Home & Away with Robert Walshe
www.robertwalshe.com
Holiday Hotspot San Jose Costa Rica
The capital of Costa Rica, the large, rambling city of San José is the focal point of the Central Valley with a spectacular setting, surrounded by mountains and volcanoes on all sides. The city is considered to be among the most cosmopolitan in Latin America. Due to earthquakes over the years, most of the colonial buildings and much of the charm of the city has disappeared. What remains today is a mixture of restored and rundown buildings hud-
n La Paz Waterfall Costa Rica. dled under a modern skyline. A maze of streets and avenues, it is here you find most of the cities museums as well
n Robert Walshe at Doka Coffee Plantation Costa Rica.
as a number of plazas, bars, restaurants, shopping centres, colorful markets and a fast paced night life. Located only an hour from San Jose is La Paz Waterfalls offering rainforests, butterflies, hummingbirds and waterfalls. First stop en route to this attraction is Doka coffee plantation. Their tour will guide you from seed to cup, teaching you everything you need to know about how coffee is grown and made. Then the processing plant, which was declared an Architectural Heritage for Humanity site in 2003, because it is the oldest wet processing coffee plant in Costa Rica. Finally at the roasting plant you learn
For our best deals call 0044 28 9038 1111 or visit www.mooneyhotelgroup.com about the various roasts that Doka offers before ending at the gift shop and given a free sampling of the eight blends produced at the estate. Wave expeditions offer all of these activities including canopy tours and wildlife excursions however whitewater expeditions are the compan Chef Patricia Ri ny’s specialty. www. cher at La Terra ce Restaurant waveexpeditions. San Jose Cost a Rica. com The leading luxury hotel option to stay by far is “Intercontinental Hotel dining restaurant for lunch & Club Tower” in Escazu and dinner in San José. Ex- door avant-garde designed on the outskirts of the city. ecutive Chef Patricia Richer, dining space is perfect for Ideally positioned for busi- with husband Gerald (Mai- romantic dinners & special ness or leisure, expect an tre Di) has turned this early occasions. Tables should be urban retreat adjacent to the 1900’s Costa Rican house booked well in advance to San Jose’s most prestigious into a foodie paradise. Sit- avoid disappointment. www. shopping mall boasting 365 ting only ten people this cu- restaurantlaterrasse.blogsstores, bars and restaurants. linary journey is world class pot.co.uk Air France departs The “Intercon” embraces a combining classical French Dublin daily via Paris Charles unique design on every cor- with a little Costa Rican fu- De Gaulle to San Jose. www. ner from the curve of the two sion. Everything from entrée airfrance.ie swimming pools to bespoke to dessert including wine is Robert Walshe is a travel decor on all floors including simply magnifique and the broadcaster with Q Radio the largest urban spa in Cen- experience here one of the in Northern Ireland and tral America alongside four finest I have had on my inter- Travel Editor for River concept restaurants. For best national travels to date. An Media newspaper titles rates www.intercontinental. outdoor terrace overlooks across the island of Irecom La Terrasse Restaurant the gardens and the rooftops land. www.robertwalshe. is a well known, popular fine of Barrio Otoya while the in- com