Alajuela
Alajuela is Costa Rica's second city behind San Jose. It
has a rich colonial history and an attractive town center.
Although not as beautiful as the historic cities of
Nicaragua, Guatemala or Mexico, this town has an attractive
city center of crumbling colonial buildings.
Travel sights in Alajuela
- Parque Central: a pleasant to relax and enjoy the mango
trees.
- Cathedral: stone throw from the Parque Central, this building suffered
severe damage in an earthquake in 1991.
- Iglesia La Agonia: A baroque-looking church built in 1941, this is six
blocks east of Parque Central.
- Flor de Mayo: A successful breeding program for
green and scarlet macaws, this facility can be visited by appointment.
Learning in Alajuela
- Spanish language courses are offered at the Fundacion Castillo language
school.
Festivals & events in Aljuela
April 11 is the anniversary of the
Battle of Rivas, which was a battle won by a young hero from Alajuela — Juan
Santamaria. The battle of Santa Rosa climaxed at Rivas on April 11, where
Santamaria was shot and killed after torching William Walker's stronghold. This
celebration has a parade, civic events and firecrackers.
La Garita
About 12-km west of Alajuela on the Pan-American Highway, this area is
important as it is the junction of highway 3 and leads to Atenas, Orotina and
Puntarenas. On Highway 3, about 3.5-km (2 mi) east of the Pan-American Highway
is the Zoo Ave.
A fabulous zoo, this is a must-see as it
offers 59-hectares (660-acres) of grounds where rescued or injured wildlife has
been housed. This is one of the only two zoos in the world that has
resplendent quetzals on display. Macaws fly freely at this zoo and dozens of
other species are on display. Visitors will see
crocodiles, turtles,
monkeys, tapirs, peccaries, and
wildcats.
There is a breeding center at this zoo but is off-limits to visitors.
Visitors can watch video shows and presentations.
About 3-km (2 mi) north of La Guacima, this ranch raises Andalusian
horses and has a museum related to horses. The ranch offers a one-hour show
called the Fantasia Ecuestre, where horsemanship is set to Spanish
music. This is a must-see show and tickets can be arranged by calling
506.438.0849 or emailing the ranch.
Visitors can arrange for transport and dinner, as well as, horseback riding
lessons.
Twelve kilometers south of Alajuela, in the town of La Guacima, is a
butterfly farm; the first in Latin America. The complex has caterpillar and
butterfly displays where visitors learn about breeding, survival rates, the
stages of the butterfly's cycle and the importance of butterflies to nature.
The butterflies are busiest when it's sunny and
in the morning, so it's best to visit early in the day. There are 2.5-hour tours
in English, German, Spanish or French and run three times per day.
A popular tourist site, Volcan Poas National Park is one of the most visited
parks in Costa Rica. This park is one of the few places in the world where a
visitor is able to look into an active volcano without hiking to the top of one.
Poas continues to be active but had its blowout in 1953. Three craters resulted
from the blow. One is large and two other are smaller. One of the smaller has a
lake. Clouds gather around the mountain by 10 a.m. It's advisable to visit
early.
There are a number of facilities for visitors at this park, including a
visitor center where one can find a small museum, coffee shop, souvenir shop and
informative videos shown hourly.
The best time to visit is during dry season. The winds change rapidly, so if
there is cloud cover, a hike up to another crater may give enough time for the
clouds to pass. Returning to Poas after the hike gives visitors a chance to see
the volcano under clear skies.
Hiking in Poas National Park
There is a map of the nature trails available at the visitors' center. From
the visitor center, there is a paved road that leads to the crater lookout. From
the lookout point above the crater, there is an overview of the volcano. The
main crater is 1.5-km (1 mi) wide and 300m (1,000 ft) deep and is one of the
largest in the world. It is believed to be active in 40-year cycles and rarely
erupts. Currently, it is producing acid-like rain and sulfurous gases. Visitors
are advised to stay up to 20 minutes because of these conditions.
There are two trails that branch from the lookout. Each offers about a
30-minute hike through dwarf cloud forest. The forest is dwarfed because of the
acid-like rain and sulfurous gases, as well as, freezing night temperatures.
Birds, especially hummingbirds are plentiful. The landscape is dotted with
beautiful wildflowers and many kinds of moss, bromeliads and ferns.
This route continues for 4-km (2.5 mi) and leads to nearby La Paz Waterfall
Gardens. En route to these impressive waterfalls (five in total), there is a
butterfly observatory which is one of the largest in the world.
