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Costa Rica: San Jose, central highlands and central valleys

Costa Rica’s busy capital, San José, is a city on the move, where the choking traffic and crowds are mitigated by the eager friendliness of the people. There are some good museums and excellent restaurants but no colonial core: it’s a modern place, full of offices, North American style bars and malls - many US citizens visit or are resident in the country and their cultural influence is strong. The landscapes around however are delicious, both in the rolling coffee country of the highlands and in the fertile central valley, watched over by the smouldering Poás and Irazú volcanoes.

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Self-drive Costa Rica: Coast to coast adventure

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14 days from £2,294pp

Signature Costa Rica and Panama: The Caribbean route

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14 days from £2,777pp

Signature Costa Rica: The natural highlights

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14 days from £3,344pp

Value Costa Rica: The essential highlights

Private journey

12 days from £1,566pp

View all things to do nearby

Visit Poas volcano

Visit a Costa Rican coffee plantation

Go white-water rafting on the Pacuare river

Rio Tarcoles crocodile experience

Our insider tips for San Jose, central highlands and central valleys

Sophie Barber

Riding the foaming white-water class 3 & 4 rapids down one of Costa Rica's excitable rivers, the canyon-bedded Pacuaré, a couple of hours’ drive from San José. You’ll relax in the company of your competent pilots and then enjoy a scrumptious picnic.

Lina Fuller

This is Costa Rica so a visit to a coffee estate is almost obligatory. You are shown the coffee production process all the way from the seed bed to your cup.

Caroline Maber

Comparing and contrasting the bleak, barren landscape on the slopes of the country’s highest active volcano, Irazú, with the fertile, flower-rich valley below.

Margot Chard

Whizzing along a zipline through the rainforest canopy close to Braulio Carrillo National Park, pause to catch your breath on one of the canopy platforms, making eye contact with the curious exotic birdlife.

What our experts say

I suggest that you stay on one of a number of delightful countryside hotels outside the capital. Fortunately there are a lot of attractions in the Central Valley which more than compensate for the lack of them in the capital. A visit to one of the nearby volcanoes is a must, Poas is especially striking if the mists permit. Alternatively head for Irazú volcano with fertile slopes giving way to a cap of grey volcanic dust, occasionally whipped up by light tremors.

Margot Chard

Travel Consultants

What our clients say

97% of our clients rated their experience with us as Excellent or Good.

San Jose, central highlands and central valleys | Rating: Excellent

The San Jose city tour was the least interesting. The only interesting point was the gold musuem and we were only given 15 minutes there. Forget the rest of the tour and spend an hour in the museum.”

PH, Bishop's Stortford | June 2010 | 65 and over | With Partner

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97% of our clients rated their experience with us as Excellent or Good.

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Jim first caught the Latin American travel bug in 2001 when he decided at the last minute to join a friend travelling around Central America – he hasn't looked back since.

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Costa Rica: San Jose, central highlands and central valleys

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Our holidays to San Jose, central highlands and central valleys

Self-drive Costa Rica: Coast to coast adventure

Signature Costa Rica and Panama: The Caribbean route

Signature Costa Rica: The natural highlights

Value Costa Rica: The essential highlights