Our most recommended things to do in Cartago Province, Costa Rica

San Jose: Irazú Volcano, Cartago City & Orosi Valley Tour

1. San Jose: Irazú Volcano, Cartago City & Orosi Valley Tour

Start with a pickup from your hotel and travel by minibus along the Panamerican Highway until you reach the base of the Irazú Volcano. Travel up the winding road through fertile farmlands where many types of fruit and vegetables are cultivated.  Enjoy spectacular panoramic views of the surrounding hills and valleys. At the summit of the volcano, on a clear day, marvel at the spectacular view of both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Next, descend to the city of Cartago and stop at the Virgin of the Angels Basilica. Discover this local pilgrimage site which has large vaulted ceilings and exquisite examples of stained glass windows.  Continue the tour through the Orosi Valley, an area of magnificent natural beauty. Visit one of the few remaining colonial churches in the region and stop for a tasty typical lunch at one of the local restaurants. Finally, be returned to your hotel to complete the tour.

San Jose: Walking Nature Tour with Sloths, Birds, and Trees

2. San Jose: Walking Nature Tour with Sloths, Birds, and Trees

Departing from the nearby meeting point, visit the University of Costa Rica campus, home to some of the largest patches of forest in San Jose. Guided by young biologists, discover the nature hiding in the middle of Costa Rica's largest city. Experience wildlife you wouldn't have imagined existed minutes away from downtown.   On the first stop, you’ll look for resident and migratory birds, lots of incredible insects and amazing flowers. We'll be talking about art, history, indigenous culture, and most of all, nature. Lastly, visit the main campus to seek out the friendly sloths climbing freely. The goal of this tour is to change the way tourism is done in Costa Rica, while supporting young scientists, researchers, and local entrepreneurs.

From San Jose: Irazu Volcano Crater Hike and Cartago Trip

3. From San Jose: Irazu Volcano Crater Hike and Cartago Trip

Discover the highest volcano in Costa Rica on a hiking tour from San Jose. Trek through breathtaking scenery to reach the summit of the Irazú Volcano and gaze into the emerald lagoon in its crater. Departing from San Jose, take the South Panamerican Highway to start the ascent toward Irazú Volcano National Park (entry included). The winding road travels through fertile lands cultivated with all kinds of vegetables.  On the top of the volcano, observe the main craters and, on a clear day, the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. Afterward, descend to the city of Cartago and stop at the Virgin of the Angels Basilica.

San Jose: City Tour by Night

4. San Jose: City Tour by Night

Learn about the rich culture and history of Costa Rica on a guided tour of the city of San Jose by night. Start the tour with pickup from your hotel and travel to La Sabana Park where you will meet your guide. Here, get an overview of the history of Costa Rica's capital city. Learn about the history and current political climate of Costa Rica as you wander through the city with your guide. Stop outside sites of historical interest such as the National Theater, a monument built in 1897 known as "the Jewel of San Jose." See the Costa Rican Gold Museum, several national embassies, the National Stadium, and the University of Costa Rica. At the end of the tour, enjoy a delicious traditional dinner in one of the most fashionable areas of the city.

From San Jose: Irazu Volcano & Hacienda Orosi Hot Springs

5. From San Jose: Irazu Volcano & Hacienda Orosi Hot Springs

Visit a variety of Costa Rican highlights on a single tour leaving from San Jose. Travel to Irazu Volcano National Park, Orosi Basilica, Orosi Valley, and Hacienda Orosi Hot Springs. Make the most of a single day by visiting multiple stops and seeing several iconic Costa Rican sites. Embark from San Jose along the South Panamerican Highway, to start ascending the large Irazu Volcano. Zip along the winding road as it travels through fertile lands cultivated with all kinds of vegetables and observe lovely panoramic views of the farmland. Travel to the top of the volcano, where a number of its volcanic craters can be seen if the weather is clear, and see the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. Descend the volcano and move on to the city of Cartago, and enjoy a stop at the Virgin of the Angels Basilica, a peregrination site for many believers. Move on to La Hacienda Orosi, surrounded by beautiful rainforest and lush vegetation, and visit the hot springs, where the land has been gifted with hypothermal mineral water, filtered between layers of the earth, and warmed to nearly 65 degrees Celsius, with properties to stimulate the senses and enrich the skin.

San Jose: Sloth and Wildlife Rescue Center Tour

6. San Jose: Sloth and Wildlife Rescue Center Tour

This private tour is rich with the individual stories of rescued wildlife, including those of a large variety of parrots, macaws, owls, sloths, spider monkeys, and more. The experience offers guests insight into the significance of conservation, as well as facts about rainforest wildlife and what it means to run a wildlife rescue center. Departing from San Jose or nearby provinces, visit an animal rescue center that specializes in rehabilitating injured sloths and learn everything about these amazing animals. The Toucan Rescue Ranch’s (TRR) mission is to rescue, rehabilitate, and then release Costa Rican wildlife. TRR works with a model that focuses on conservation, education, and research to ensure a brighter tomorrow for native wildlife.

