When planning our trip to Costa Rica, I knew one highlight for me would be a couple of days touring the Orosi Valley. This lush valley set only two hours from the capital features a small town surrounded by adventure.
As we crested the hills towards this tranquil town lovingly positioned in a scenic valley I knew I was in love. The lush hillsides were ablaze with the orange-red flowers of the Coral Trees that grow randomly where coffee is grown. The town of Orosi is easily walkable with a population of just over 9000 residents and set in a neat square.
We checked into our comfortable rental at Orosi Lodge and set to planning our adventures for the days ahead. Hiking. Coffee tours. Small towns. Ruins. So. Many. Options.
Day 1 we began by simply wandering the town itself. Set just blocks from Orosi Lodge is the Iglesia de San Jose de Orosi. Built in 1743, Iglesia is the oldest church still in use in the entire country and is a popular location for weddings. We tried out a local soda for lunch, checked out the bridge crossing the Orosi River, and stopped at the market for some snacks while we went into full planning mode.
Where to start? It had to be a coffee tour. Costa Rica is famous for their coffee and although I’m not a big imbiber of the beverage, when traveling in a country where the beans are grown I am all on-board. We joined a local from down the street for a wander of his property where the beans are cultivated before heading over to his house to meet his father and dog and get a proper introduction to the roasting process. Having previously picked, soaked, dried, and roasted our own beans at Lake Atitlan in Guatemala, Jim & I know just how much work goes into your morning cup of joe. In a later post I’ll go over a more detailed explanation of the process from growing the beans to roasting.
With more adventures ahead, we first needed to find a spot to watch the Superbowl and we were thrilled to find Il Giardino Pizzeria a la lena. A mere three blocks from Orosi Lodge we were surprised to find a festive restaurant with excellent food, a full bar, and the game on the big screen.
The next day, snacks packed we piled into our rental car to do the “Orosi Loop”, a 60km loop along Route 224 makes for a superb day in the country. We headed counter-clockwise and meandered along the quiet country road and over small bridges surrounded by coffee beans to arrive in Cachi. This small neat village is best known as the location of Casa del Sonador, the “Dreamer’s House”. Built with craft and imagination by renowned Costa Rican artist Macedonio Quesada, the Dreamer’s House is a carved fantasy land of face designs within the house’s structure. Various works of art are available for sale so you can even take a memento home with you.
Back in the car, we continued our loop, admiring the immensely lush countryside all around us highlighted by views of the Irazu and Turrialba volcanoes to the north. A short time later we arrived at the Ruins of Ujarras, boasting Costa Rica’s oldest church. The Spanish colonial structure was built between 1575 and 1580 and now sits in exquisite ruin in a beautiful garden.
Moving onward, we soon arrived at the spectacular Lankester Botanical Gardens which rightly deserves a full post all of its own. The stunning grounds are lushly overgrown with hundreds of orchids as well as dozen of other exotic plants.
Our final day in the Orosi found Anne, Jim and I heading up the mountain to hike to Monte Sky. From the parking lot trailhead, it was a 3/4 mile hike up to the hostel and small restaurant with a lawn overlooking the valley below. Three different out-and-back waterfall paths are available; 800 meters, 600 meters, and 400 meters from the hostel. Recent rains caused the trails to be fairly slippery and messy but none of the options were technical.
Our final evening found us back at Il Giardini for an early dinner before packing up as the road, and the beach were calling. Orosi is absolutely worth a stop on your path through Costa Rica.