are still under discussion.