A beautiful wildlife park built
around a scenic series of waterfalls at Montana Azul, the waterfalls spray
visitors while standing on the observations platform. This park is about 4-km
(2.5 mi) north of Vara Blanca. The park features trails, gardens and one of the
most photographed waterfalls in Costa Rica. The gardens highlight
butterflies, hummingbirds, snakes,
frogs, and trout. There is also an orchid display and
birding tours are offered. Be sure to check out the traditional farmhouse on
site and the great restaurant.
On route to Sarchi, there's a terrific little place called Grecia which has
been voted the cleanest town in Latin America. This tidy little place has a
beautiful church called the Cathedral del las Mercedes. This
metal church was imported from Belgium in 1897.
If you're interested in snakes, there's the
Serpentario El Mundo de las Serpientes (World of Snakes) in Grecia. It's
near the church and is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Vividly colored wooden ox-carts are still in use around the country. Costa
Rica's most famous craft center, artists showcase their woodworking traditions.
Sarchi is a crafts center heavily geared toward the tourist trade where visitors
can see artisans painting traditional ox-carts designs and creating household
furnishings out of tropical hardwoods. Around 1910, as legend has it, a
campesino (peasant) was crossing the Beneficio la Luisa when it occurred to him
to decorate his ox-cart wheels with colorful mandala-like design inspired by
ancient Moorish decoration.
The art form caught on. Originally each district in Costa
Rica had its own special design and locals could tell by
looking at the cart where the driver lived. It was also said
that each cart had its own distinctive "chirrido" or song
of the wheels, by which people could identify who was
passing by through listening.
As late as 1960, the most typical mode of transportation was the ox-cart
since it was the only vehicle that could transport agricultural products through
the rugged Costa Rican terrain. The father of president Oscar Arias Sanchez made
his original fortune hauling coffee by ox-cart to Puntarenas. The painted carts
are still in use today in villages as close to the capital as San Antonio de
Escazu.
About 15-km (9 mi) up the road from Sarchi is Zarcero. This
town has a unique sighting in Costa Rica. In the Parque Central is a museum of
topiary where the park gardener has clipped and pruned the bushes and hedges
into a whimsical garden of amazing creatures such as birds, elephants, oxen,
cats and more.
From Sarchi, there is a turnoff about 100m east of Rio Rojas and the road
heads north. This scenic route weaves along through the cloud mountains and is
possibly one of the most beautiful drives in Costa Rica. The 400-hectare
(990-acre) reserve can be accessed via the valley west of Bajos del Toro and has
22-km (13.75 mi) or hiking trails that lead to waterfalls and lookout points.
About 7-km (4 mi) north of Bajos del Toro is a 200m (660 ft) waterfall called
Catarata del Toro. This waterfall has 500 stairs leading to the bottom of it.
There's a restaurant and entrance fee. Buses and taxis leave from Sarchi
regularly.
The Bosque de Paz Reserve has a
lodge that offers bird watching and nature tours.
Las Fiestas de Palmares is a 10-day festival with a parade, fireworks,
discotheques, live music, dancers and fried local food. This festival is one of
the biggest events in the country. It takes place in mid-January in the tiny
village of Palmares. The number of people attending can reach upwards of 10,000
people. Don't plan to stay in Palmares during this time but catch a bus from San
Jose.
A private reserve
about 20-km (12.5 mi) north of San Ramon, this center has a lodge and dairy
ranch that was once owned by ex-president Rodrigo Carazo. This reserve has
nature trails and short boardwalks that lead to views of the cloud forest. It is
adjacent to the Monteverde Cloud Forest
and less busy than Monteverde. Occasionally ocelots have been spotted in this
reserve. There are two short hiking trails and one more difficult trail.
There are naturalist guides, horse rentals, zip lines and hotel/spa available
at the reserve.
Juan Castro National Park
Created in 1992, this 143 sq. km (90 sq. mi) park protects Volcan Platanar
and Porvenir. The slopes of these volcanoes are the headwaters for five major
rivers which originate here. This is one of the most important watersheds in
Costa Rica.
The park is federally protected but still privately owned by various
plantation families. Only the land that has been purchased by the government is
open to visitors. In El Sucre, at the main office, visitors will find
the official entrance to the park and pay fees for day and camping use.
The rivers of this park are full of trout. Fishermen frequent the park. There
isn't much access to the park which means that there are few visitors. This also
means that the opportunities to view wildlife increases exponentially.
