This was the smoothest border crossing so far and only the second one where we had to buy insurance ($11). We drove straight to San Jose but crawling along behind endless lorries meant we arrived late. After spending an age trying to find a hotel that wasn't massively overpriced, we ended up sleeping in a car park right in the centre of town. Sleeping wasn't really an accurate description as we were out in the bars and discos until 6am. The night life here is excellent and the sights have to be seen to be believed.

We picked up T's doris at the airport and checked out some of the sights in the city. The Museo de Oro contains the history of Costa Rican numismatics - the use of coffee tokens as payment to the workers by the plantation owners and their subsequent development into the monetary system. There was also some good exhibits of Pre-Columbian gold artifacts, although the overzealous security personel wouldn't allow pictures to be taken or sitting on the chairs in an untidy manner.

We left San Jose on Sunday, aiming to hook up with travelswithrover.com at the beach in Malpais, Nicoya Peninsula.