Savegre Mountain Hotel

pineapple plantations

by giacco

South from Cartago, on the way to Camino Real, there are plenty of pineapple plantations. Just get out from the road and take your time to walk through the plantations.

Not necessary to say, fruits are fantastic in Costa Rica. Try guanabana.

Cerro de la Muerte

by giacco

South from Cartago, the Interamericana starts to climb the mountains, till the highest point, Cerro de la muerte.

If you take the small road on the right (it's well indicated), after 2 km there is a superb viewing point. It's a little bit cold, even during the dry season, and it's supposed to be the only place in Costa Rica where rarely freezes (besides Chirripo mountain, off course).

Ticos explain old storys about travelers who used to die many years ago, before the invetion of cars, because the bad weather (legends, maybe)

Cartago and the Volcán Irazú

by Pieter11

A perfect destination for a daytrip from San José is the city of Cartago, just east from the capital. The city is the oldest still excisting Spanish settlement in the country, but unfortunately that is not visible anymore today, because the city has been hit by several devastating earthquakes in the past centuries.

What is still visible is the beautiful Basílica de Nuestra Señora de Los Ángeles. This church is home of the famous "La Negrita" statue and attracts many pilgrims every year.

And then there is another huge attraction in the surroundings of the city: the Volcán Irazú. This volcano is the highest in Costa Rica with an altitude of 3.431 metres. The volcano is easily accessible and is a great place to go to for a daytrip: the views are spectacular and it's really special to look straight into the crater from the top.

Cute Town and Awsome Volcano

by VolsUT

"The Irazu Volcano"

The Irazu Volcano is located only 24 miles from San Jose. It has an elevation of 11,260 so is cool all the time and in a cloud forrest. It is well worth the trip for San Jose it is a really cool place.

"Another View"

Here is another view of Irazu with clouds rolling in. I visited the Volcano in the rainy season and thought that I might no be able to see anything but it was still easy to see the down volcano and the clouds often parted for a short time.

Cartago

by metteks

"Ruins of La Parroquia"

This church was ruined by the 1910 earthquake and the inside is now converted into a lovely garden. Unfurtunatly we couldn't enter the garden as it was closed the day we visited.

"Jardin Lankester orchid garden"

This garden is outside cartago. It is a nice and relaxing place to visit. There are also other plants, than orchids, as the photos show.
Here is a link to the garden: http://www.jardinbotanicolankester.org/ing/index.html

"Jardin Lankester orchid garden"