Outside the capital of San Jose the bustling city gives way to plantations, fincas, primary rainforest and ravines of a truly beautiful wilderness area.
The surrounding wild rivers, towering volcanoes and rugged highlands are an amazing outdoor adventure playground where you can pit your wits against Mother Nature by hiking, zip-lining, mountain-biking, rafting, canyoning and kayaking.
The area is also about how the land is managed. Coffee growing is a very important activity in the Central Valley and you can visit plantations to learn about production.
Most visits to Costa Rica start and finish in San Jose, located in the middle of the Central Valley, surrounded by high mountains. With a reputation of being a chaotic and lively place, often congested by heavy traffic, most visitors overlook San Jose as a destination. However, many sites of interest are conveniently located in the compact centre and are easily visited on foot and there are a huge number of excellent eateries to discover. San Jose has also seen somewhat of a renaissance of the last few years and a culinary revolution. Eclectic and fine dining options have sprung up in barrios across the city centre, Promising young cooks to Michelin-starred chefs have opened restaurants, serving everything from traditional Costa Rican dishes to Argentine Steak and mouth-watering tapas.
There are a handful of interesting museums and cultural centres providing a satisfying insight into the country’s culture and history. The Jade Museum contains the largest collection of jade artefacts in the Americas, the National Museum is interestingly housed in the converted barracks of Bellavista Fortress that still bears the scars of the 1948 civil war. The Museum of Contemporary Art and Design specialises in Central American Art with some international exhibitors. And the Pre-Columbian Gold Museum hosts a fascinating collection of exhibits that chart a move away from a Maya influence.
Three great highlights can be visited in just one day within the Central Valley. Walk up to the crater of mighty Poas volcano, to see the bubbling green sulphuric “soup” of the world’s largest active crater-lake. Follow this with a visit to Doka Coffee Plantation for a “Seed to Cup” tour and end at La Paz Waterfall Gardens, where you will be introduced to the amazing bio-diversity of this country, including many of the animal, bird, insect and plant species that you will hope to see during your onward journey around Costa Rica.
What do you really love doing? We curate your itinerary especially for you.
A passion for travel runs right through every one of our experts - meaning they're always ready with first-hand insight about their specialist countries.
It was my passion for languages that first encouraged me to leave the UK behind and grab my rucksack. Since then, it’s been a mixture of intriguing cultures, jaw-dropping landscapes and the wonder of seeing animals in their natural habitat that sees me continuously extending my travel wish list.
Costa Rica is simply the best spot in Central America for nature lovers, and is always John’s top recommendation for those wishing to hike, swim, zip, raft, ride or float through outstanding scenery and rich biodiversity.
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