Overview

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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Holidays San Jose, central highlands and central valleys

Discover our range of holidays taking in Costa Rica’s central highlands and valleys. Book now with Journey Latin America.

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Private Journeys

Costa Rica / Nicaragua

Active Costa Rica and Nicaragua: Rivers and volcanoes

16 days from £3,620pp

(based on two people sharing & excluding flights)

Costa Rican Tourist Board ©

Private Journeys

Costa Rica

Costa Rica Wildlife Discovery

15 days from £5,010pp

(based on two people sharing & excluding flights)

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Private Journeys

Costa Rica / Panama

Explore and Relax Costa Rica and Panama Coast: Pacific route

13 days from £2,940pp

(based on two people sharing & excluding flights)

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Private Journeys

Costa Rica

Explore and Relax in Costa Rica: Volcanoes to the beach

11 days from £2,830pp

(based on two people sharing & excluding flights)

Things to do

Discover Costa Rica's capital San Jose and enjoy a trip to the rolling hills of the coffee country. Book now with Journey Latin America.

Where to go when - our guide to San Jose, central highlands and central valleys

San José

The weather in San Jose, central highlands and central valleys is wide and varied

The capital and surrounding fertile valleys and coffee highlands lie at around 1,000m above sea level. As such they enjoy a pleasant, temperate climate all year round.

View our San Jose, central highlands and central valleys weather guide

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Meet our team

Real Latin american experts

  • Juliet Ellwood
    Juliet Ellwood - Travel Expert

    After graduating with a degree in Anthropology and History and having been fascinated by Latin America since childhood by the book featuring photos of Nazca, Juliet first visited the region in 2003. Since then, Juliet has visited the majority of countries in Latin America but has particularly extensive experience with Peru, a country she loves for many reasons but not least, its incredible archaeological richness and delicious food!

  • Heloise Buxton
    Heloise Buxton - Travel Expert

    Heloise started her Latin American journey as an exchange student in Santiago, Chile. With extended summer holidays this was the perfect opportunity to backpack through Bolivia, Peru, Argentina and Brazil.

  • Ben Line
    Ben Line - Travel Expert

    Ben fell in love with Latin America on a six month backpacking trip from Colombia to Mexico in 1995. Since then he has explored most of South America, including living in Peru for a year. He is now Head of Sales.

  • Mary Anne Nelson
    Mary Anne Nelson - Travel Expert

    Born in the Atacama Desert in northern Chile, Mary’s insider knowledge and dry sense of humour make her a highly valued member of the Tailor-made Holidays and Group Tour sales team.

  • Sally Dodge
    Sally Dodge - Travel Expert

    A former Journey Latin America tour leader, Sally spent 7 years working, travelling and living throughout Latin America before returning to the UK to help people arrange their own adventures to this wonderful destination.

  • Hannah Donaldson
    Hannah Donaldson - Travel Expert

    Having spent part of her childhood in Colombia and worked in Brazil and Costa Rica, Hannah's ties to Latin America run deep. Hannah is a much valued Travel Expert in our Tailor-made Holidays and Group Tours sales team.

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