Lined with coffee and sugar cane plantations, the Orosí Valley is as rich in scenery as it is in history. Archaeological excavations in the area date human inhabitation back to 1000 BC, and while it was one of the first places to be colonized in Costa Rica, it remains relatively untouched by tourism.
t The winding Orosí river, bisecting the valley on its way to Lago de Cachí
EXPERIENCE Central Highlands
t Coffee plants growing under almond trees on the hillsides of the valley
Hemmed to the south by the Talamanca Mountains, the Orosí Valley falls steeply away south of Cartago. The Río Reventazón runs through the valley and drains into Lago de Cachí, which is also fed by other streams and raging rivers that tumble down hills enveloped by cloud forest. The Orosí Valley has been an important center for millennia. It was inhabited by the Huetare, Viceita, and Cabecar peoples, who farmed and hunted the land, until the arrival of the Spanish in the 1500s. The Spanish quickly founded their capital here, in 1563, as well as what are now two of Costa Rica’s oldest Christian sites, one of which is the ruins of the 17th-century church in the village of Ujarrás, set at the edge of Lago de Cachí. Looping around the Orosí Valley, Route 224 passes the main points of interest, including hamlet of Orosí, the valley’s social hub.
HIDDEN GEM
Finca Cristina
This small, organic shade-grown coffee farm (cafecristina.com) in the north of the valley doubles as a nature reserve atwitter with bird calls. The coffee bushes are integrated into a diverse tropical ecosystem that draws more than 250 butterfly species, 315 bird species, and a Noah’s Ark of mammals and reptiles.
Did You Know?
In the 16th century the valley was a major producer of snuff.
EXPERIENCE Central Highlands
Exploring the Orosí Valley
t Peaceful gardens surrounding the atmospheric ruins of Ujarrás's 17th-century stone church
EXPERIENCE Central Highlands
n Double-tap image to read the labels
This massive lake was created between 1959 and 1963, when the ICE (Costa Rican Institute of Electricity) dammed the Río Reventazón. The Presa de Cachí (Cachí Dam) funnels water down spillways to feed massive hydroelectricity turbines. Visitors can enjoy kayaking, canoeing, and boating on the lake, arranged by local tour operators. The national tourist board operates Paradero Lacustre Charrarra, a recreational complex that offers horseback riding and boating from the north shore. On the southern shore is Casa el Soñador, the bamboo-and-wood studio of renowned sculptor Macedonio Quesada Valerín (1932–94). Carved figures representing the town gossips lean out of the upper-story windows and a bas-relief of Leonardo da Vinci’s The Last Supper adorns the exterior. Macedonio’s sons carry on their father’s tradition of carving ornaments, walking sticks, and religious figures from coffee plant roots. The studio also serves as an art gallery for other local artists.
Casa el Soñador
⌂ 5 miles (8 km) E of Orosí § 8955-7779 # 9am–6pm daily
Located at the edge of Lake Cachí and surrounded by coffee bushes, the hamlet of Ujarrás is home to the ruins of the Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de la Límpia Concepción, completed in 1693. The ruins stand in a charming garden awash with tropical flowers. The site previously housed the shrine La Parroquia de Ujarrás. According to legend, an indigenous converso (Catholic convert) found a statue of the Virgin Mary. He carried it to Ujarrás, where it suddenly became too heavy for even a team of men to lift. The local priest saw this as a sign from God that a shrine should be built here. When pirates led by Henry Morgan attacked the region in 1666, local inhabitants prayed at the shrine for salvation. A defensive force led by Spanish governor Juan Lopez de la Flor routed the pirates and in gratitude built a church, Virgen del Rescate de Ujarrás (Virgin of Rescue), which was later abandoned after a flood in 1833. Every April, pilgrims walk 4 miles (6 km) to the shrine from Paraíso, in honor of the Virgin.
Did You Know?
Orosí is named for the Huetar chief, Orocay, who ruled here at the time of the Spanish conquest.
t The well-preserved Iglesia de San José de Orosí under a delft blue sky
Nestled neatly on the banks of the Río Grande de Orosí, this small village is a coffee-growing center. Mineral-rich hot springs gush from the hillsides and can be enjoyed in well-maintained pools at Balnearios Termales Orosí. Orosí’s pride is the beautifully preserved Iglesia de San José de Orosí, the oldest church in Costa Rica. Built by Franciscan monks in 1743–66 and dominated by a solid bell tower, the whitewashed church has withstood several earthquakes, despite its plain adobe construction. The interior features a beamed ceiling, terracotta floor, and simple gilt-adorned wooden altar. The Franciscan monastery adjoining the church is now the Museo de Arte Religioso, displaying artifacts dating back three centuries.
Balnearios Termales Orosí
# 7:30am–4pm Wed–Mon ∑ balnearioaguastermalesorosi.com
"
Museo de Arte Religioso
§ 2533-3051 # 1–5pm Tue–Fri, 9am–5pm Sat & Sun
EXPERIENCE Central Highlands
|
EAT Orosí Lodge Enjoy filling alfresco breakfasts and steaming coffee on the deck, then come back later for tempting cakes, ice creams, and shakes. ⌂ Orosí ∑ orosilodge.com \ La Casona del Cafetal On the banks of Lake Cachí, this coffee farm restaurant has a superb Sunday brunch buffet and excellent coffee. ⌂ Lago de Cachí ∑ lacasonadelcafetal.com \ Backerei Café y Panadería Suiza Delicious handmade pastries and superb breakfasts are on offer from the break of dawn. ⌂ Orosí ∑ costarica-moto.com/caf-y-panaderia-suiza \ Restaurante Coto Whole fried fish is a specialty at this long-established family-run eatery with great mountain views. ⌂ Orosí § 2533-3032 \ Cafetería 1743 Tuck into moreish cakes, tasty sandwiches, and blackboard specials at this squareside café, an ideal spot for people-watching. ⌂ Orosí § 2201-6665 \ |