The Central Valley is considered the heart of Costa Rica. It is home to the capital city of San José, as well as nearby towns like Alajuela, Heredia, and Cartago. Two-thirds of the country’s population resides in the valley.
The Central Valley Costa Rica tour starts in San José. There is a wide range of day excursions available. Tours to coffee fields, cultural sights, volcano craters, stunning lagoons, and more are available.
The Central Valley is ideal for a vacation or relocation. The numerous restaurants, hotels, museums, outdoor plazas, and parks give plenty of chances for activity and amusement.
San José’s numerous parks invite you to take a break from the hustle and bustle of the city, watching and listening to the birds and street musicians.
The city is home to some of the country’s top museums, including the Gold, Jade, National, Costa Rican Art, La Salle Natural Sciences, Insects at the University of Costa Rica, Contemporary Arts & Design, and Children’s Museums, to name a few. The National Theatre, Costa Rica’s architectural treasure, is also located here.
Costa Rican cuisine is recognized for its use of fresh ingredients such as fruit and vegetables and its reasonable portion sizes. The flavor and preparation are much different from other Latin American countries.
Most Costa Rican dishes include rice and beans, or at least one of them. Costa Rican cuisine may be described as “comfort food,” cooked on a wood-fired stove by grandma since every Costa Rican grandmother knows what is best.
Exotic fruit flourish in the tropical environment, so there’s always something fresh to experiment with in the kitchen.
Several communities on the west side of Central Valley Costa Rica provide all the facilities that a foreign resident would appreciate. Below is a list of cities popular with many expats that call Costa Rica home.
Because of its pleasant temperatures and closeness to the capital of San José, Escazú has historically been the preferred destination for many expats. Today, it has grown into an urban center with retail malls and banks offering great wine and dine experiences. Escazu is also home to the private hospital CIMA.
Although the downtown area remains modest and charming, Santa Ana is rapidly expanding.
The Lindora region, once a rural area, has grown into the home of many businesses, restaurants, and luxury stores.
Ciudad Colon is a quiet town on the hillside south of Santa Ana. It is small but known to be one of the most multicultural towns in the entire world, attracting all types of artists, writers, and musicians. It offers beautiful views of the Central Valley. The town has a good transportation structure, hospitals, and more to meet the needs of the expats. The cost of living is significantly lower than in Santa Ana, Escazú, or San José.
Valle del Sol is a paradise for golfers. The 18 holes professional championship golf course is built inside the exclusive Parque Valle del Sol residential area and was designed by the well-known architect Tracy May.
Valle del Sol is one of the most sought-after residential communities on the western side of San José.
La Fortuna is a town located in the shadow of the Arenal volcano. Visited by many tourists every day, it still has preserved much of its original “Tico” character, making it a great place to unwind and take in the region’s breathtaking landscape.
First settled in the mid-1930s by a group of people from Ciudad Quesada, the town of La Fortuna was created in 1952.
La Fortuna is the starting point for many excursions in the area.
Arenal Volcano is an active andesitic stratovolcano. Its height is at least 1,633 meters. It has a conical form, and the main crater extends over 140 meters in diameter.
After hundreds of years of lying dormant, the Arenal exploded in July 1968, destroyed 2 villages, and killed many people.
It was Costa Rica’s most active volcano until 2010. Arenal erupted massive volumes of lava, gas, and ash regularly, much to the delight of its tourists.
Arenal Volcano is located in the rich northern lowlands of Costa Rica. Its tall and imposing stature is a dominant presence with a reputation to match. Its flawlessly symmetrical form is a sightseeing dream, and its wealth of outdoor activities makes it a convenient destination to cross things off your Costa Rica bucket list.
The original Lake Arenal was tripled in size with the construction of the Arenal Dam in 1979. It is currently the largest lake in Costa Rica at 85-square-kilometre. Its depth varies between 30 and 60 meters seasonally.
Lake Arenal offers various water-sport activities like kayaking, paddleboarding, fly-boarding, and fishing.
The lake’s waters are used to generate electricity, covering about 70% of the country’s demand, now closer to 17%.
