- Iglesia de San José de OrosiThe church dates from 1743 and still holds services. Step in between them. It is small, and it is not a ruin.
- Valley miradorThe lookout above town shows the coffee and the reservoir when the cloud lifts. Stop only where cars already pull off. There is no ticket.
- Ujarrás ruinsThe old church by the lake is a garden with stone walls. A short stop on the loop. It is not a town you base in.
- Cachí damThe reservoir is a view from the road, not a beach. Do not climb the structure. The water is for power, not a swim.
- Tapantí National ParkWet forest at the end of the valley. Go early, stay on the trail, and expect mud even in a drier month. Come out before the rain sits on the road.
- Hot springsWarm pools near the valley are built, not a creek you find on the loop. Go after the daylight stops. Ask which gate is open.
- CoffeeRows cover the slopes. Visit a farm that expects you. The view from the road is not a tour.
- The loopDrive the valley in daylight and do not add Irazú. One crater morning and this loop are two days. Fog on the way back is the reason.
- Paraíso junctionThe turn for the valley leaves the main road at Paraíso. Miss it and you are headed toward Turrialba. Read the sign before you commit.
- Night in the valleyAfter dark the loop is fog and a narrow road. Eat in town. There is no late strip, and Irazú is not a night drive from here.
Orosi, Costa Rica
Orosi is the coffee valley south of Cartago. The church in the center dates from 1743, and the loop past Ujarrás and Cachí is the day. Tapantí is the wet forest at the end of the road. Do not add Irazú to the same afternoon.
This week: Highs 22–26°C, lows 15–18°C.
About 180 mm of rain.
Climate: The climate is a mild green valley. Temperatures are about 15–26°C. Wetter than San José. Mornings are the clearer hours.
Attractions: The main attractions are Iglesia de San José de Orosi, the valley mirador, the Ujarrás ruins, the Cachí dam, Tapantí National Park, hot springs, coffee, and the loop in daylight.
Province: Cartago
Nearby:Cartago|Turrialba|San Gerardo de Dota|San José|Escazú
Towns near Orosi
Heredia, Costa Rica
Coffee towns and forest on the roads above the city, cooler than the valley floor.
Escazú, Costa Rica
Hills on the west side of San José, with restaurants and a quieter night than downtown.
Atenas, Costa Rica
A valley town with a mild climate, coffee farms, and green hills around it.
Arenal Volcano, Costa Rica
The cone is the view. The hot springs are why people stay.
Alajuela, Costa Rica
Restaurants and rooms a few minutes from the Juan Santamaría airport.
La Fortuna, Costa Rica
The town at the base of Arenal, for the volcano and the hot springs.
San José, Costa Rica
The capital. The useful part is the center: theater, museums, market.
Poás Volcano, Costa Rica
An active crater in the park above Alajuela, worth the drive on a clear morning.
Santa Ana, Costa Rica
A valley town west of Escazú, a little lower and warmer.
Cartago, Costa Rica
The old capital, east of San José, and the way up to Irazú.
Turrialba, Costa Rica
A valley town east of Cartago, for the Pacuare and a quieter cone.
San Gerardo de Dota, Costa Rica
A high valley on the road south, for quetzals and cold air.