Things to Do in Province of Cartago, Costa Rica - Province of Cartago Attractions
Things to Do in Province of Cartago
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Book these experiences for a close-up look at Province of Cartago.
Top Attractions in Province of Cartago
Gardens
Admission tickets from $15.50
Ancient Ruins • National Parks
Historic Sites • Churches & Cathedrals
Churches & Cathedrals
Ancient Ruins
Cultural Events
Nature & Wildlife Areas
Waterfalls
Cemeteries
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What travelers are saying
- Ralph RLantana, FL54 contributionsIt was a fantastic idea . Great place to visit and worship …nice area , and great places to eat .. just walk and enjoy 😊Written August 15, 2021This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
- James MLakeland, FL694 contributionsBeautiful garden, and I have never seen so many orchids. They had hundreds of them and all blooming.
This is a 26-acre park, and you can see all of it in a leisurely stride in about an hour or so. We happened to stumble in on a Sunday, and they were lots of families having picnics and just hanging out.
There are different themed areas in the gardens, including a koi pond and plenty of incredible plant life to explore.
The cafe was closed due to covid, but the gift shop was open, and the day we stopped in, there was a food vendor in the park.
Parking can be limited and the road to the garden is very rough. Well worth the visit.Written March 21, 2021This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC. - thepostie2010Barnstaple, UK860 contributionsSimply stunning experience. The scenery takes your breath away at times and rapids make you laugh with joy.Written March 28, 2022This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
- Claudia SegoviaQuito, Ecuador62 contributionsIt is a nice place to walk, see plants and animals very similar to the Andean Paramos. The weather is nice but could be a little chilly. You have to be lucky to see the lake , usually is cloudy . We spend there a couple of hours. You have to buy tickets on line, and the internet it is not so good at the entrance. Then it is better to do that in advance.Written May 1, 2022This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
- H HJohannesburg, South Africa136 contributionsOrosi river valley is awesome to see and visit. We took a drive from Irazu through the valley on our way back to San José. The area is scenic and you get a real sense of being amongst locals. The best thing about our trip is avoiding the high priced day trips on offer. We would have paid over $100 for a trip barely worth $20if we had booked through a tour operator such as Grayline. Rather rent a car and drive yourself around.Written September 16, 2018This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
- Wayne BCalgary, Canada83 contributionsVery interesting site about the indigenous peoples of Costa Rica. Our guide Guillermo from Explornatura was very knowledgeable and made the site come alive. The 1hr.-1.5 was well spent.Written January 15, 2022This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
- timdrew2018London, UK11 contributionsA quiet peaceful park, with 4 or 5 trails to follow. The lady at the barrier was incredibly helpful (at the time of visiting tickets need to be booked online, but they have a PC there for visitors to use if required). Loads of tables etc around the walks to have a picnic from. too, or just find a spot near the river. Well worth the trip thereWritten March 21, 2022This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
- KaelaSeattle, WA1,092 contributionsWe love visiting “creepy” places so this was a must do for my group when visiting Costa Rica. About 30-45 min drive outside San Jose, this abandoned location was spooky and really interesting to walk around. We learned at the National Museum that they used to treat tuberculosis here, but it’s been abandoned for decades. We were the only visitors on this rainy day which added to the ambience.
