The Central Valley is often ignored in favor of Costa Rica’s more famous attractions, but, as a lover of mountains and cool temperatures, it is one of my favorite areas in the country. Admittedly, San Jose is as crowded as they say, but it’s a good crowd — on weekend afternoons, clowns and musicians entertain locals in the park, artists sell their handmade wares, and the city comes alive with culture, life and love. Alajuela, Heredia and Cartago are much the same, though on a smaller scale. The word mundane doesn’t exist here.

The Central Valley as a whole, however, is worth much more than the sum of its city parts, and traveling out into the rural mountains and valleys is an unforgettable experience. Here, visitors can hike to the dormant Barva Volcano, visit the active Irazu and Poas volcanoes, take a coffee root-carving workshop in the scenic Orosi Valley, count orchid species at Lankester Botanical Garden, talk to scarlet macaws at Zoo Ave and so much more.

As usual, I soon found that my favorite trip moments focused more on small surprises and fleeting moments — asking directions to Barva Volcano several times (and receiving very different answers each time), getting loved on by baby goats, having butterflies perch on my face and hands, slurping coffee with the excuse that I was “taste testing” and generally having fun with everything thrown my way. And isn’t vacation all about enjoying oneself? To me, this is the essence of traveling through Costa Rica — despite little snafus and minor frustrations, fun can be found around every corner. As travelers, we can choose make the best of each situation and enjoy every experiences to the max.

Instead of visiting the Central Valley’s more popular sights, I decided to spend November visiting several “forgotten” destinations. Well, maybe not forgotten, but certainly less traveled. My only criterion: each had to be within a hour’s ride from San Jose on public transportation. What I found were activities that varied from adventurous to educational, each with a special something to recommend to others. If I hadn’t loved the Central Valley beforehand, it would have been impossible not to after this month of exploration.

Join me on my adventures:

The Fictional Fields of Cafe Britt
A Secret (Spirogyra) Butterfly Garden
Intro to INBioparque
A Country Overview at INBioparque
Flying Through the Trees at Braulio Carrillo
Do You Know the Way to Barva Volcano?

Interested? For more travel information and trip planning resources, see our sections on Braulio Carrillo National Park, Heredia and San Jose.