Things to Do
Orosi Valley Self-guided Tours, Central Valley, Costa Rica
By Explore Costa Rica Staff
Aug 1, 2008, 14:01

Orosi Valley Self-guided Tours, Central Valley, Costa Rica

In the center of Cartago lay the ruins of St. Bartholomew Temple or Las Ruinas. The church was dedicated and destroyed by an earthquake in 1575, when Cartago was the capitol of Costa Rica, as well as its only city. The church was rebuilt and was destroyed again by another earthquake in 1910. It is still widely believed that the church was destroyed due to a local priest who was thought to be a womanizer. Locals believed that the church destruction was divine punishment and that the church should not be rebuilt.

Just a few blocks to the east of Las Ruinas, is the famous church, La Basilica de Nuestra Senora de Los Angeles. This unusual Byzantine style Basilica is one of the more classic churches in Costa Rica. A visit to this church should not be missed. One of the largest pilgrimages in Latin America takes place here on August 2nd each year. Nearly 25% of the central valley walks, some on their knees, in honor of La Negrita. La Senora de Los Angeles is the Patron Saint of Costa Rica.

Volcano Irazu National Park

Irazu Volcano Costa Rica

Volcano Irazu is located 20 miles, 32 km north of Cartago. The word Irazu is an Indian word Istarumeaning "mountain of rumbling and trembling." The drive up the slopes of Costa Rica's highest active volcano is magnificent with breathtaking views of the rich farmland and the major cities of the central valley below. The elevation of Irazu is a chilly 11,260-foot or 3,432 meters. The vegetation changes swiftly from dairy and vegetable farms to primary and oak secondary forests. Then the view changes to the bleak, lunar-like landscape, giving this volcano a unique appearance. A light jacket is recommended.

The park office has many quality souvenirs and a coffee shop. Walk along the wooden fence to view one of the two craters. The crater is a shade of bright green. Irazu is the only place in the Americas, where the Pacific Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean (Caribbean Sea) can be seen from a single viewpoint. The road down can be taken to the statute of Jesus and then east for a ride through Turrialba or west back through Cartago.

Lankester Orchid Botanical Gardens
Lankester Gardens is a worthy 2 hour tour, and more if time allows. If you're a gardener or plant lover, Lankester gardens is not to be missed. The 25 acre orchid garden was developed by English botanist Charles Lankester in 1917, but is now operated by Costa Rica's University system. The gardens are open from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and displays hundreds of the 1,500 orchids that live in Costa Rica. Lankester Gardens has orchids in bloom all year, with peak blooms from February to May. Many orchids are epiphytes, which means that they live on other plants receiving their nourishment form airborne sand, dust and rain. The sand that provides soil for these Costa Rican epiphytes comes on the trade winds from the Sahara Desert in Africa. Lankester Orchid Gardens is located on the road between Cartago and Paraiso, approximately 2.5 km from the center of Cartago, turn right 300 meters after the gas station and follow the signs.

Orosi Day Tour
On the drive from Paraiso (Paradise) to Orosi, drive slowly. The road is narrow but has a great blacktop pavement. Leaving Paraiso, drive 1.5 mile (2.4 km) to the Mirador Orosi. A Mirador is a lookout point. Managed by ICT, Costa Rican Tourist Institute, this free overlook gives fabulous views of the Orosi Valley. This is a great place for a picnic lunch or snack. Leaving the Mirador, the road snakes down the mountain, passing the hot water river, Rio Aguacaliente, and through coffee fields into the colonial town of Orosi. Orosi is one of the few colonial towns in Costa Rica to have escaped damage from earthquakes. Places of interest in Orosi are the quaint and charming church built in 1735, Iglesia de San Jose de Orosi, the small religious art museum next door, hot springs swimming pools, and coffee processing plant tour. Another quality coffee processor tour that is worthy of your time is Cafe Crisitina, an organic coffee producer. They have quality coffee for sale.

Leaving the coffee processor, the road makes a left or you can go straight. Going left, you head 50 yards and take a right to Tapanti Rainforest, Purisil Cloud Forest and Monti Sky Forest Preserve. Going straight and not taking the right to Tapanti, you will drive a few miles before you cross a one lane wooden ridge over the Rio Grande de Orosi into the town of Palomo. Many of these Costa Rica restaurants specialize in serving the local rainbow trout. The road winds through coffee fields, past the town of Loaiza. The La Casona del Cafetal is a restaurant on Lake Cachi in the middle of a working coffee farm. This is an excellent place to have lunch or a glass of wine and enjoy the lake view. They offer hiking and horseback riding.

Crawfish by Cachi Dam

Just past the turnoff for La Casona del Cafetal restaurant, you will come to the Casa EL Sonador (House of the Dreamer), the local wood carvers. They sell primitive style woodcarvings from coffee wood. They are famous in Costa Rica for their wood carving of the Last Supper. Leaving the House of the Dreamer, you come to the Dam for Lake Cachi. There is a place to pull over and view the deep gorge that is dammed to form the lake. During the season, vendors sell fresh made ceviche and sacks of large crawfish near the dam.

Cachi Dam Orosi Valley

Leaving the Cachi dam, the road goes nearby the small town of Ujarras. Nestled in the trees sits the 325-year-old church, is the oldest in Costa Rica, Nuestra Senora de la Limpia Concepcion, built in 1681 of limestone. Damaged by a flood in 1833, the town and church was abandoned for higher ground. Many miracles are attributed to this beautifully landscaped church, which has its own pilgrimage. Leaving Ujarras, the road climbs up the mountain where you will find another incredible lookout, Mirador de Ujarras. This lookout offers spectacular views of Lake Cachi and the Orosi Valley. Another good place for a picnic lunch or snack.

Tapanti National Park Tour - 1 day tour
When leaving the Orosi Coffee Tour, turn left. This road splits in the first 20 yards, take a right to Tapanti/Purisil proceed on the only road that goes in and out of this section of the reserve. The 6,080-acre reserve has been combined with the Macizo de la Muerte National Park to form the Tapanti Macizo de la Muerte National Park. This section of the park has many accessible well-marked hiking trails for the active traveler. One can take a trail that takes you through the “dripping forest” down to a cold water crystal clear stream, with the view of a highland 300-foot waterfall, Salto Falls. The dripping forest has shades of green moss and algae you will not see anywhere else. The park has over 300 bird species, including the famous quetzals. The park is home to many types of wildlife, including the large jaguars, ocelots, tapirs, anteaters, jaguarondi, oncilla tiger cat and monkeys. In March, butterflies can be seen in abundance. Tapanti offers the ability to visit a dripping forest, rainforest and cloud forest in one visit. There are many locations in the park to picnic, fish and bird watch. Take an umbrella and good hiking boots!

On the road to Tapanti, you will pass the road to Purisil Park and Monti Sky Preserve.