I live in San Isidro, (on the other side of the Cerro de la Muerte). Fortunately I don't have to go to San Jose much and most of the time when I do we go up the coast. Don't know how long ago you left but the coastal highway is paved all the way up now so it only takes about 30 minutes longer than the mountain but it's a far less brutal trip (on the vehicle and on my back!). It's a shame they'll never resurface the Pan American Highway over the Cerro, that would be a blast to drive in the right kind of vehicle. I'm from NC originally but been here since 2003.