Visitors first contact with this peaceful land is generally San José There are only two seasons: the dry and the rainy season. It‚s advisable to check out the many possibilities for taking day tours to such places as the Poas and Irazú volcanoes, white-water rafting rivers and butterfly gardens. You might also enjoy a trip to the islands on the Pacific coast, or a walk along a rain forest in the Braulio Carrillo National Park.
The Central Valley is the gateway to the country, but it offers itself a wide range of activities and attractions worth exploring. One of the main characteristics is its pleasant climate, since even San José, located 1,149 meters above sea level (3,734 Ft), enjoys an average temperature of 24° C (77° Ft). Gastronomic variety and high-level lodgings characterize this region, and let's not forget the bed & breakfasts and popular "sodas" or small local food restaurants. Five of the best museums in the country are in the capital: Gold, Jade, National, Contemporary Art and Children's, in addition to Costa Rica's maximum architectural jewel: The National Theatre, born in 1897 through a self-imposed coffee tax and European cultural influence.
Dance halls and discos where tropical rhythms vibrate, as well as fashion pubs are part of the San José night's atmosphere. San José is also headquarters of the country's government and political life. Cultural activities, like theatre and contemporary dance, as well as academic activities are also an integral part of an area that boasts high standards in education and health.
In San José's surrounding areas, typical towns of great scenic beauty and rural landscapes offer a glance of former Costa Rica, with its tile-roofed houses, large solariums, domestic animals, "trapiches (sugar mills)" and dairies, as well as ox carts, one of rural Costa Rica's major symbols. The patron saint fairs, as well as the "Festejos Populares (Popular Festivities)" in San José on December, are some of the traditional activities the visitor can see. The great scenic beauty Costa Rica's central region has is explained by the presence of the Central Volcanic Mountain Range that in addition to its attractive mountains, it also includes impressive active volcanoes like the Poás and Irazu. Due to its climate and altitude, this region is also the area with the best conditions for coffee production, for which Costa Rica is famous. Other cultivations include, vegetables, ferns, fruits, and a great variety of ornamental plant nurseries. In some mountain sites, trout fishing is practiced and trouts are then served in succulent meals.
Another jewel of the region is the Basilica of Los Angeles: Costa Rica's Cathedral and maximum religious symbol, located in the city of Cartago, former capital of the country. More than a church, it is a sanctuary, where faithful people, devoted to the Virgin of Los Angeles carry out a pilgrimage every August 2nd, day on which her appearance to a humble native of the region is commemorated. Without any doubt, the central region means much more than the gateway to the country.
