Central Valley, made for you
Costa Rica
About Central Valley
Coffee hills near the capital.
Central Valley is in Costa Rica. Our designers can tell you how it fits into a wider journey.
Experiences
Experiences picked by our Central Valley specialists
Arenal
A volcano with hot springs.
Boca Tapada
Remote lowland forest for birding.
Cerros de Turrubares
Forested hills and rivers.
Osa Peninsula
Wild rainforest and wildlife.
Dominical
Surf and waterfalls.
A word from one of our experts
“We enjoyed our first trip with Jacada…”
We enjoyed our first trip with Jacada and it surely won't be our last! Every detail and moment of our trip was perfectly planned. We were met every step of the way with courteous and knowledgeable drivers and guides. We really appreciated the local guides and the commitment they had to make every day special. Thank you Jacada for the…
Where to stay in Central Valley
Lodges, camps and hotels our designers return to.
Why plan with us
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Designed around you
Every itinerary starts from a conversation, not a brochure, and is shaped by your pace, interests and budget.
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Specialists who have been there
Our designers plan the places they know first-hand, down to the right room and the best guide.
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Travel that gives back
We favour stays and guides that support local people, wildlife and the places you visit.
Trip inspiration
Ideas to start from; every one is changed to suit you.
Into the Moment in Costa Rica
Let nature set the pace on your luxury journey through Costa Rica. Enjoy experiences that help you notice the small details: a barefoot grounding practice that…
Explore tripDiscover more of Costa Rica
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Arenal
Nowhere else in Costa Rica allows you the luxurious yet captivating proximity to a (now) dormant volcano encircled by rich rainforest, dive…
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Boca Tapada
You’ll find Boca Tapada nearby the mouth of the San Carlos river in Costa Rica’s Northern Lowlands. It’s an area of unspo…
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Cerros de Turrubares
Nestled between the Rio Grande de Tarcoles to the north and the Fila Negra mountains to the west, Cerros de Turrubares is a wonderfully rur…
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Dominical
Situated forty five km from Quepos, Dominical is a sleepy surf village located on the Southern Pacific coast of Costa Rica and home to a se…
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Guanacaste
Wide stretches of golden solitary beaches, wildlife reserves jostling with exotic nature, a dry consistent climate, great surfing spots, an…
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Jacó
Jacó is THE surfer beach town of Costa Rica. And whilst not as sleepy as it used to be due to growing popularity, it still offers the best…
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Manuel Antonio
With its accessibility, teeming national park, turquoise marine reserve, white coral beaches and range of luxury hotels, Manuel Antonio is…
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Monteverde
Costa Rica’s central highlands are dotted with a number of exquisite and captivatingly biodiverse cloud forests. Typified by elevated and t…
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Nicoya Peninsula
Known for its stunning semi-deserted beaches linked together by grey stone cliffs or tangles of knotted mangroves, the rustic Nicoya Penins…
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Orosi Valley
It makes sense that Costa Rica’s fertile Central Valley, ringed by volcanoes and stretching in a verdant arc from San Ramon lying to the we…
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Osa Peninsula
The Osa Peninsula is one of the most remote locations in Costa Rica. But its seclusion has everything to do with its inimitability, making…
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Pacuare
25,000 acres of primary, virgin rainforest stretching from the Talamanca Cordillera to the eastern Caribbean lowlands are nurtured by the s…
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Puerto Viejo
The easy-going and stylish southern Caribbean stretch of coast that forms Puerto Viejo in Costa Rica is no exception to the country’s wides…
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Rincón de la Vieja
Discover a world of wildlife and geology at this exciting National Park which boasts 34,800 acres of flourishing nature and volcanic wonder…
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Río Celeste
The north of Costa Rica remains largely off the beaten path, but if you’d like to get under the country’s skin and explore further afield,…
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San Gerardo de Dota
The newly created Los Quetzales National Park named after its most famous and elusive resident, the resplendent quetzal, is a bird watching…
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San José
Costa Rica may be renowned as a bountiful, serene paradise, but lesser known is its cosmopolitan heart: San José. Positioned in the mid-wes…
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Sarapiquí
Sarapiquí is a small but beautiful region. It is an area frequented in particular by eco-tourists yet is also a regular if not unmissable s…
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Tortuguero
A dense and intricate network of rivers, lagoons, and canals crisscross 11 different habitats of rainforest, swamp and beach, to be explore…
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Turrialba
Just a mere forty miles (65 km) east of San Jose in the Central Valley region of Cartago, Turrialba is a wonderfully rustic area in which t…
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Meet your Latin America team
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Berni De Luca
Client Experience Manager for Latin America
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Charles Kronsten
Senior Travel Designer
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Dan Scott-Kerr
Travel Designer
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Delfina Russo
Travel Designer
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Demi Roberts
Senior Travel Designer
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Em Jennison
Travel designer
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Flavia Toledo
Latin America Concierge
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James Sirotkin
Travel Designer
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Jennifer Richt
Senior Travel Designer
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Kit Wong
Senior Travel Designer
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Lily Bunker
Senior Travel Designer
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Lizzie Slater
Travel Designer
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Melanie Vieira
Senior Concierge – Latin America
When to visit Central Valley
There is somewhere good to visit every month. Patagonia is best in the southern summer, the Andes in the dry season, and the Caribbean coast in winter.