Located along the Northern Lowland Plains, the community of Cañas sits just off the Pan American Highway, making it very accessible for travelers.
Cañas has a relatively slow-paced and laid-back culture. Cowboy culture is a term used to describe this way of life (Sabanero in Spanish). Locals riding horses down the street can be seen, and there are many cattle-raising farms in the area.
Liberia is the capital of Guanacaste Province in northern Costa Rica, near the Nicoya Peninsula. It was also called the White City because the roads were all covered with white limestone.
In its old quarter, the Museo de Guanacaste shows cultural and historical exhibits of the area’s past. Local cowboy memorabilia, including pictures, is displayed in the Museo del Sabanero. The white exterior of the colonial-style Ermita de La Agona is the oldest Catholic church in the region.
The active Rincón de la Vieja Volcano and the dormant Miravalles and Tenorio Volcanos can be visited after a short drive.
Liberia’s International Airport connects Costa Rica with North and Central America destinations.
The Llanos de Cortez waterfalls are one of Guanacaste’s most spectacular natural beauties, and we are proud to have it in our Northern Pacific Tour in Costa Rica.
Located just a short ride from Liberia, the massive waterfall cascades over mossy rocks, visible through the translucent falls.
The falls are formed by many tiny streams of water that combine to create a pool at the bottom, ideal for swimming and splashing around in.
What makes this experience unique is being surrounded by a thick forest – home to various species of tropical birds and monkeys!
Sunny days, excellent surf, and stunning beaches are 3 ways that best describe the North Pacific Coast of Costa Rica.
With its magnificent beaches, Guanacaste Province is the most visited part of the country, yet it is also one of the least populated parts of Costa Rica.
Among the best and most easily accessible beaches in the country, the Northern Pacific Coast is home to abundant marine life, especially around the Isla Catalina area, Playa Panama, Hermosa, del Coco, Potrero, Brasilito, and Playa Conchal as well as Tamarindo.
Divers will love the exceptional diving sites in the northern area.
In our Northern Pacific Tour in Costa Rica, we cannot but visit a real gem of Guanacaste – Tamarindo, a bustling tourist town that lures surfers and sunbathers alike. Playa Tamarindo stretches in a long golden arc along the Pacific with verdant green mountains in the background. This resort town has experienced extensive development in recent years but is still a far cry from a city. Even so, a handful of mid-rise hotels and condominiums do make a visual impact along the shoreline.
Samara is a small beach town on Costa Rica’s Pacific Coast. It’s known for its palm-lined main beach – Playa Sámara.
Traveling west along the beach, at Cangrejal, a reef draws stingrays and tropical fish.
Chora Island’s natural reserve in Sámara Bay boasts pink sand and is home to marine birds. Playa Buena Vista is a sea turtle nesting beach to the north. Crocodiles and herons live in the mangroves of the Buena Vista estuary.
The Northern Pacific Tour in Costa Rica offers you a visit to Nosara, a small seaside town located 6 kilometers inland in the Guanacaste province.
It is famous for its yoga and surf culture. It’s also noted for its stress-free atmosphere and unspoiled beaches, attracting health-conscious expats from around the world.
“No shoes, no shirt, Nosara,” as many people call it, correctly defines the local lifestyle.
Three kilometers south of Samara Beach is its sister beach, Playa Carillo, named after the little town. It is a laid-back beach town comparable to Samara, although much smaller scale than its neighbor.
Visitors may enjoy some quiet leisure with minor disturbances and low noise levels. The beachfront is devoid of any construction that may be seen along the shores of several others of Costa Rica’s most popular beaches.
After a fun-filled day, enjoy the breathtaking sunsets at Carillo beach, sipping a “Sundowner.”
Punta Islita is a beautiful haven away from the hustle and bustle of daily life, perfect for those seeking elegance and serenity. This charming retreat, nestled in a quiet corner of Guanacaste on the Nicoya Peninsula, offers breathtaking scenery and access to several quiet beaches.
Experience your best moments with us in our Northern Pacific Tour in Costa Rica!
Do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions.
