Cartago

This city was the colonial capital until our independence in 1821 and therefore has the greatest number of vestiges of the colonial traditions. Here is the Basílica de Los Ángeles, dedicated to the cult of Our Lady of the Angels (Nuestra Señora de los Ángeles), patroness of Costa Rica. In the center of town are the ruins of St. Bartholomew church, which was destroyed by an earthquake in the early twentieth century.

Irazú Volcano National Park This volcano, still active, is the nation's highest (3432 m altitude) and is only 52 km from San José. It can be easily reached by car. Its lunar landscape contrasts dramatically with the emerald green crater lagoon. On a clear day, you can see, from the volcano, both the Pacific and Atlantic oceans. Tel: +506 2200.5025/2268.8091/2268.5962
	Guayabo National Monument At 85 km from San José, this place is the largest archaeological site in the country (217 hectares). You can see the remains of a village whose origins date back to 400 BC. The large stone spheres found here were made between 800 and 1400 AD. It is located on the slopes of the Turrialba volcano, 70 km from San José. Tel: +506 2559.1220
Orosi Valley In this beautiful valley you can see the ruins of the church of Ujarrás, the first church built in Costa Rica in the seventeenth century. In the town of Orosi is the country's oldest church, dating from 1735 which houses a small museum of colonial art. From Orosi one can easily visit Tapantí National Park.
	Tapantí National Park This park has many rivers and diverse ecosystems. It is one of the rainiest areas of Costa Rica and is suitable for hiking through the woods. It has over 260 species of birds (eg. quetzals, hawks, falcons, hummingbirds) and over 45 species of mammals such as the tapir, agouti and ocelot. Tel: +506 2206-5615
Reventazón River Rapids The Reventazón river is one of the most important rivers in Costa Rica, with 152 km in length, it travels from the Central Valley to the Caribbean coast. The river is located in a tropical paradise with dense primary rainforest. Most of this river is suitable for rafting with sections of varying difficulty.