Where to Stay
Every captivating tailor-made itinerary needs a perfect base. Our team has handpicked this collection of properties to give you luxury options in styles to suit any adventure.
Central Valley
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.
Explore San Jose
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.
Explore the Museums
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.
Our Specialists' "Must Do"
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.
Experiences
What do you really love doing? We curate your itinerary especially for you.
Idea
Costa Rica
Journey through Costa Rica & Nicaragua
Combining the prolific wildlife and outdoor pursuits of Costa Rica‘s Carribean coast with the colonial architecture and volcanic islands of Nicaragua‘s Pacific coast, this customisable trip is suited to intrepid travellers who seek a balance of exhilarating explorations with time spent unwinding…
Group tour
Costa Rica
Uncharted Costa Rica 4×4 Self-Drive Adventure
Venture into Costa Rica’s wilder, less-visited corners at the helm of your own 4×4 expedition vehicle, following expert Costa Rican guides leading four vehicles across riverbeds, beaches, pineapple plantations, remote dirt tracks and asphalt coastal roads.
Idea
Costa Rica
Highlights of Costa Rica
Through a combination of protected areas and community-based, sustainable tourism, Costa Rica has successfully restored its forest cover to over 52%. Suited to thrill seekers, nature lovers and those with a curiosity to learn more about conservation, this holiday dips a toe…
Idea
Costa Rica
A Family Adventure to Costa Rica
From zip-lining over jungle canopies to exploring monkey-inhabited national parks, this is a classic Costa Rican adventure designed to provide conservation insight and fun in equal measure. Combining activity-centric Arenal with a change of pace on the beautiful Pacific and Caribbean coasts…
Idea
Costa Rica
Costa Rica’s Wild South
This holiday to Costa Rica combines the highlights in the north of the country with the more remote, less visited south. Featuring a sprinkling of boat rides and a careful balance of pristine coastlines with overgrown jungles, this journey reaches areas where…
Idea
Nicaragua
El Salvador, Nicaragua & Costa Rica
This intrepid holiday to Central America journeys overland between the smallest and the largest of the region’s countries. From El Salvador through Nicaragua to Costa Rica, all three destinations are bursting with wildlife, epic volcanic scenery, UNESCO sites, colonial history and remote…
Idea
Costa Rica
Journey through Costa Rica & Nicaragua
Combining the prolific wildlife and outdoor pursuits of Costa Rica‘s Carribean coast with the colonial architecture and volcanic islands of Nicaragua‘s Pacific coast, this customisable trip is suited to intrepid travellers who seek a balance of exhilarating explorations with time…
Group tour
Costa Rica
Uncharted Costa Rica 4×4 Self-Drive Adventure
Venture into Costa Rica’s wilder, less-visited corners at the helm of your own 4×4 expedition vehicle, following expert Costa Rican guides leading four vehicles across riverbeds, beaches, pineapple plantations, remote dirt tracks and asphalt coastal roads.
Idea
Costa Rica
Highlights of Costa Rica
Through a combination of protected areas and community-based, sustainable tourism, Costa Rica has successfully restored its forest cover to over 52%. Suited to thrill seekers, nature lovers and those with a curiosity to learn more about conservation, this holiday dips…
Idea
Costa Rica
A Family Adventure to Costa Rica
From zip-lining over jungle canopies to exploring monkey-inhabited national parks, this is a classic Costa Rican adventure designed to provide conservation insight and fun in equal measure. Combining activity-centric Arenal with a change of pace on the beautiful Pacific and…
Idea
Costa Rica
Costa Rica’s Wild South
This holiday to Costa Rica combines the highlights in the north of the country with the more remote, less visited south. Featuring a sprinkling of boat rides and a careful balance of pristine coastlines with overgrown jungles, this journey reaches…
Idea
Nicaragua
El Salvador, Nicaragua & Costa Rica
This intrepid holiday to Central America journeys overland between the smallest and the largest of the region’s countries. From El Salvador through Nicaragua to Costa Rica, all three destinations are bursting with wildlife, epic volcanic scenery, UNESCO sites, colonial history…
Costa Rica
Finca Rosa Blanca
Finca Rosa Blanca is a graceful countryside mansion set on a hilltop in Costa Rica’s Central Valley. The hotel is set in nine acres of tropical flora and fruit trees with stunning views of distant volcanoes,…
Costa Rica
Xandari Resort & Spa
The Xandari Resort & Spa consists of 24 spacious villas in the grounds of a 40-acre fruit plantation overlooking Costa Rica’s Central Valley. All villa types, from Primus to Ultra, to the two-bedroom Star Villa, have…
Meet our experts
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.
Clare Wiggins
My love for Asia began with living there. Based in Vietnam and then Malaysia, I also explored the surrounding regions before eventually finding my way back home via China and the Trans-Siberian railway. At Steppes Travel, I get to share that love for Asia every day, helping clients experience the places I know best as if they were locals themselves.
Talk with our experts
- 01285 880 980
John Faithfull
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.
Talk with our experts
- 01285 880 980
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Explore other regions
North and Central Pacific Coast
The Pacific Coast stretches from the Nicoya Peninsula in the north to the Osa Peninsula in the south. This coastal plain rises…
Puerto Viejo and Caribbean Coast
It has wonderful beaches with fine volcanic sand lapped by warm water.
South Pacific Coast
According to National Geographic, Corcovado National Park is 'the most biologically intense place on the planet'.
Volcanoes
Costa Rica, straddling the tectonic plates of the Pacific and Caribbean, boasts 110 volcanoes, five of which are still active.
Wetlands
The wetlands of Costa Rica are some of the best areas to experience a variety of birds and wildlife.
Why Choose Steppes?
Our knowledge, curiosity and expertise set us apart, driving us to create remarkable holidays and Beautiful Adventures tailored perfectly to you, carefully curated to help protect and conserve our planet.
Are you ready to Discover Extraordinary?