Valle de El General

Introducing Valle de El General

Although the Valle de El General is home to southern Costa Rica’s largest town, the area is decidedly rural. Small, family-run fincas dot this fertile valley, growing subsistence crops like beans, corn, coffee and sugar cane.

The highest mountains of the Cordillera Talamanca grow from these foothills, with massive peaks like the Cerro Chirripó (3820m) and the Cerro Ventisqueros (3812m) towering above. The high altitudes are the main draw to these parts: peak-baggers can’t resist Costa Rica’s highest summit; while birdwatchers visit the many nature preserves and wildlife sanctuaries to tick off their highland and southern endemic species.

Last updated: Feb 17, 2009