Central Valley / San JoseThe Central Valley, the “heart” of Costa Rica, boasts a nearly perfect climate, excellent museums, drive-up volcanoes, and fertile hillsides dotted with coffee plantations. Within this fertile temperate valley live most of the country’s population.
The capital city of San Jose, is located at an altitude of 2,900′ feet above sea level, giving it an idyllic climate with temperatures that vary from the mid-70’s F during the day to about 60 degrees F at night. San José is also the centre of culture and entertainment in Costa Rica. Attending a performance by the National Symphony Orchestra, one of Latin America’s best, at the beautiful National Theater, a national pride and architectural jewel that recently celebrated its 100th anniversary is a highlight of any visit. Adjacent to the National Theater below the Plaza de la Cultura (Cultural Square) a fantastic collection of pre-Colombian gold artifacts gleam inside the enormous vault of the Gold Museum and a few blocks away, on the 11th floor of the National Insurance Building (INS), is the Jade Museum, with the largest collection of pre-Columbian jade in the Americas. A visit to the National Museum will detail the history of this Central American country, while the Children’s Museum is a fun interactive learning adventure for all ages. The Central Market is a place to discover Costa Rican-grown food like fresh produce and coffee, while visitors can enjoy walking tours to see highlights like the San Jose Cathedral, Parque Central and the new Museo del Jade, an archaeological museum. San Jose also offers visitors a thriving nightlife with its many discos, bars, casinos, and fine restaurants sprinkled throughout the city. Those seeking adventure can peruse our list of tours @ San José One day Tours; offering visits to National Parks, Coffee plantations, Volcanoes, and activities such as Zip line Tour, white water rafting and much more. Topping the list, literally, of things to do around San Jose are the drive-up volcanoes: Poás and Irazú, towering 8,870 and 11,260 feet, respectively, above sea level. Among the lovely towns of the Central Valley, one of the most popular is Sarchí. Long at the center of Costa Rica’s oxcart production and more recently, home to a thriving crafts industry, Sarchí attracts visitors looking for local handcrafts and souvenirs. Just outside the capital, several tours are offered to learn more about Costa Rica’s history, handicrafts and locally-grown products. There is a lot to explore: indigenous tours in Quitirrisí and Puriscal, and indigenous experiences like the Boruca Indigenous Community Museum and the Terraba Indigenous Community Museum, El Guarco for its sculpture park and Santa Ana for ceramics, gastronomy adventures in Los Santos for coffee, Turrialba for cheese and sugar cane and Orotina for fresh fruit and local cuisine. Historic highlights include museums in Ujarras and Orosi and churches in Ciudad Colón, Moravia, Coronado and the Basilica of Our Lady of Angels in Cartago. Other nationally prized offerings and cultural traditions to be discovered by visitors include creole swing dance, Limón calypso, traditional Chorotega ceramics, the Boruca Little Devils Festival and many more. |
HOTELS
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Poas Volcano and Doka Estates Coffee Tour
Calypso Island Cruise
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Orosi and Lankaster Gardens
White water Rafting
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Hikes
Poas Volcano, La Paz Waterfall Gardens, and Doka Estates Coffee Tour
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Travel Tips
Climate
The average daytime temperature is about 75 degrees F. The rainy season begins in May and lasts to October with showers mostly during the late afternoon and evening hours. Mornings are fresh and dew laden.
What to wear
Comfortable lightweight cotton clothing. Long pants and long sleeved shirts are interchangeable with shorts and tees, but carry a light jacket. A rain poncho is essential when visiting during the rainy season. Comfortable shoes for those walking city tours.**NOTE: MANY RESTAURANTS IN THE CITY WON’T ALLOW PATRONS WEARING SHORTS OR SNEAKERS.
Services Available
Public transportation is excellent in San Jose and you will find routes that crisscross the city at regular intervals and provide a safe and inexpensive mode of transportation. Taxi service is also widely available and very reasonably priced. They are easily identifiable by their red color and white or yellow triangle on their door. Make sure the cab has a working meter or “Maria” as the locals call it, or you agree on a rate before entering the cab.
The average daytime temperature is about 75 degrees F. The rainy season begins in May and lasts to October with showers mostly during the late afternoon and evening hours. Mornings are fresh and dew laden.
What to wear
Comfortable lightweight cotton clothing. Long pants and long sleeved shirts are interchangeable with shorts and tees, but carry a light jacket. A rain poncho is essential when visiting during the rainy season. Comfortable shoes for those walking city tours.**NOTE: MANY RESTAURANTS IN THE CITY WON’T ALLOW PATRONS WEARING SHORTS OR SNEAKERS.
Services Available
Public transportation is excellent in San Jose and you will find routes that crisscross the city at regular intervals and provide a safe and inexpensive mode of transportation. Taxi service is also widely available and very reasonably priced. They are easily identifiable by their red color and white or yellow triangle on their door. Make sure the cab has a working meter or “Maria” as the locals call it, or you agree on a rate before entering the cab.
