This region includes San José (the capital of Costa Rica), Alajuela, Heredia and Cartago. In the Central Valley area there is a great variety of activities worth exploring.
The Central Valley also offers the tourist popular services like hostels, bed and breakfast, as well as "sodas", small restaurants or cafeterias.
The best museums of the country are in San José, these are: the Gold Museum, the Jade Museum, the National Museum of Contemporary Art, the Children's Museum and the Dr. Rafael Ángel Calderón Guardia Museum. In downtown San José the Melico Salazar Theater and the National Theater, built in 1897 with its completely European architecture, stand out.
San José is also the Government's home and the political life of the country.
San José has day and night cultural activities in dance rooms, bars and discos. The fairs in honor of the patron saint of each town take place regularly. The end of the year fair is one of the main tourist attractions both for nationals and foreigners. The Light Festival, which takes place in early December, is already a tradition that sets the beginning of the New Year, with a parade of floats and bands.
In the central Valley you will find the provinces of Alajuela, "City of mangos", second in importance to the country where you can find the Poás volcano. Heredia, also known as the "City of flowers", has beautiful mountainous regions and in which an important concentration of industrial activity is found. Cartago, the capital of Costa Rica during colonial times is the home to the Virgen de los Ángeles Cathedral, patron saint of Costa Rica. Within a short distance from downtown Cartago the Irazú volcano is found.
Costa Rica is known worldwide for its exquisite coffee. If you want to learn about the selection process and wish to try different types of coffee, this is your best opportunity. You have at your disposal different tours, where guides will accompany you.