Costa Rica Central Valley
By Melvin Pereira
A small taste of Costa Rica’s variety all comes together in the country’s central valley. Mountains, country sides and cities merge into one in this cool area.
The country’s political and economic center is San Jose; here you can find numerous hotel options which range from the 5 star convention centers to cheap yet inviting independent Costa Rica hotels. San Jose is surrounded by several small nearby towns which offer the tranquility and charm of rural communities.
You can find theaters, music, arts and crafts, local and international cuisine, history, white water rafting, zip lining and fascinating forests and volcanoes. Everything is easily accessible within a few hours in the Central Valley.
The provinces of San Jose, Cartago, Alajuela and Heredia lie within the valley and each has its very own special attraction. San Jose being the capital offers century old architecture, fine dining, museums and a very active night life. The province of Cartago has the Irazu Volcano which resembles somewhat of a lunar surface and a spectacular fluorescent green lagoon. Alajuela has the widely popular Poas Volcano which boasts of having the world’s largest crater of an active volcano. And Heredia has the Barva Volcano which is secluded amongst exuberant nature.
Several national parks and forest reserves lie very close to the comfort of the city and are a perfect option for spending either a relaxing day or a more adrenaline packed day for those looking to adventure themselves in zip lining, white water rafting and more.
