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Central Valley
Land of sugar mills and oxcarts
The country’s principal cities and centers of production are concentrated in this region surrounded by volcanoes and mountains. It is the center of coffee production, the traditional basis of the economy. One in four ticos lives in the Central Valley, and for many years it has defined the national identity.
The fertile land of this valley and the mountains that surround it are home to picturesque little towns which still conserve the customs of the old Costa Rica. One of the most cherished traditions is the trapiche, where sugar cane is pressed and boiled down and made into a number of treats. The creaking of the oxcart, the houses of adobe and bahareque (wood, bamboo and mud), the large “solares”, or interior gardens, full of fruit trees and medicinal plants, the masks and the brass bands that give color to the saints’ days, are all part of the rural life that you can see today.
In some of these mountain villages, the cold nights invite people to stay close to the wood stove, and tell tall tales between freshly brewed cups of coffee and freshly made cheese with tortillas These mountains, often shrouded in mist, inspired many of the myths which still scare children and their elders, like La Segua, half woman and half mare, who waits for men that are out late or drunk, as they head home on paths between the coffee bushes. And if you hear the creak of wooden oxcart wheels, make sure that it is not “the oxcart without oxen”, which roams around at night leading people astray.
To the north of the Valley, the imposing volcanoes Poás, Barva, Irazú and Turrialba challenge you to contemplate nature in all her power and beauty. On their fertile slopes you can visit many campesino villages, dedicated to dairy farms, coffee and more recently, strawberries, ferns, and other non-traditional crops.
And nature lovers will also want to see the turquoise and emerald green lakes in the volcano craters, the quetzals that nest in the cloud forest, the impressive waterfalls, the orchid gardens, and the beauty of the páramo in the highlands of Cerro de la Muerte.
Without a doubt, San José is the perfect starting place for many day trips, or trips to other parts of the country. But close to San José, there are also many places to discover, places that preserve their natural and cultural patrimony, full of enchantment, tradition, and kind and hospitable people, who share the wisdom of the countryside and the joy of living in harmony with nature.
For more information and reservations, please choose from the following lodges:
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