Day 2 - A Drive Through the Valley

After a great night of visiting and good food we woke up refreshed and ready for another adventure. We drove to the oldest church currently in use in Costa Rica, the Iglesia de San Jose Orosi, one of the only structures still remaining from the colonial era. The Catholic church is located in the Orosi Valley in the Cartago province and was built in 1743. We spent some time looking around the inside of the church and visiting the small museum next door which contained religious artifacts and paintings. According to tour books the Orosi Valley is considered to be the most beautiful valley in the entire country. We would agree that it is very beautiful but we think the whole country is beautiful!

A mural depicting life in Orosi, primarily know for their coffee plantations.

Iglesia de San Jose Orosi

Looking out of the church and into the courtyard, across the courtyard is the museum.

After visiting the church we got back on the main road, which loops around the entire valley, and headed off for lunch at La Casona del Cafetal Restaurante (http://www.lacasonadelcafetal.com). The restaurant is located on a coffee plantation overlooking the Cachí Reservoir or Lago de Cachi. We sat outside, on a beautiful patio overlooking the lake, and enjoyed a wonderful buffet lunch. The kids were happy as can be since they could run all around the grass without bothering anybody and after lunch there was a playground to explore.

Lago de Cachi - This is the view from the patio where we ate our lunch.

Jacob - Great Explorer

Here's Olivia having fun at the playground.

After lunch we continued down the road until we came to the town of Ujarras. Ujarras is home to the ruins of a colonial chuch built over 400 years ago. An indigenous Huetar Indian fisherman claimed to have found a box with an image of the Virgin Mary. Unable to move the box, local people built a classic Spanish Colonial church, ( Nuestra Señora de la Limpia Concepción ) on the site. Over time, the spirit of Mary is said to have performed several miracles for the villagers, including a spontaneous bell ringing that warned them of an impending flood. In 1666 she is credited with helping a hastily organized militia repel an invasion off the Caribbean coast by the English pirate Henry Morgan. But she failed to save Ujarrás from a devastating flood in 1833 that damaged the village so badly the people abandoned it and rebuilt on higher ground. Today the ruins are surrounded by a park where local families gather to picnic on Sundays. We had a fun time wandering through the ruins and playing in the park.

Iglesia de Nuestra Senora de la Limpia Concepcion

Exploring the ruins

Another view of the ruins

Just one of the many parrots we saw driving through the Orosi Valley.

After seeing the ruins we got back on the road and enjoyed a beautiful drive home. We made another quick stop at the AutoMercado to pick up some dinner for the kids and then back to the Orlando house to eat and pack for the next part of our vacation. Day 3 – Off to Arenal…..coming soon!

Sophie and Livie eating dinner together.

Jacob and Michael in the Orlando's kitchen.