Central Zone - Central Valley

HEREDIA- Central park, churches and basilica, fort, central market. BANKS, HOTELS, RESTAURANTS, BARS, DISCOTEQUES, SUPERMARKETS, BUS, MERCADO CENTRAL, GAS, TOURS. Hotel Bouganvilla 244-1414

  VOLCAN BARVA, BARVA, SACRAMENTO, SAN JOSE DE LA MONTANA- Tourist zone full of hotels that offer tours to show off the cloud forest, animals, and local culture. BANKS, HOTELS, RESTAURANTS, SODA, BARS, CANTINAS, BUS, MINISUPERS, STORES, GAS, TRAILS.Finca Rosa Blanca 269-9392

BRAUILIO CARILLO Nat Park- Cloud forest, highway between San Jose and Limon, Access to the park is usually make by tour. HOTELS, RESTAURANTS, AERIAL TRAM, BUS.

  ALAJUELA- Airport, central park, museum, central market, churches and catherdral. BANKS, HOTELS, RESTAURANTS, BARS, DISCOTEQUES, SUPERMARKETS, TOURS, MERCADO CENTRAL, INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, JUAN SANTAMARIA MUSEO avda 3, calle central & 2. Hotel Airport Guest House 442-0354

  OJO DE AGUA (Swimming Pools) 441-2808, BUTTERFLY FARM 438-0400, ZOO-AVE (tropical zoo $8) 443-8989- Attractions close Alajuela all near the airport.

  VOLCAN POAS Nat. Park- Active volcano, crater and laguna, much visited, cloud forest, trails. Tours in any travel agent. TRAILS, VIEWS, ANIMALS, BIRD WATCHING.

  SARCHI 445-4271- Artisan center, specializes in typical ox carts and tropical wood. STORES, RESTAURANTS, ART, GAS.

  GRECIA 494-7357, ATENAS 446-5019, OROTINA 428-8096, SAN RAMON 231-0906, NARANJO 451-1302, PALMARES- Towns characteristic of the area, enviable weather year-round, famous for their annual fairs. BANKS, HOTELS, RESTAURANTS, SODAS, BARS, CANTINAS, TOURS, LOCAL CULTURE, BUS,SAS, SUPERMERCADOS.

  CARTAGO- Catherdral ruins, Basilica of Costa Rica´s patron saint, Taxi to Volcano Iraz? $30 with 1 hour wait, round trip, group price, 4 persons maximum, Lancaster Gardens (located 6 km towards Paraiso (bus every 10 min). 551-7057 BANKS, HOTELS, RESTAURANTS, CANTINAS, MERCADO CENTRAL, GAS, BUSES TO: (Turrialba, Orosi /Palomo, Ujarras / Cachi, Tucurrique).

VALLE REVENTAZON, VALLE OROSI, VALLE UJARRAS- Waterfalls, Cloud forest, Tapanti p.n., bird watching, old churches, parks, coffee, trout fishing, lakes & rivers, hydroelectric plant, hot spring pools, horseback riding. El Palacio del Pollo 533-3825 HOTELS, RESTAURANTS, CANTINAS, GAS, BUS, TAXIS. Montana Linda 533-3640

  TURRIALBA - See Caribbean Zone page.

  C.A.T.I.E.- Centro Agronomo Tropical de Investigacion, an agricultural investigation center, located in Turrialba. Among other things they began a genetic bank of tropical seeds. BANKS, HOTELS, RESTAURANTS, BARS, TOURS, GAS, BUS, TAXIS. Tours 556-1149.

  GUAPILES, SIQUIRRES- See Caribbean Zone page.

  ESCAZU 289-7000, CIUDAD COLON , SANTA ANNA 282-4160- Suburbs, International Mall, Cloud forest. BANKS, HOTELS, TOURS, RESTAURANTS, DISCOTEQUES, SHOPS, BUS, GAS, TAXIS, INTERNATIONAL FOOD, SUPERMARKETS.