Central Valley
We’ve compiled the best of the best in Central Valley - browse our top choices for the top things to see or do during your stay.
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6 Recommendations
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1. Butterfly Kingdom
Butterflies are the "livestock" at this working farm in the heart of Escazú, where caterpillars are raised and then exported in chrysalis form. A two-hour tour of the operation takes you through the stages of a butterfly's life. The highlight is the garden where fluttering butterflies surround you. Sunny days fuel the most activity among them; they are quieter if the day is overcast. (The latter conditions make for easier photos.) Bilingual tours in English and Spanish are included in the admission price. The place can be difficult to find. Call for directions or take a taxi. Drivers know the facility as the mariposario.
Bello Horizonte, 1 km (½ mile) south and 100 meters (328 feet) west of Distribuidora Santa Bárbara, Escazú, San José, 10201, Costa Rica2288–6667Sight Details
Rate Includes: $5 -
2. Else Kientzler Botanical Garden
Some 2,000 plant species, tropical and subtropical, flourish on 17 acres here, and all are well labeled. The German owner named the facility, affiliated with an ornamental-plant exporter, after his late plant-loving mother. About half of the garden's pathways are wheelchair accessible. When the tropical fruit trees are in season, visitors are permitted to pick and eat the fruit. Kids enjoy the maze and playground.
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3. La Paz Waterfall Gardens
Five magnificent waterfalls are the main attractions at these gardens on the eastern edge of Volcán Poás National Park, but they are complemented by the beauty of the surrounding cloud forest, an abundance of hummingbirds and other avian species, and the country's biggest butterfly garden. A concrete trail leads down from the visitor center to the multilevel, screened butterfly observatory and continues to gardens where hummingbird feeders attract swarms of these multicolor creatures. Other exhibits are devoted to frogs and snakes. The trail then enters the cloud forest, where it leads to a series of metal stairways that let you descend into a steep gorge to viewing platforms near each of the waterfalls. A free shuttle will transport you from the trail exit back to the main building if you prefer to avoid the hike uphill. Several alternative paths lead from the main trail through the cloud forest and along the river's quieter upper stretch, providing options for hours of exploration—it takes about two hours to hike the entire complex. (Enter before 3 pm to give yourself adequate time.) The complex's Jungle Cat exhibit serves as a rescue center for felines (jaguars, ocelots, and pumas). The visitor center has a gift shop and open-air cafeteria with a great view. The gardens are a stop on many daylong tours from San José that take in the Poás Volcano or area coffee tours. The complex is especially busy on weekends.
6 km (4 miles) north of Vara Blanca, Poás Volcán National Park, Alajuela, 20801, Costa Rica954-727–3997-in North AmericaSight Details
Rate Includes: From $48 -
4. Mariposas Sarchí
This small butterfly garden makes a nice break from Sarchí’s ubiquitous shopping. Your admission price includes the services of a knowledgeable guide who will fill you in on all the butterfly trivia, both fun and scientific.
Sarchí, Alajuela, Costa Rica8622–9027Sight Details
Rate Includes: $5 -
5. Refugio Animal
This former "herpetology refuge" between Santa Ana and Escazú has opened its doors to more than just snakes: macaws, monkeys, and crocodiles reside here, too. As with all such facilities around Costa Rica, the ultimate goal is to release animals back into the wild. But for many, their fragile condition means they will live out their days here.
Santa Ana, San José, 10903, Costa Rica2282–4614Sight Details
Rate Includes: $20, Closed Mon. -
Recommended Fodor’s Video
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6. Rescate Wildlife Rescue Center
Spread over lush grounds, the zoo has a collection of large cages holding toucans, hawks, parrots, and free-ranging macaws as part of a breeding project for rare and endangered birds, all of which are destined for eventual release. It has 115 bird species, including such rare ones as the quetzal, fiery-billed aracari, several types of eagles, and even ostriches. An impressive mural at the back of the facility shows Costa Rica's 850 bird species painted to scale. Wingless animals include crocodiles, caimans, a boa constrictor, turtles, monkeys, wildcats, and other interesting critters. A botanical garden rounds out the offerings here. The facility was formerly known as Zoo Ave, and many locals still refer to it that way.
La Garita de Alajuela, Alajuela, Alajuela, 20102, Costa Rica2433–8989Sight Details
Rate Includes: $30
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