About an hour southeast from the capital city, San José, lies a perfect escape, in the peaceful rural appeal and magnificent beauty of the Orosi Valley.

Dominated by the spectacular views of two volcanoes, the green mountains with breathtaking views, the freshness of the air, and the abundance that the valley conveys, this region, devoted mainly to coffee production, will invigorate even the most exhausted of travelers.

The ride through the river valley is a complete joy not only for the wonderful views it offers but also for the attractions the visitor finds along the way.  You may see charming colonial churches, get pampered in exclusive hot springs, visit the wilderness of Tapanti National Park, and rejoice at the view of Cachí Lake.

You can enjoy it all in a one-day trip, while you fill your senses with the sounds and sights of the valley and savor a delicious cup of fresh local coffee.

You enter the valley from Paraíso, in the province of Cartago.  As you drive, the landscape suddenly reveals the vast valley, covered with coffee fields and sprinkled with little villages, as you descend into its core and to the swirling river below.

The first stop should be the magnificent Orosi Lookout, just 2 kilometers along this road; its green hills are a perfect picnic spot.  From there, you move down to Orosi’s charming colonial town, where the simple yet gorgeous 1743 Iglesia San José de Orosi, the oldest church still open in Costa Rica, lies.  Next to it, there’s a museum of religious art and relics, which used to be a Franciscan monastery.

Orosi is famous for its natural hot springs, which attracted Spanish colonists to the region.  There are two public spas, “Los Balnearios” and “Los Patios”, and if you are of an adventurous nature, you can also try the hot waters along the Orosi River; however, these are popular among the locals, so it can get a little crowded and you may have to be careful.

Without a doubt, the best are the private options, like “Valle Caliente Hot Springs”, where you can enjoy a natural-rock hot spring pool right in the heart of one of the best coffee plantations in the area.  In this exclusive hideaway, you will enjoy a delicious lunch and full service experience with coffee tour included.  You just have to allow your senses to dwell where they have never been before.  This is a private paradise, so you have to make a reservation, because the place is all yours for the day.

Valle Caliente Hot Springs, private getaway

You can visit the Orosi Tourist Information and Arts Café (OTIAC) in town to find out what you can do and about other exclusive jewels in the area.

When leaving the valley you have two options: you can go around it to enjoy the never-ending natural beauty, or you can take a detour and visit Tapantí National Park, a 5000-hectare bird paradise that is considered one of Costa Rica’s wildest cloud forests and the wettest national park in the country, with more than seven meters of annual rainfall.

Back on the road, you cross the river at Palomo village and head north surrounded by gorgeous coffee plantations, the river and Cachí Lake, and the grandness of the Irazú and Turrialba volcanoes.  The manmade and truly spectacular lake can be seen at its best from “La Casona del Cafetal” restaurant, one of the best in the region.

Orosi is such a rich region that we have only scratched the surface; however, we hope it is enough to inspire you to visit it and feed your soul and body with the pleasures that await you only one hour away from the capital city.

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