If you are going to spend some time in and around the San Jose area, you really should check out the Valle de Orosi, near Cartago. Towering above the valley are the beginnings of the Cordillera Talamanca, the tallest mountain range of the country and the Irazu and Turrialba volcanoes. 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. There is 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. In the nearby village of Ujarrás you will find the ruins of a church from the late 1600’s, when the Spaniards came to the area and tried to proselytize the local indigenous population. The church in Orosi has a very interesting museum with artifacts from the Spanish colonial days. There are many places along the river bank where you can have a picnic and even take a dip into the river. Also there are numerous 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 made of coffee trunks, each one sculpted into unique forms and figures. Inside you will find sculptures of the late Costa Rican artist, Marcedonio Quesada. You can also visit the Tapanti National Park, which features scenic hiking trails and picnic spots. If you want to stay overnight or even a few days in the area there are some great options. One of the best is the Rio Perlas Spa and Resort. The resort features 69 rooms and has its own hot springs. The valley is definitely a way to get away from the hustle and bustle of San Jose and truly has to be one of the most scenic spots in all of Costa Rica.

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