Orosi is one of the few colonial-era towns to survive Costa Rica鈥檚 frequent earthquakes, which have thankfully also spared the photogenic village church. Built in the mid-1700s, it is the oldest religious site still in use in the country. The church's roof is a combination of thatched cane and ceramic tiling, while the carved-wood altar is adorned with religious paintings of Mexican origin.
Find it on the western side of the square.
17.73 MILES
On the southern side of the Plaza de la Cultura resides the Teatro Nacional, San Jos茅鈥檚 most revered building. Constructed in 1897, it features a columned鈥
17.48 MILES
This museum houses the world鈥檚 largest collection of American jade (pronounced 鈥榟a-day鈥 in Spanish), with an ample exhibition space of five floors鈥
Museo de Oro Precolombino y Numism谩tica
17.74 MILES
This three-in-one museum houses an extensive collection of Costa Rica's most priceless pieces of pre-Columbian gold and other artifacts, including鈥
29.31 MILES
About 2km past the trailhead to Cerro Chirrip贸 you will find the entrance to the mystical, magical Cloudbridge Nature Reserve. Covering 283 hectares on鈥
18.1 MILES
Though josefinos mainly do their shopping at chain supermarkets, San Jos茅鈥檚 crowded indoor markets retain an old-world, authentic feel. This main market,鈥
Monumento Nacional Arqueol贸gico Guayabo
16.38 MILES
This is the largest and most important archaeological site in the country. Although Guayabo isn't nearly as breathtaking as Mayan and Aztec archaeological鈥
17.44 MILES
One of San Jos茅鈥檚 nicest green spaces, this shady spot lures retirees to read newspapers and young couples to smooch coyly on concrete benches. At its鈥
17.42 MILES
Entered via a beautiful glassed-in atrium housing an exotic butterfly garden, this museum provides a quick survey of Costa Rican history. Exhibits of pre鈥
1. Museo de Arte Religioso San Jos茅 Orosi
0.01 MILES
Adjacent to Orosi's church, this small museum housed in a former convent displays interesting examples of Spanish-colonial religious art and artefacts,鈥
1.5 MILES
Heading south from Para铆so toward Orosi you'll hit Mirador de Orosi, a big green space with a jaw-dropping scenic overlook complete with BBQ facilities,鈥
2.5 MILES
The village of Ujarr谩s was damaged by an 1833 flood and then abandoned. All that remains are the crumbling walls of Iglesia de Nuestra Se帽ora de la Limpia鈥
3.69 MILES
The University of Costa Rica runs the exceptional 11-hectare Lankester Gardens, started as a private garden by British orchid enthusiast Charles Lankester鈥
4.38 MILES
This artisanal woodworking studio is run by Hermes and Miguel Quesada, sons of renowned Tico carver Macedonio Quesada. The brothers maintain the campesino鈥
6. Parque Nacional Tapant铆-Macizo Cerro de la Muerte
5.47 MILES
This 580-sq-km national park preserves the verdant northern slopes of the Cordillera de Talamanca and is the wettest reserve in the country, getting鈥
7. Bas铆lica de Nuestra Se帽ora de Los 脕ngeles
6.03 MILES
Cartago's most important site, and Costa Rica's most venerated religious shrine, this basilica exudes Byzantine grace, with fine stained-glass windows,鈥
6.35 MILES
This now-ruined church was built in 1575 as a shrine to St James the Apostle. It was destroyed by the 1841 earthquake, rebuilt a few years later and then鈥