Heredia
The high tech capital of Costa Rica, Heredia is more than a suburb to
San Jose. The most modern and most traditional of Costa Rica's economies
reside side-by-side in this city. Heredia is also the historic coffee-production
center of the region.
Although it is only 11-km (7 mi) from San Jose, Heredia is a world away. The
high-tech corporations have made this city a cosmopolitan center, while the more
traditional and charming elegance of the past has been retained.
Travel sights in Heredia
- Iglesia de la Inmaculada Concepcion: Built in 1797, this church is on the
Parque Central.
-
El Fortin: On north side of Parque Central, this last remaining turret of a
Spanish fortress is the official symbol of Heredia.
- Casa de la Cultura: On the northeast corner of the park is the former
residence of President Alfredo Gonzalez Flores which houses a historical exhibit
and art shows.
- Universidad Nacional: Located six blocks
east of the Parque Central, this campus offers a great marine biology museum
Learning in Heredia
Midway between Heredia and Barva is the
Cafe Britt. The is a visitors chance to learn about Costa Rican coffee and
how a plantation is run. This company roasts, packs and exports specialty coffee
around the world. It also welcomes visitors to have a look at their fields and
gardens. Cafe Britt offers entertaining tours and staff wear traditional
costumes. There are also multimedia presentations available for visitors to
watch.
Barva
Only 2.5-km (1.5 mi) north of Heredia is Barva, a town dating from 1561 and
is packed with 17th and 18th-century buildings.
Travel sights in Barva
- Cafe Britt Finca: Just 1-km (0.8 mi)
south of Barva is this highly recommended tour of a plantation offering organic
coffee-growing. The tour gives visitors the chance to learn about coffee-bean
harvesting. Cafe Britt operates a daily shuttle that will pick up visitors in
San Jose.
- Iglesia San Bartolome is the landmark building in this town.
- Museo de Cultura Popular: About 1.5-km (1 mi) east of Barva, this farm house
was restored into a museum showcasing tools, period costumes and Tico food.
- INBio: The National Biodiversity
Institute is a private research center that was formed in 1989. It catalogs the
biological diversity of Costa Rica. There's a collection of high-quality
attractions at the biodiversity exhibition halls, including wildlife viewing
stations, a butterfly garden, an aquarium, a working farm, a medicinal plant
garden and a sugar mill.
Braulio Carrillo National Park is a primary forest that occupies about 445
sq. km (170 sq. mi) of land near San Jose. It's about 20-km (12.5 mi) from San
Jose with a highway that makes it easily accessible. It may only be minutes from
the highway, but it is peaceful and beautiful. To travel inland and see this park is
worth the effort. Braulio Carrillo has an
extraordinary biodiversity due to its steep altitude and lush lowlands. It
contains the massive Barva Volcano.
Braulio Carrillo contains five forest habitats where orchid and fern
varieties number in the hundreds. Many, if not most, of Costa Rica's
bird species can be found in this park. There are a number of short hiking
trails - one which climbs to a lake and the extinct Barva Volcano.
Brauilio Carillo covers a vast territory and contains huge canyons, many
waterfalls, swift rivers, virgin forest and misty mountains. Much of the
treasure in this territory is hidden, including the views and the
wildlife. It's best to book a guide to show you the national park.
Hiking in Brauilio Carillo
It's possible to climb to the Barva Volcano in 4-5 hours, as the trail is
well-maintained. From the western side of the park, there are signed tracks to
climb to the summit. The terrain is muddy and visitors should be prepared for
rain.
From the ranger station there are several hiking options on shorter trails
and one of these include a one-hour hike to Laguna Barva (2,900m/9,500 ft).
Hikers are rewarded with a scenic view of this beautiful green lake.
Rainforest Aerial Tram
The Rainforest Aerial Tram gives visitors a bird's-eye view of Braulio
Carrillo. It's a 90-minute ride that is 1.3-km (1 mi) long and about 35m (100
ft) above the forest floor. This tour of the forest's treetops lets visitors get
up close to the steamy air and see elusive wildlife.
Nearby the Aerial Tram is a Tropical Frog Farm (6km/4 miles past the tram)
that displays more than 2000 colorful poison-dart
and red-eyed leaf frogs. The red-eyed frog has become an omnipresent symbol of
Costa Rica.
The creation of the national park was a result of a need to build a highway
to Costa Rica's deep sea port of Puerto Limon. Built in 1987, the highway had
only feasible route to Puerto Limon, which was via a route that passed between
Barva Volcano and Irazu Volcano — an area which was virgin rainforest. The Costa
Rican government decided to bisect this area with a highway but would conserve
48,000-hectares (118,000-acres) around the highway in a national park.
