From San José or Cartago, a visit to the Orosi Valley is a lovely way to spend your slow Sunday. Best time to visit the area is around March/ April, when there’s a lot of yellow and orange blossom foliage, yay! Go with a car, open your windows and enjoy the colours along your road trip!
Here are some fun things to do in the valley while making your way around:
Sunday lunch at Orosi
On Sunday, the town of Orosi is a very lively place to be. Have a lunch at Bäckerei Cafe y Panaderia Suiza for some European style bread and cakes or go to Restaurante Coto for a meat stacked meal together with a LOT of Tico families. The latter one is situated next to the central football field; that certainly will give you some entertainment while you’re waiting for your steak.
Iglesia Colonial de Orosi
On the other side of the field you can find the Iglesia Colonial de Orosi, built in 1743 . It’s the oldest still functioning church in Costa Rica. The whitewashed walls and classic Spanish-colonial architecture are a bit different from other churches in the country and very pretty to behold. The flowers in the garden and the dramatic mountain backdrop make this place a very quaint one too. Next to the church is a small museum, with a couple of artefacts, nothing big, but fun to walk around.
Mirador de Orosi
If you come from either San José or Cartago, you’ll most likely encounter a sign that says “Mirador de Orosi”. Take a break on your way down to admire the views on this lookout (yep, that’s what mirador means). From here you’ll can catch a nice glimpse on both the lake and Tapantí National Park. Great for some ‘oooh’s and ‘aaah’s.
Tapantí National Park
Which brings us to the next chapter on this list: the Tapantí National Park. Fancy a tranquil hike in a very lush environment with cute coatis and a lot of birds? Then a visit to this green impermeable park should definitely be on your list. Check out more stuff about the park in here.
Tour around the Lago de Cachí
After the mirador, Orosi and Tapantí you can continue your tour by car along the lake. The area is perfect for some slow Sunday cruising. On the way you’ll encounter hairpin bends, old bridges, bougainvillea, coffee plantations, cute houses, a lot of birds and views through forests on the lake. Stop at the western side of the lake, at the hydroelectric Cachi Dam, for some spectacular views on both sides of the double-arched concrete structure.
Las Ruinas de Ujarrás
Tucked away between some beautiful gardens, you’ll find the Ruins of Ujarrás close to the dam. The site is a must see for history buffs. The ruins belong to Costa Rica’s oldest church -built in 1693 – which is not in use anymore, unlike Iglesia de San Jose de Orosi.
Hotel y Restaurante La Casona del Cafetal
You want to wrap up your day? It might be an idea to bring a visit to this hotel, whether it is for a stayover or dinner. The menu stars a lot of trout, caught in the area and prepared in special ways (with mushrooms for example, or cheese, say what?!). The terrace and the gardens offer another nice view on the lake and the surroundings areas.
