If you’re going to spend some time in and around the San Jose area, you really should check out the Orosi Valley area, near Cartago.
Towering above the valley to the west are the beginnings of the Cordillera Talamanca, the tallest mountain range of the country and on the east side, the active Irazu and Turrialba volcanoes of the Cordillera Central.
The Orosi (or upper Reventazon) river flows through the valley to the Cachí Dam, which is one of Costa Rica’s most important sources of electrical power. The valley is a major coffee production area and the hills are full of coffee plants. You can also visit the Tapanti National Park, which features scenic hiking trails and picnic spots.
There’s a lot of history in this valley. The town of Orosi is home to the oldest active church in the country, which was first constructed in 1734 (see above photo). The church has a very interesting museum with artefacts from the Spanish colonial days. In the nearby village of Ujarrás you will find the ruins of a church from the late 1500’s, when the area was under Spanish colonial rule.
There are many miradors, or view spots, along the river where you can have a picnic. Also there are some excellent restaurants. One of my favorites is the La Casona de Cafetal. It overlooks the Cachí Dam reservoir and there are trails where you can take a stroll down to the lake. The food is excellent, especially the trout dishes. When we were there a group of local kids put on a “mascarada” show and that was really cool.
An interesting place to visit near the restaurant is La Casa del Soñador (The House of the Dreamer), which is a small house featuring carvings made mostly from coffee trunks, each one sculpted into unique forms and figures. Inside you will find sculptures of the late Costa Rican artist, Marcedonio Quesada, and his sons. I have a few of these for sale in my Costa Rican Artisans Ebay Store.
Here’s a little video I did a while back of La Casa del Soñador.
If you want to stay overnight in the area there are a few options. One of the best is the Rio Perlas Spa and Resort. The resort features 69 rooms and has its own hot springs.
The Orosi Valley of Costa Rica is definitely a way to get away from the hustle and bustle of San Jose and truly is one of the most scenic spots in the Central Valley.
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