Central Valley (Costa Rica)

Costa Rica's Central Valley is the most populated region of the country; the capital city, San José, is there and so is the Juan Santamaría airport. The Central Valley includes charming small towns, towering volcanoes, and dense jungle landscapes like the huge Braulio Carrillo National Park.

• 🌍 San José. Costa Rica's capital city is an interesting urbanscape and cultural hub with museums, good restaurants, and easy access to transportation services going anywhere in the country.  
• 🌍 Alajuela. Not to be missed for the volcano and national parks nearby. Also a convenient hub when arriving and leaving Costa Rica via San Jose.  
• 🌍 Atenas. It had been ranked as the best weather worldwide. Atenas town is well known by the American community here. It is on the way to the central Pacific beaches becoming a mandatory stop on the way to Jaco or Manuel Antonio National Park.  
• 🌍 Cartago. Historical city that was once Costa Rica's capital. Pilgrims flock to the Basilica de los Angeles, seeking the church's healing waters and praying for a miracle to cure their ailments.  
• 🌍 Curridabat. Attractive and upscale suburb on the border with Cartago Province.  
• 🌍 Heredia. Provincial capital of Heredia province and home to the National University of Costa Rica. 10km north of San Jose.  
• 🌍 San Pedro de Montes de Oca. Municipality east of the capital, known for the University of Costa Rica campus and wide selection of small businesses and restaurants. (updated Aug 2025)
• 🌍 San Ramon. Rural municipality northwest of San Jose known for cultural heritage (notable poets and three former presidents) and agriculture - particularly coffee production. San Ramon serves as a gateway to the Central Valley's natural beauty.  
• 🌍 Turrialba. Food bowl of Costa Rica and adventure sports mecca.  

• 🌍 Aguacate Mountains Biological Corridor.  
• 🌍 Grecia.  
• 🌍 Providencia. a great spot for climbers and mountain-bikers 
• 🌍 Santa Elena.  
• 🌍 San Gerardo de Dota.  
• 🌍 Tapantí National Park – huge protected area of mountainous rain forest, a magnet for eco-tourism
• 🌍 La Cangreja National Park – mountainous rain forest providing critical bird habitat
• 🌍 Braulio Carrillo National Park – Popular for the Holdridge's toad, the solitary eagle, the bare-necked umbrella bird, as well as several species of hummingbirds. It also has several different micro climates. There are several hiking trails in the park. The longest one from Puesto Barva to La Selva is a difficult and 4-day long trail. But there are other shorter trails include Los Botarramas and El Ciebo available.
• 🌍 Poás Volcano National Park – The park is a popular destination for foreign and Costa Rican tourists. Poás allows tourists to see into the crater of an active volcano. You can often smell sulfur from the crater while visiting the peak, and a couple of hiking trails to see Lake Botos, an acid water lake on a dormant crater.

The Valley of Pérez Zeledon is one of the most intensive cultivated areas of Costa Rica. Several indigenous communities, like Terraba or Boruca, inhabit and cultivate land in this region.

Most of the factories and services industries companies are also in the area; therefore, a lot of sleeper towns and cities surround and permeate the Central Valley. Still, there are many historical sights and because of the small size of the country, this area is the starting point of the many adventures available in the rest of the country.

• Agua Dulce - A common drink in the sugar-cane growing regions of Costa Rica such as the Central Valley. This is a sweet drink made from the cane and a favorite of children.

• Limón Province
• North Costa Rica
• Central Pacific