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Things to do in the central valley - Costa Rica |
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Places and things The greater San Jose area offers an unlimited number of things to do including cultural, adventure, clubs and associations as well as volunteer work. Costa Rica Retirement in the central Valley will provide lifestyle changes you may have sought for many years. Don't be fooled by the fact you are near a big city because Costa Rica is a tropical paradise all over the Country. Minutes from the Capital are some of the most breathtaking Rain Forests in all the Country, Braulio Carrillo National Park , La Paz Waterfalls Gardens, Volcanoes Irazu, Poas, Barva and Turialba. These are just a few of the things you will find to explore once here. The social side offers many different options depending on your needs. Everything from bridge clubs, golf skins games, tennis clubs, social clubs and much more. It's up to you.
For those who want all the
comforts of home and all the familiar brands,
retiring or relocating to Escazu can be perfect for you.
There you will find all the shopping, dining and entertainment
you need and with familiar names. It was built between 1890 and 1897. It is home to valuable pieces by Italian artists, which makes it the pride of locals. It is the chosen location for most cultural, artistic and political activities. It was declared a National Monument in 1965. Metal building For some hundred years, this architectural jewel of metal has served as school. It was declared of Historical and Architectural Interest in 1980. Temple of Music This 1920 neoclassical building is located in Morazan Park. Its interest is that it has almost perfect acoustics. For many years the Symphonic Orchestra and the Military Band performed here. National Monument It was inaugurated in 1895. It was sculpted by French artist Louis Carrier to commemorate the heroic deed of the 1856-1857 campaigns. The figures represent the Central American countries pursuing a North American invader. National Museum It was built as the Army General Barracks between 1916 and 1930. After the abolition of the army, it was turned into museum. Now the museum's main themes are archeology, national history and natural history. It is located on 17th Street and Central and Second Avenues. It is open to the public Tuesday to Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Children's Museum It was built in 1910 and was used as a penitentiary. Now it is designed especially for children. It is located 800 meters north of the Banco Central. It opens Tuesday to Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Jade Museum It houses a collection of pre-Columbian art (gold, ceramic, jade and stone). It displays indigenous jade artwork. It is located in the National Insurance Institute building. Gold Museum Its collection of indigenous gold objects is considered one of the most valuable in the world. It is located in the Plaza de la Cultura on 5th Street and Central Avenue . Museum of Costa Rican Art
This building used to be the La
Sabana Airport. On the second floor, the Salón Dorado features a
wooden mural depicting the country's history from the Amerindian
era to 1940. It opens to the public from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Alajuela
Activities in Alajuela: - Visit Poás Volcano. - Buy Souvenirs in Sarchí. - Take a Canopy Tour in Naranjo - Visit the town of Zarcero and admire the pine sculptures. - Visit the Juan Santamaria Museum at downtown Alajuela - There is also a bird zoo, Zoo Ave, and a butterfly farm. Poás Volcano It is an active volcano with some of the most beautiful scenery in Costa Rica, which rises at 2,700 meters above sea level. It is a great option for a one-day trip, since the ride from San José takes only an hour and a half. The main crater is about 2 km (1.25 mi) in diameter and over 1000 meters deep. There is also a gorgeous blue-green crater lake named Botos and many forests. The best time to view the crater is early in the morning before the clouds ruin the fun. The road to Poás is also very beautiful; you will pass many coffee plantations and landscape changes. The La Paz waterfall is on the way up to the volcano. It is advisable to take warm cloths and comfortable shoes. It can rain, so rainwear is also a good option. Sarchí This small town is the country's craft capital. It is located less than one hour from San José, which makes it a good option for a one-day tour. The town's church is painted a charming light blue. The materials used in the typical crafts of Costa Rica are wood, leather, and bronze, among others. You can find souvenirs, rocking chairs, hammocks, furniture, paintings, and many more other things. In Sarchí you will find a wide variety of furniture for all tastes. The manufacturers work with fine woods of great quality, like Cenízaro and Guanacaste. You can even design your own piece and they will make it for you. Bungee jumping Half an hour west from the city of San José you can jump from the Colorado River Bridge, which is about 100 meters deep. This is a 60-meter jump and is supervised by a trained instructor. Dare to live this adventure and experience the adrenaline's power. Cartago