Walking around I couldn’t help but feel like this experience could be so much more with some restorations and work put in. My friend (a San Jose local) said they are starting the process to restore and spruce it up a little, which is encouraging. The empty halls are interesting in their own right but I would have loved to get a more in depth history on the rooms or the people who lived and worked there. As other reviewers said it reminded me a lot of Alcatraz and I think the location would benefit hugely from an audio tour or live guide. The admission charge of around $2 US per person could be upped a LOT with a little bit of TLC and this could be a real live tourist attraction. The only downside to that would be increased traffic in my opinion, since the emptiness really added to the whole experience. Overall my group loved it and were happy to have stopped - I look forward to seeing what this area could become in the future.Written June 13, 2019This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC. - zitavskehoPrague, Czech Republic539 contributionsYou do not go to Costa Rica but then this one together with the cathedral in Cartago are a must. Really nice inside all in wood. The oldest church in the country.Written December 20, 2019This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
- JamesFFCMaidenhead, UK653 contributionsA nice park and fairly impressive ruins but you can't go inside and there isn't a whole lot to see once you've walked once around the ruins. Fairly impressive for a onetime visit but I wouldn't rush back.Written November 16, 2020This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
- geatchyJaco, Costa Rica42 contributionsWe booked a 9am tour, and struggled a bit to find the location. We were outside of the property, but a sign on the gate said no entry. Fortunately, one of the horse handlers ushered us in. It turned out Trip Advisor somehow informed Celia, our guide for the tour that we had booked 1pm (I’m not trying to sound shady or sarcastic, she showed us her confirmation - so maybe it was that we’d booked the night before and it got confused). Anyway, Celia was adorable, super apologetic, and arrived within 15 minutes of us calling to let her know we were there. It worked out brilliantly, as we got the chance to have a wander, and relax in the stunning garden of the property owned by one of the plantation owners. After coffee (obviously) we were introduced to our horses and Kalin (sp.), the horse handler who led us on the tour. We’re not horsey people, but it was a really nice walk (not the most comfortable, I’ll admit, but it would have been absolutely shattering to walk it on foot), and Celia is very knowledgeable, and the stories behind the community, its founders and how it works today are all very interesting. We never felt like there was a time limit, or we were being rushed to finish. There was a no pressure side trip to the small gift shop (we bought coffee and local chocolate). It honestly felt like a friend had showed us round where they work, and I was actually quite sad when we left.Written January 10, 2020This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
- Majo NQuito, Ecuador55 contributionsGreat place! Perfect for a lazy afternoon, just to lay in the hills and enjoy the view. You can have a picnic there too! Really romantic!Written December 18, 2019This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
- LaLaOntheRoadNew York City, NY284 contributionsThe parish ruins located off Playa Mayor in Cartago is a beautiful landmark of the old Costa Rican capital of Cartago. It has been transformed from ruins to a beautiful public park with very nice gardens and art surrounding. The park is not always open to the public so check in advance schedules. A great spot to stop when visiting Cartago, worth 15-30 mins to admire the architecture and gardens.Written February 1, 2020This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
- FdelgadoPiedades, Costa Rica19 contributionsIt’s a farm dedicated to grow roses. The owner Luis Vega has dedicated many years to investigation and development of beautiful hybrids and he is well-known internationally. Highly recommended after visiting the Basilica, particularly if you go there by car.Written March 11, 2018This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
- sueanncannyCartago, Costa Rica249 contributionsIt is really majestic and one of the stops too visit while in coast a Rica on the August 2nd the coasran Ricans will travel from their homes to the church. The people that live in Cartago take the bus to San Jose and walk to the church. It is something to see.Written July 21, 2016This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Frequently Asked Questions about Province of Cartago
- The top attractions to visit in Province of Cartago are:
- Santuario Nacional Nuestra Señora de Los Ángeles
- Jardin Botanico Lankester
- Pacuare River
- Irazu Volcano National Park
- Orosi River Valley
- The best outdoor activities in Province of Cartago according to Tripadvisor travelers are:
- Orosi River Valley
- Pacuare River
- Guayabo National Monument
- Jardin Botanico Lankester
- Irazu Volcano National Park
- The best day trips from Province of Cartago according to Tripadvisor travelers are:
- Irazú Volcano National Park (Half Day).
- Day Trip from San Jose to Irazu Volcano National Park, Cartago City and Orosi Valley
- Irazú Volcano and Mineral Hot Springs at Hacienda Orosi
- Full Day Tour Irazu Volcano Orosi Valley and Lankester Gardens
- Explore Two Amazing Active Volcanoes With a Local
- The most popular things to do in Province of Cartago with kids according to Tripadvisor travelers are:
- Orosi River Valley
- Santuario Nacional Nuestra Señora de Los Ángeles
- Aquiares Coffee & Community Experience
- Guayabo National Monument
- Ruinas de Ujarras