Costa Rica Guide
The Valle Central and the highlands
Costa Rica's Valle Central ("Central Valley") and the surrounding highlands form the cultural and geographical fulcrum of the country. Rising between 3000 and 4000m, this wide-hipped inter-mountain plateau – often referred to as the Meseta Central, or "Central Tableland" – has a patchwork-quilt beauty, especially when lit by the early-morning sun, with staggered green coffee terraces set in sharp contrast to the blue-black summits of the surrounding mountains. Many of these are volcanoes: the Valle Central is edged by a chain of volcanic peaks, running from smoking Poás in the north to precipitous Irazú in the east. Though there have been no genuine eruptions since Irazú blew its top in 1963, Poás, Irazú and Turrialba periodically spew and snort, raining a light covering of fertile volcanic ash on the surrounding farmland.
Highlights
1 CODECE Spend a day at the CODECE community tourism project, meeting local families and sampling the traditional culture, cuisine and music of highland Costa Rica.
2 Villablanca Cloud Forest Hotel & Spa Relax by the fireplace in your luxury casita on the edge of the misty Los Angeles Cloud Forest Reserve, flittering with birds and resounding with monkeys.
3 Volcán Irazú Enjoy unforgettable views from the blasted-out crater of mighty Volcán Irazú, dominating the landscape north of Cartago.
4 White-water rafting Raft the churning white waters of the Ríos Reventazón and Pacuaré, near Turrialba.
5 Orosí Soak in riverside hot springs or brush up on your Spanish in this picturesque village set amidst the cool, coffee-studded hills of the Valle Orosí.