Our Lady of the Angels This basilica was built in 1921. It has a small shrine where many ticos go to worship their patron saint. Its architecture mixes Roman, Arabic and Gothic styles. It has 32 stained-glass windows that depict the Virgin, Jesus and the 15 Stations of the Cross. Volcán Irazú National Park This park covers 2309 hectares, and its highest point is at 3432 meters above sea level. What attracts visitors is the surreal lunar landscape. It has two main craters, one, Diego de la Haya, contains a strangely colored lake and the other is 300 meters deep. Vegetation is scarce which contributes to the lunar-like feeling. But still there are some animals that manage to live here: coyotes, tiger cats, and some species of birds. The average temperature is only 7.3 C or 45 F. The visitor center and scenic overlook at the volcano area has a small coffee shop and tables, and is open from 8:00am to 4:00pm. Orosi Valley This village was founded in 1561 by Franciscan monks. The main attraction is the colonial church, San José de Orosi. It is the country's oldest church in continuous use, built in 1735. The original wooden roof and terra cotta floor have survived. Inside there are some paintings by Mexican artist Miguel Cabrera. In the former Franciscan cloister is the Religious Art Museum, created in 1980. There you can admire religious artifacts, paintings and a restored monk's cell. Tapantí National Park It lies at 30 minutes by car from Orosi. It protects parts of the primary rain forest along the Orosi River and covers 61 km2. The Ranger Station is open for visitors from 5 am to 5pm. There are hiking trails that lead to scenic overlooks and picnic areas. Turrialba It was declared a City of National Archeological Interest, where you will find Guayabo, an interesting archeological site. Surrounding Turrialba, there are some nice rural communities such as Santa Cruz, where famous homemade cheese is produced, La Suiza, as well as the rapids of the Reventazón and Pacuare rivers. Lankester Botanical Garden Internationally recognized for its noteworthy collections of epiphytes, the Lankester Botanical Garden was established in 1973 as a center for the exhibition, conservation and research of tropical epiphytic plants, with a special interest in orchids. On 11 hectares, the field collections, collections in greenhouses and secondary forests host over 3,000 species of plants. The Garden is open to the public every day. Opening hours are from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Visitors may remain inside the Garden until 5:30 p.m. Entrance fee: $5. The Garden is located 26 kilometers from the capital and 4 kilometers along the road between Cartago and Paraiso. This distance can be traveled in approximately 30 minutes by car. You can also reach the Garden by bus, first taking the San José to Cartago bus departing from the SACSA terminal (40 minutes) and then the bus to Paraiso (10 minutes). Guayabo National Monument This is the largest archaeological site yet found in Costa Rica. Largely unexplored, the area contains ancient trails, bridges, water tanks and homesites, as well as petroglyphs estimated to be about 3,000 years old. The ranger station is open from 8:00am to 4:00pm. There are hiking trails, camping areas and bathing facilities. Heredia The province of Heredia is located some 15 km north of San José. Bus service to downtown Heredia is frequent and good. Buses stop at Avenue 4, 12th and 14th Streets. Fair is less than $1. It is home to Braulio Carrillo National Park. There are some architectural attractions here as well. Things to do in Heredia: - Visit Braulio Carrillo Nat. Park. - Climb the summit of Barva Volcano. - Practice Canopy or white water rafting in Sarapiquí. - Walk Around Heredia Downtown. - Visit La Paz Waterfall Gardens. Popular Culture Museum It is located in Santa LucÌa de Barva. Its main objective is to disseminate and preserve the traditions and identity of the Costa Rican people. Visitors can lean about the construction of colonial houses made with adobe and bahareque. Aerial Tram of the Tropical Rain Forest Near the Braulio Carrillo National Park this incredible adventure makes it possible for you to see the tropical rain forest, its hanging gardens and its animals from the treesí canopy. Inbio Parque
An amazing place where you can
experience the sounds and sights of Costa Rican nature, while
walking along informative trails. Braulio Carrillo National Park It is one of the countryís most extensive parks, covering an area of 44099 hectares and it also encompasses seven diverse habitats. It is easily accessible from San JosÈ. It can be reached by taking the Guapiles Highway that goes on to LimÛn. This highway cuts directly through the park and offers breathtaking views of the landscape. It protects many of the streams that flow through the Central Valley as they originate from here. Mountains are high and it has beautiful waterfalls, rivers and cloud forest. It is best to visit this park in March and April, when there is less rain. Warm clothing is recommended year round. There are several hiking trails and three ranger stations, but no accommodation service. Barva Volcano The summit of Barva Volcano is the highest point in Braulio Carrillo National Park. It has been inactive for 300 years. Barva's summit is the only part of Braulio Carrillo where camping is allowed. It is a good place to see quetzals early in the morning. The hike is tough, so visitors are less frequent than in other volcanoes. The hike from the ranger station takes 2 hours too the main crater. La Paz Waterfall Gardens With over 3.5 kilometers of walking trails, this park includes a Butterfly Observatory, Hummingbird Garden, serpentarium, monkey exhibit, Frog Exhibit, Tica House, Trout Lake and bird watching areas. Also you will find five wonderfull waterfalls. Sarapiquí
Sarapiquí is the largest county in
Heredia, it covers 85% of the province’s area. It is located in
the northeastern part of the country, bordered by Nicaragua. It
is becoming a popular tourist destination for adventure lovers
who practice white water rafting down the Sarapiquí River.
Alma Ata Archeological Park First park
of this kind in Costa Rica. Part of the Centro Neo trópico
Sarapiquí (an organization that works in sosteinability and
education) and has been created with support from the National
Museum. Costa Rican archeologists made excavations of tombs and
they rebuilt a villa.
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