CENTRAL REGION


Los Quetzales National Park


The Central region


produces some of the world’s best coffee


The view from Tarcoles River Bridge


Hearty cuisine, exceptional coffee and vibrant national parks abound in the Central region


andwiched between the Caribbean and Pacific coastlines, the centre of Costa Rica is the most populated, yet still boasts some of the most interesting wildlife and most scenic landscapes in the country. Capital San José is brimming with


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culture and to-die-for dishes that will make you wonder why Costa Rican cuisine isn’t better known. This region also has a number of landlocked national parks. As well as having their share of endemic flora and fauna, they also grow some of the world’s richest coffee – so next time you make a brew, have a look to see where it came from.


San José: Capital cuisine Many Costan Rican dishes consist of meat, rice and vegetables, and San José offers plenty of places to sample this hearty cuisine. Walking


10


tours combine sights and bites, giving visitors the chance to taste some of the signature dishes. These might include casado,


one of the most popular dishes, which can be found across the city. Expect a generous helping of rice, black beans, salad, and meat or fish – and a side order of plantain or tortillas.


If that sounds a bit heavy going, though, there’s plenty of fish and seafood around, thanks to Costa Rica’s location between two coastlines. White fish tilapia is the one you’ll see most frequently, and often a choice included in casado. There’s plenty more fresh, local


produce on show at San José’s weekly farmers’ market, a must-see for anyone interested in Costa Rican delicacies. Look out for the artisanal chocolate and Costa Rican coffee – both make excellent souvenirs,


A staple sight in Los Quetzales National Park is the resplendent quetzal, a vibrantly coloured crimson and green bird that gives the park its name


assuming visitors can resist scoffing the lot before they get home.


Carara National Park: Croc rock Fancy staring down into the jaws of a mass of hungry crocodiles? Or glimpsing the flash of colour of an endangered bird species flitting over the treetops? With a tropical forest, tropical wet


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