DRYING COFFEE NEAR SAN JOSe 
Of great interest to the foreigner are the various processes in preparing the 
country’s chief product for market. 
FOYER OF THE NATIONAL THEATER 
Important social events of the Costa Rican capital are held in this splendid theater. 
SAN JOSE 
23 
THE TOURIST 
San Jose and Cartago became better known to the traveling- 
public during construction days of the Panama Canal. Many 
a canal official and employe, feeling the heat of the Zone at 
times oppressive and needing rest in a cooler climate, journeyed 
to Costa Rica’s mountains. The over-night steamer trip from 
Colon to Limon and a train ride of a day from Limon placed 
one at Cartago or San Jose. Either place afforded genuine 
relief from the tropical temperature of the Isthmus of Panama. 
It was not long before the families of Canal officials made 
prolonged stays in or near the Costa Rican capital. It was 
natural that tourists should find the delights of Costa Rica; 
steamship companies began sending excursion parties up to 
San Jose while ships discharged or loaded cargo at Limon. 
Since tourist travel became established more and more travelers 
have been availing themselves of the opportunity to visit 
Costa Rica. 
A few years ago the National Tourist Board of Costa Rica 
was formed at San Jose and so active has this agency become 
that it is today a well recognized force in the upbuilding of 
the country and in opening many little-known wonders to the 
traveler. The president of this Board is the well-known and 
active Luis P. Jimenez. His efforts and those of his associates 
in giving publicity to Costa Rica and its innumerable attrac¬ 
tions are bearing abundant fruit. One of the highly interesting 
pamphlets published by the Board is that entitled “Sightseeing 
in Costa Rica." It is illustrated with entirely new photographs 
and its reading matter tells the stranger how to make the best 
use of each day spent in the country and the best way of 
seeing everything possible in a short stay. 
