01Culture · DAY 1 IDEA
Cartago
Ruinas de la Parroquia de Santiago Apóstol
In the middle of the Main Square of downtown Cartago, these carefully preserved ruins include a small garden, but this garden is barred by steel gates most of the time and not commonly open to the public. As the legend goes, two brothers were in love with the same woman, one was single and was chosen by the woman, and the other a priest. In the first day of the year 1577 he saw his brother celebrate Mass, and he killed him in the night.
Allow about 90 minutes · planning estimate
02Culture · DAY 1 IDEA
Cartago
Basílica de Nuestra Señora de los Ángeles
As the legend goes, the Basilica was built on the exact site where a figurine of the Virgin Mary appeared to local native girl Juana Pereira in 1635, the girl brought the figurine to her house but it disappeared, without her noticing she found another figurine and brought it back again to find that the first one was missing, this happened many time and she told the local priest, who locked the figurine in a copher and the same thing happened again, therefore they built this site.
Allow about 90 minutes · planning estimate
03Outdoors · DAY 1 IDEA
Cartago
Lankester Botanical Gardens
East of downtown Cartago, this garden hosts the largest collection of orchids and epiphytes in Central America, they also have collections in open air of bromeliads, cacti, succulents, heliconians, bamboos, palms, ferns, a secondary growth forest and a Japanese garden donated by the Japanese Embassy.
Allow about 60 minutes · planning estimate
04Culture · DAY 2 IDEA
Cartago
Sanatorio Durán
A sanatorium built in 1918 by ex-president and physician Dr. Carlos Durán for tuberculosis patients. The place has been abandoned for years and the local farmers have taken care of it. It is a popular place to spend the night as there are many scary stories regarding the place and the people that lived there. Beautiful views and fresh air year round.
Allow about 90 minutes · planning estimate
05Culture · DAY 2 IDEA
Cartago
Pedestrian Bridge
A fun river to cross by foot, the locals ask for a collaboration, ₡1,000 or more is appropriate. If travelling in group by car, have the driver drop the group on the east side and then pick the rest of the group on the west side in Orosi town, which for the driver means driving to a road bridge down south, continue north and arriving to Orosi town.
Allow about 90 minutes · planning estimate
Reference material retrieved 2026-10-19. Suggested days and time allowances are editorial starting points. Check the linked visitor information for opening hours, access, and reservations.
