As you travel towards Cartago, you will understand why Costa Rica is called “The Garden of the Americas”, as we travel through some of the country’s most colorful and visually impressive areas.

You will ascend to one of Costa Rica’s highest volcanoes towering 11,257 feet (3432 meters), the Irazú Volcano. The windy road goes through fertile lands cultivated with vegetables of all kinds, while you observe a vast panoramic view. You will be able to go right to the rim of this natural wonder and take a close look inside the crater of this volcano. On a clear day you might be able to observe both Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.

The next stop will be the city of Cartago; the country’s capital while Costa Rica was under Spanish rule. In Cartago we will be paying a visit to the ruins of the old Cathedral, currently a scenic park with beautiful gardens. Next we will take you to the Basílica de Nuestra Señora de Los Ángeles, Costa Rica’s patron saint. Next we will visit the stunning Lankester Botanical Gardens. Created by Charles Lankester in 1917, these gardens, now under the administration of the University of Costa Rica, have become one of the most valuable botanical research centers in Central America. They cover 25 acres and houses over 800 species of native and hybrid orchids and a variety of other plants, including bromeliads, anthuriums and many types of ferns. There are species in flower year-round, but the peak season for the large orchids is from February to April.

We will continue to the scenic Orosi Valley surrounded by mountains, and diverse plantations like coffee and sugar cane, among others. You will visit one of the few colonial churches that still stands intact, followed by a typical Costa Rican lunch in a restaurant of the area.