The Central Valley was the primary destination for European settlers in the 18^th and 19^th centuries. It was there that they started to grow coffee and build communities based on the wealth it generated. After independence, the prominent families in San José, Alajuela, Heredia and Cartago (the latter the capital city under colonial rule) began a power struggle over who would become the post-colonial capital. San José won, partly because it is in between the ever-feuding power centers of Cartago and Alajuela.

These four cities make up the residential and business heart of the Central Valley, and indeed the whole country. In recent years, however, there has been something of a commercial and residential shift from the center of San José to the West, making Escazú an ever more prominent business center.

The Costa Rican aristocracy lives, for the most part, in the Central Valley. During the coffee growing boom before independence, money donated by the coffee barons went to pay for the erection of cultural institutions such as the National Theater in San José that brought culture to the predominantly agrarian society. The National Theater is a beautiful neo-classical building and one of the saving graces of a rather grubby capital city. (The theater is maintained on the premise that it should be accessible to everybody; tickets to performances, therefore, remain cheap, the most expensive seats costing around $20.)

For some time now, these main cities have been transforming from traditional urban centers with mainly Costa Rican shops, restaurants and bars, to U.S.-influenced brands and habits, including large cinema complexes, fast food chains like McDonalds and KFC, and strip malls. Along with that, however, there is also an increasing number of international dining spots. Argentine, Peruvian, and sushi restaurants in particular are becoming almost common.

The Central Valley’s economy is made up of a variety of industries, including coffee production, manufacturing, international back office outsourcing centers, and of course, tourism. It’s the region with the most diversified economy in the country and accounts for a large portion of Costa Rican production.