This national park protects the watershed for San Jose.
Moravia
Only 6-km (3.75 mi) north of San Jose is a
coffee center called Moravia. Moravia is a famous production center where beans
were packed and transported to Europe and North America.
A visit to Moravia from San Jose is a popular day trip. The Parque Central
has several interesting stores around it, including Artesania Bribri which sells
work from the indigenous Bribri
people.
The Mercado de Artesanias Las Garzas offers arts and crafts stores and is
100m south of the town hall.
Cartago
Founded as Costa Rica's first capital city in 1563, the stunning riverbank
setting of this city was the seat of the first government. Unfortunately, the
eruption of Irazu Volcano destroyed the city and the government moved to San
Jose in 1823.
Cartago was rebuilt and is a modern city with an important religious site. On
August 2 of each year, there is a pilgrimage to Cartago where pilgrims come to
the Basilica de Nuestra Senora de los Angeles.
Travel sights in Caratago
- Basilica de Nuestra Senora de los Angeles:
This church has a formal Byzantine grace and has fine stained-glass windows.
Jammed on August 2 and on holy days, this church is a perfect for experiencing
the aura of La Negrita — small statue of an indigenous representation of the
Virgin Mary.
- Las Ruinas de la Parroquia: Built in 1575 as a shrine to St. James the
apostle, this church was destroyed by the 1841 earthquake and rebuilt a few
years later when it was destroyed again in the 1910 earthquake. The ruins are a
popular spot for picnicking.
- Elias Leiva Museum of Ethnography: Visitors will find a few displays of
historical artifacts at this museum
- Kirieti Indian History Museum: There is extensive documentation of history
at this museum.
From the summit of Irazu Volcano National Park reaching 3,800m (11,000 ft),
it is possible to see the Caribbean and the Pacific. Costa Rica's highest
volcano, Irazu has been silent for the better part of 30 years. It erupted in
1994 unexpectedly but quieted. In 1963, it erupted upon US president John F
Kennedy's visit to Costa Rica when it
continued to spew ash for two years. Although active in the past, it has been
relatively silent recently.
It is an easy half hour travel to Irazu Volcano National Park from
San Jose. Visitors can reach the top ridge, walk along the rim of the main
crater and look across at the gorgeous green lake. The park was established in
1955 and protects 2,309-hectares (5,700-acres) of land around the base of the
volcano. The main crater is 1,050m (3,465 ft) wide and 300m (990 ft) deep. The
secondary crater (Diego de la Haya) is 690m (2,280 ft) wide and 100m (330 ft)
deep. There is a third crater which is smaller and slowly being colonized by
vegetation.
There is a small information center and this site with a coffee shop. Cloud
cover starts around 10 a.m. and it's best to visit early. It can be windy at the
summit and there's a possibility of rain and is advisable to bring rain clothes.
Hiking in Irazu National Park
There's a 1-km (0.4 mi) trail that leads to a viewpoint over the craters.
Located behind the bathroom, there is a trail that is longer and steeper and
gets closer to the craters. Along this trail, it's possible to see the bird
species called volcano junco.
Turrialba
A modest mountain town, this is one of the best
white water travel destinations in the world. It has successfully fought off the
Costa Rican power company to prevent the latter from damming the Rio Pacaure.
The battle is temporarily over. However, the river is still at risk at being
dammed. This world-renown white water rafting river is a must for adventure
seekers.
East of Turrialba on Highway 10, there's a
serpentarium in Parque Viborana where 100 snakes are displayed in cages.
Visitors can enter the boa pit. Tours begin with a lecture.
This travel destination also offers honeymoon & wedding packages and is a unique
wedding destination for the truly adventurous.
Monumento Nacional Arqueologico Guayabo
Although this is not as impressive as the Maya or Aztec sites, this is Costa
Rica's most important archaeological site and is 19-km (11.5 mi) north of
Turrialba. This site does not have pyramids but has unearthed sophisticated
infrastructure and mysterious petroglyphs.
The aqueduct system at Guayabo is an important find and is thought to have
served more than 20,000 people in AD 800. Rocks were used from as far away as
Rio Reventazon. There are no written records of this site and it is not possible
to give credit to a specific historical group.
Most of the ruins are still waiting to be uncovered. The site was declared a
national monument in 1973.
