San Jose and Central Valley Holidays

San Jose

Ringed by green hills and rumbling mountains, Costa Rica’s capital city San Jose is relatively modern compared to its Latin America counterparts. It’s certainly worth a visit for a night or two and is brimming with opulent theatres, intriguing museums and a maze of streets where colourful murals rule.

San Jose’s growing food scene is reason to visit alone, especially in the Barrio Escalante neighbourhood, which is a hub of dynamic dining and vibrant nightlife. Santa Ana offers more upscale options with fine dining restaurants and boutique hotels.

For an urban green fix explore La Sabana Metropolitan Park, a sprawling oasis in the middle of the city popular with locals.

Poas Volcano

A short drive from San Jose, Poas Volcano National Park boasts Costa Rica’s most active volcano and a jaw-dropping mile-wide crater, among one of the largest in the world. While closures do happen because of its active nature, Poas is well worth a visit to marvel at smouldering volcanoes, steaming fumaroles and a sulfuric lake as well as a stunning array of birdlife including hummingbirds, tanagers, toucanets, and even the iconic quetzal.

Drive a little further and you’ll reach La Paz Waterfall Gardens, offering a gentle introduction into Costa Rica’s stunning wildlife and lush natural attractions.

Bajos Del Toro

Sitting at the foot of the towering Poas Volcano, the small town of Bajos Del Toro is surrounded by protected wilderness and national parks making it a natural playground for an abundance of activities whether you visit for the day or stay. Hike through lush vegetation to hidden waterfalls, saddle up for a horse-riding adventure, or dial up the adrenaline river rafting or zip lining! Don’t miss a trek to the impressive Cataratas del Toro Waterfall, which drops a giddy 300-feet into an extinct volcanic crater.

Naranjo

This historic agricultural town at the foot of the Espírito Santo Hills is the place to go for a coffee fix. Over two centuries these globally beloved beans have been expertly cultivated by the coffee farmers into some of the best coffee in the world. A tasting tour of a local coffee farm is the way to go to, as is an authentic gastronomic experience, learning to cook at the home of a local Costa Rican family.

Nearby the charming town of Sarchi is known for its intricate arts, crafts and souvenirs, and is where the colourful Costa Rican ox carts originate. While picturesque Grecia is famed for its Cathedral de la Mercedes (made entirely from metal) and the World of Snakes – perhaps more of an acquired taste!

Turrialba

Directly east of San Jose, the small city of Turrialba is at the heart of a rich agricultural industry surrounded by extensive coffee, sugar and macadamia plantations. Towering above the region is Turrialba Volcano – hike its forested slopes to the summit or have a gentle meander or cycle around the landscaped gardens of the renowned Centre for Tropical Agriculture (CATIE).

Costa Rica’s only pre-Columbian ruins at nearby Guayabo have led to Turrialba’s recognition as a city of National Archaeological Interest, while thrill-seekers flock here for the chance to raft the rapids of the renowned Pacuare River. This spectacular waterway flows over 100kms to the Caribbean and provides a habitat for wildlife including otters, jaguars, ocelots, monkeys, sloths and of course, a breathtaking variety of birdlife.