Unveiling Guayabo's Archaeological Wonders & Volcanoes

7. Unveiling Guayabo's Archaeological Wonders & Volcanoes

After getting picked up at your hotel in our private 4WD car, head to the Irazú Volcano National Park where you can admire and even enter the crater of the highest volcano in the country. You will also be able to experience the unique miniature fauna and flora of Páramo, a tropical dwarf forest nestled in the highlands. Afterward, take the back road to Turrialba Volcano. Here, visit the "Central Town" located at the foot of the volcano. Enjoy time to explore and take some photos of the eerily abandoned town, still filled with farmhouses and buildings. Next, stop for dinner at a family-run grill house for a traditional Costa Rican lunch. Finally, before beginning the drive back to San José visit the Archaeological Site of Guayabo and its beautiful rainforest, declared a Civil Engineering World Heritage landmark and the most important milestone of pre-Hispanic culture in the country.

Irazú Volcano & Turrialba Volcano Day tour from San Jose

8. Irazú Volcano & Turrialba Volcano Day tour from San Jose

We will pick you up from your lodging in San Jose, Alajuela, Cartago or Heredia downtown to take to this adventure and visit two of the most famous volcanoes in Costa Rica with all entrances and typical lunch included: - Pick up from your lodging in San Jose, Alajuela, Cartago or Heredia downtown, no matter if it is airbnb, house or hotel - Drive for around 1.5 hours to visit Irazú Volcano in Cartago, our first Volcano. - We will go for a delicious typical lunch, you can choose what eat. - After taking a rest we will continue to Turrialba Volcano(Not the crater) - If time allow us we will visit some beautiful waterfalls close to Turrialba Volcano, small hiking of 15 minutes - Return to your hotel, drop off directly at your lodging, no matter if it is airbnb, house or hotel

From San Jose: Orosi Valley & Lankester Garden Day Tour

9. From San Jose: Orosi Valley & Lankester Garden Day Tour

Take a day trip out of San Jose and into the charms of the Orosi Valley with an experienced guide. Admire over 800 species of orchids and other flowers at the Lankester Gardens, check out a colonial-era church, and enjoy a tasty lunch at a countryside restaurant. Be picked up at your San Jose hotel and enjoy the winding ride into Costa Rica's hills. Cruise past coffee plantations and fields of waving sugar cane, and take in views of distant mountains. Reach the grounds of the Lankester Botanical Gardens, where botanists have cultivated some of the country's finest plants and flowers since 1973. Stroll gravel paths flanked by cacti and other succulents, look for sloths in treetop hideouts, and save plenty of time to examine the delicate petals of over 800 species of orchids spread out over the garden's 26-acre grounds. Head into the town of Orosi after your floral foray, and get up-close looks at the 18th-century Iglesia de San Jose de Orosi, whose white facade traces its origins back to Spanish colonialists. Chat about the area's history over lunch at a nearby restaurant, and then hop back on your shuttle for the scenic ride back to San Jose.

San José: VIP City Tour

10. San José: VIP City Tour

Get to know the culture and character of San José on an immersive bus tour of the city’s highlights. Taking you from your hotel and past the National Theater, Democracy Plaza and Central Market, you’ll witness an on-board folk music performance and learn about Costa Rica’s history and evolution. Starting at your hotel, the tour will take you into downtown San José, which you’ll be able to admire from the top deck as you ride. As an introduction to the city’s key sights, you’ll take a guided walk past the cherished National Theater, Central Market and Pre-Columbian Gold Museum. Back on board, you’ll be treated to a traditional folk music performance before stopping to enjoy local Costa Rican cuisine for lunch.  As you pass the National Monument, which commemorates Central America’s victory over the US Filibusters, your guide will teach you about the history of Costa Rica and its evolving national identity. Your final stop will be at Plaza de la Democracia, built in 1989 to commemorate a century of Costa Rican democracy, before the tour takes you back through San José’s bustling streets to your hotel.

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Things to do in
Cartago Province, Costa Rica

Cartago Province, Costa Rica
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What people are saying about Cartago Province, Costa Rica

Overall rating

4.8 / 5

based on 246 reviews

I like this tour because you have a clear view of the sloth and all beautiful animals. You will learn a lot of knowledge regarding those animals as well. I personally find the tour is a bit overpriced compared to the price for other tours, partially due to the transportation. Maybe better to drive by yourself and book a tour directly there.

Best tour of my trip. Edgar was great guide, very accommodating, informative, and funny. Make sure to bring warm clothing - it can be literally freezing at volcano and very windy. Lunch was terrific at beautiful restaurant. Make sure to go explore the path in the garden below.

Our guide was very knowledgeable about the animals and plants that we were seeing. He did a very good job of setting the telescope, and enabling us to take pictures with it. We enjoyed this immensely. Highly recommend this tour.

Rigo was an amazing tour guide! Learned so much from him and he takes the best pictures!

Great guide, great excursion. I can only recommend