Costa Rica (Lonely Planet, 9th Edition) - Matthew Firestone [109]
At the summit it is possible to see both the Pacific and the Caribbean, but it is rarely clear enough. The best chance for a clear view is in the very early morning during the dry season (January to April). It tends to be cold and windy up here and there’s an annual rainfall of 2160mm – come prepared with warm, rainproof clothes.
From the parking lot, a 200m trail leads to a viewpoint over the craters; a longer, steeper trail leaves from behind the toilets and gets you closer to the craters (note that this trail is intermittently closed). While hiking, be on the lookout for high-altitude bird species, such as the volcano junco.
Return to beginning of chapter
Tours
Tours are arranged by a variety of San José operators and cost US$40 to US$60 for a half-day tour, and up to US$100 for a full day combined with lunch and visits to sights such as the Lankester Gardens or the Orosi Valley.
Tours from hotels in Orosi (US$25 to US$40) can also be arranged – these may include lunch and visits to the basilica in Cartago or sights around the Orosi Valley.
Return to beginning of chapter
Eating
Restaurant 1910 (2536-6063; casados ₡2900; closed Mon) On the road up to the park entrance, 100m north of the Pacayas turnoff, this homey spot is worth a stop for lunch to see its collection of old photographs documenting the 1910 earthquake that completed the destruction of colonial Cartago. Expect a long list of Tico specialties, including fresh grilled river trout.
Return to beginning of chapter
Getting There & Away
Barring a 20km hike, there are three ways to get here: an organized tour; a ₡27,500 (approximately) taxi from Tierra Blanca, which includes having the driver wait for a few hours; or by car. If you’re in a group, renting a car is the best deal: you can get to the park early (it’s easy to find) and afterwards, follow it up with a leisurely lunch – with incredible views – at the Mirador Sanchiri (Click here) in nearby Orosi – an ideal day trip.
To get to the volcano, drivers can take Hwy 8 from Cartago, which begins at the northeast corner of the plaza and continues 19km to the summit. The road is well signed.
The only public transportation to Irazú departs from San José (₡2500) at 8am, stops in Cartago (₡2000) to pick up passengers at about 8:30am and arrives at the summit a little after 9:30am. The bus departs from Irazú at 12:30pm.
Return to beginning of chapter
VALLE DE OROSI
This charming river valley is famous for its mountain vistas, a quaint colonial church, hot springs, an orchid garden, a lake formed by a hydroelectric facility, a truly wild national park and coffee – lots and lots of coffee. A 60km scenic loop (freshly paved in 2009) winds through a landscape of rolling hills terraced with shade-grown coffee plantations and expansive valleys dotted with pastoral villages. If you’re lucky enough to have a rental car (or a good bicycle), you’re in for a treat, though it’s still possible to navigate most of the loop via public buses.
The loop road starts 8km southeast of Cartago in Paraíso, and then heads south to Orosi. At this point you can either continue south into Parque Nacional Tapantí-Macizo Cerro de la Muerte or loop back to Paraíso via Ujarrás.
Return to beginning of chapter
Paraíso Area
This busy town has been engulfed by the urban sprawl of Cartago, only 8km away. The village itself is not terribly picturesque (rows of concrete houses generally aren’t), but the wonderful Orosi Valley emerges just outside of it. A few kilometers along the road to Orosi is the Mirador Orosi, which is the official scenic