The Orosi Valley, Cartago Province

If you are looking to take the road less traveled on your vacation to Costa Rica, look no further. The Orosi Valley has breathtaking scenery, it’s quaint and historic, and receives far fewer visitors than other tourist hot spots throughout the country.

My husband, 3 kids (ages, 12, 9, and 6) and I have been traveling / working in Costa Rica for over a decade. We are always on the lookout for unique hubs in the country on our annual trips down that allow our family to truly relax and at the same time have the adventure of a life-time. We love the Orosi Valley for many reasons, however, there are roses and thorns for each place we’ve visited, and we’d love to share those with you.

Orosi Valley – Roses 

• We love it because it is truly off the beaten path.
• The scenery as you travel down the mountains to the valley is lush and breathtaking. There are public, free miradores or look out points, equipped parks with picnic tables and grills to stop and enjoy the view.
• There are waterfalls to see, a rainforest national park to hike through, and some of the countries oldest and most historic churches to see. Particularly, Its home to the oldest working church in Costa Rica, the picturesque la iglesia de Orosi.
• There’s a small river to see and an awesome hanging bridge that connects the town of Orosi to the other side of this river.
• The small town feel in the center of the town of Orosi is safe for travelers who want to walk around and get to know the area.
• You can visit places like a local, and not feel overwhelmed by the tourism that is common in other parts of the country.

Orosi Valley – Thorns

• If you really want to get to know the valley, you will need to rent a car. There is a public bus to take you into the Orosi town center, but from there it is hard to check out all the things to see and do without your own transportation, and a taxi could be pricey.
• The places to see and things to do are quite spaced out, if you’re up for exploring it will take most of the day to get around the valley. Another reason why renting a car is a great option!
• Limited access to ATMs, take cash out in the city before your trip to the valley just in case!
• There are limited options for hotels, but we can definitely recommend a few gems! For a cozy central location and great cup of coffee, try the Orosi Lodge, for a more secluded location with a natural hot spring fed pool and gorgeous gardens, try Hotel Rio Perlas.

Hotel Recommendations

Río Perlas: This is a family favorite 

Río Perlas – Rosas

• If you like walking, being outdoors and wildlife, you will love this hotel location and property.
• Beautiful location and grounds in the rain forest. The gardens are gorgeous and there are great foot paths and trails all around the property to explore. There is even a new waterfall hike to explore!
• Nice and clean hotel rooms.
• Service is excellent
• A great breakfast full of fresh fruits and ingredients
• A wonderful pools for kids and families. One is a thermal hot springs pool.

Río Perlas – Thorns

If you do not like walking, this property is not for you. It is situated on a hill and if your room is at the bottom of the hill you will have to walk to the top for breakfast. It is a beautiful walk though!

Phone number: (CR) 506-2533-3341

Email: [email protected]

Orosi Lodge

Website: www.orosilodge.com

Phone number: (CR) 2533-3578

Email: [email protected]

Our Favorite Things to do in the Orosi Valley

Soak in the thermal springs at Hacienda Orosi:

The beauty abounds at this private, quaint hot springs hacienda. Get a day pass and spend the day soaking in the pools, enjoying the incredible vistas, and eating delicious, homemade food and afternoon cafecito. This place is a gem to unwind after some long travels or lots of hiking. Visit Hacienda Orosi!

Hike in the Tapanti National Park:

The National Park is located at the end of a long gravel road. It opens at 8:00am and we recommend arriving early! This is one of the rainiest spots in the country, so bring a poncho or rain coat. Check out the beautiful viewpoint of a waterfall and explore some great hiking trails back to the river or up a mountain.

Visit the colonial Orosi church, and the Ujarras ruins:

The Ujarras ruins are a site to see, now maintained as a park used by tourists and locals alike. Enjoy the beautiful gardens. Both of these activities are free. If you would like to enter the Orosi church museum, you will be charged around $1 per person to see colonial artifacts.

Stop at the valleys’ miradores, or look out points, and enjoy the view:

There are two look out points in the valley. One is called the Orosi Mirador, which gives you a birds eye view of the valley , the river, and the small town of Orosi. The other is the Ujarras Mirador, which allows you to see the manmade Lake Cachi, the impressive dam, and if you look hard enough, you can find the Ujarras ruins. Both of these parks are free to enter, you can also bring along food and drink to set up a picnic or cookout and enjoy the greater part of your day here!

In conclusion, if you are looking for a do-it-yourself gem off the beaten path, the Orosi Valley is just the spot for you and your family!

Check out our other favorite places to travel in Costa Rica! Pura vida and happy adventuring!

Don’t speak Spanish? Let us make the reservation for you for a small fee! Contact me today [email protected]

Looking for more Costa Rica tips and resources…check these out:

• Best places to travel in Costa Rica
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• Costa Rica Family Vacation