San Jose is the capital of and largest city in Costa Rica. It is located in the geographic centre of the country, and at first glance, seems sprawling and chaotic, but on closer inspection, it proves itself to be a lively city with plenty to amuse every sort of traveler. The approach to San Jose from the air gives visitors an aerial snapshot of the city’s layout, and Costa Rica’s capital is nestled in a high central valley surrounded by volcanic mountain ranges cloaked in lush green vegetation, with the city’s edges creeping up the sides of the foothills. It is one of Latin America’s youngest capital cities, and very few people actually live in the centre, the city being more important as a commercial and economic centre which draws over one million people there to work every day. The metropolitan area of San Jose, which stretches far beyond its dense urban centre, is home to about two million people.