- Jan Best time to visit
- Feb Best time to visit
- Mar Best time to visit
- Apr Best time to visit
- May
- Jun
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- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec Best time to visit
Patagonia
October - April
Long days and open trails.
Andes and Machu Picchu
May - October
The dry season brings clear skies.
Mexico and the Caribbean
November - April
Sunshine and lower humidity.
Pantanal wildlife
July - October
The dry season concentrates wildlife.
The best time to visit Central Valley
Costa Rica travel guides
The 8 Best Family Things to Do in Costa Rica
Families visiting Costa Rica will find a wide range of activities year-round. Our travel designers highlight the best wildlife, water adventures, zip lines, ho…
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The Best Family-Friendly Lodges in Costa Rica
Discover our expertly curated list of the best hotels to choose for your family adventure in Costa Rica. Learn about the facilities that can make all the diffe…
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The Best Things to Do in Costa Rica During the Green Season
Costa Rica in the green season is quiet, green and full of life. The rain keeps the jungle fresh, animals are easier to spot and waterfalls are at their most i…
Read more
The Best Countries to Combine in Latin America
Let diverse and varied adventures unfold when you visit more than one country on your trip to Latin America. Explore activity and nature-focused journeys and l…
Read more
The Best Hikes in South America
Get ready to explore South America’s best hiking trails. Marvel at remarkable landscapes across high-altitude peaks, through sultry cloud forests and on gliste…
Read more
Ask our experts
When is the best time to visit Central Valley?
The favourite months are December to April. Each season has something to offer, so tell us when you can travel.
How long should I spend in Central Valley?
Two or three nights suit most trips; longer if you want a slower pace or more time outdoors.
What can I combine Central Valley with?
It pairs well with Arenal, Boca Tapada and Cerros de Turrubares, elsewhere in Costa Rica.
Don't take our word for it
“We enjoyed our first trip with Jacada…”
We enjoyed our first trip with Jacada and it surely won't be our last! Every detail and moment of our trip was perfectly planned. We were met every step of the way with courteous and knowledgeable drivers and guides. We really appreciated the local guides and the commitment they had to make every day special. Thank you Jacada for the…
“heavenly honeymoon”
My wife and I used Jacada to plan our honeymoon to French Polynesia. Working with the Jacada team was fantastic and effortless. Every question was quickly answered. Every hiccup was quickly addressed. We felt like we were in the hands of experts who are equally passionate about travel, and who were committed to helping us have the trip of a…
“Jacada Travel has been outstanding”
We enjoy traveling and we have used Jacada Travel for some wonderful trips over several years. We have never been disappointed. In 2024 we took a Safari in Botswana Africa and walked with the gorillas in Rwanda planned by Jacada and the itinerary was amazing. In 2025 we had planned a trip to Antartica ( with another company ) but…
Central Valley in motion
A short film from our travels. Add a video link to this section to play it here.
Your trip, your story
Every itinerary starts with a conversation and is shaped around you.
A dedicated team looks after the details before, during and after your trip.