San Pedro

University district with cheap food and rowdy bar scene. Fun but less safe than Escalante - go with a group at night, not alone.

University of Costa Rica is here, so it's full of students during the school year. La Calle de la Amargura (Street of Bitterness) is the main bar strip - two blocks packed with cheap drinks, plastic chairs on sidewalks, and crowds Thursday through Saturday nights. It's college nightlife - loud, messy, and fun. Food is cheaper than Escalante with late-night street vendors selling chifrijo (crispy pork with beans and rice). The constant crowds make it feel safe, but watch your belongings and don't flash valuables. Go in a group at night and keep an eye on your drink. During the day it's quiet with bookstores, vegetarian cafes, and coffee shops. Less English than tourist areas, more Spanish needed. Budget backpacker vibe.