Biome of San José, Costa Rica

San José, the capital, sits in the Central Valley (Meseta Central) at ~1,170 m (3,840 ft) elevation. Its biome is technically Subtropical Moist Forest (Holdridge Life Zone) or Tropical Montane Forest transition.

Climate & Vegetation

• Temperatures: Mild year-round (17–27°C / 63–81°F)—"eternal spring."
• Rainfall: ~1,900 mm (75 in) annually; distinct dry (Dec–Apr) and wet (May–Nov) seasons.
• Natural Vegetation: Evergreen/deciduous mix—oak, laurel, cypress, epiphytes (orchids, bromeliads). Much replaced by coffee plantations, dairy farms, urban sprawl.
• Biodiversity: High bird diversity (clay-colored thrush, motmots, hummingbirds); mammals (squirrels, opossums, bats).

It's not lowland tropical rainforest (that's Caribbean/Atlantic slopes <600 m). The Central Valley is a cooler, seasonally dry highland corridor between volcanic ranges.