If you’re looking for a getaway with plenty of natural beauty, great food and friendly people, then look no further than Cartago. Located on the Central American isthmus between North and South America, this peaceful city has it all. Its lush rainforests, white-sand beaches, volcanoes and fauna make it one of the best places to escape the rat race and rediscover who you are.
Fun fact: Cartago was originally the capital city of Costa Rica from the 1500s to 1800s. However, it was partially destroyed in a volcanic eruption in 1732. The country’s capital city then became San Jose.
With its numerous small towns, unspoilt natural landscapes and low population density, there is plenty to see in this country.Read on to know more about the hidden gems of this beautiful country
The 48 Most Popular Things To Do In Cartago, Costa Rica
48. Buda Garden
5.0 (2 reviews)
Credit: Edén Pernía, Google Maps
47. Charrara Park
3.7 (3 reviews)
Location: R5CF+6RQ C Charrara Provincia de Cartago
46. Barrio La Flor Park
3.5 (4 reviews)
Credit: Jeffry Barquero, Google Maps
Location: W2H2+38P Calle La Flor Provincia de Cartago Concepcion
45. Zona Protectora Cerros de la Carpintera y su Zona de Amortiguamiento
4.8 (5 reviews)
Credit: Adrian Mata, Google Maps
Location: cerros la carpintera Cartago Province
Web Address: http://sinac.go.cr/ES/planmanejo/Plan%20Manejo%20ACC/Zona%20Protectora%20Cerros%20de%20La%20Carpintera.pdf
44. Los Pinos Park
4.4 (5 reviews)
Credit: Jabier Hernandez, Google Maps
Location: R4J8+54F Cartago Province Paraiso
43. Get your birds
4.8 (6 reviews)
Credit: María Auxiliadora Brenes, Google Maps
Location: 250 metros ruinas de Ujarras
42. Cerros de La Carpintera
3.9 (8 reviews)
Credit: Pablo Bernal Alfaro, License, Wikimedia commons
41. Museo Leone de Ujarrás
4.7 (13 reviews)
Credit: Museo Leone de, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: R5GC+X4R Cartago Province Ujarras
40. Vistas del Cielo
4.6 (14 reviews)
Credit: Adriana Taborda, Google Maps
Location: R288+GMP Cartago Province
39. “Laura Perez Echeverría” Garden
4.3 (16 reviews)
Credit: Roger Perez, Google Maps
Location: V2R2+FW9 Cartago Province San Diego
38. Birdwatching Costa Rica
4.2 (16 reviews)
Credit: Birdwatching Costa Rica, Google Maps
Location: Barrio Los Rosas Cartago Province Cartago
Tel: 844 247 3464
Web Address: http://costaricabirdingtrips.com/
37. Finca La Cayetana
4.7 (25 reviews)
Credit: Finca La Cayetana, Google Maps
Location: Coris Cartago Province de
Tel: 8992-0309
Web Address: http://fincacayetana.com/
36. Reserva Los Coyotes
4.6 (35 reviews)
Credit: Ileana Vega, Google Maps
Location: X23M+R7R Calle Jaboncilla San Jose Mata de Platano
Tel: 2292-2319
Web Address: http://reservaloscoyotes.org/
35. Solo Rosas
4.7 (41 reviews)
Credit: gilberth sequeira, Google Maps
Location: Cartago Province Llano Grande District
Tel: 2530-2020
34. SkatePark Llanos de Santa Lucía
4.3 (45 reviews)
Credit: Andrés Alvarado, Google Maps
Location: R4PC+X3V Villa Llanos Provincia de Cartago Llanos de Santa Lucia
33. Monasterio San Jose, Monjes Benedictinos
4.9 (50 reviews)
Credit: Andrés Loría, Google Maps
Location: R4QF+7HX Cartago Province Santa Lucia de Paraiso
Tel: 2574-2076
Web Address: https://es-la.facebook.com/monjesbenedictinoscr/
32. Yellow Flower Mountain
4.5 (55 reviews)
Location: Cartago Province Chicua
Tel: 8634-3274
Web Address: https://facebook.com/Monta%C3%B1a-de-Flores-Amarillas-Cartago-2133582310292201/
31. carpintera , tres rios
4.4 (71 reviews)
Credit: Pablo Bernal Alfaro, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: Tunel de Barrio La Carpintera Provincia de Cartago Tres Rios
30. La Angelina – Mountain Bike Park
4.7 (122 reviews)
Credit: Alejandro Buendía, Google Maps
Location: La Angelina Kerkua Provincia de Cartago Cartago
Tel: 8645-7333
Web Address: http://facebook.com/laangelinamtb
29. Jesús Jiménez Zamora Park
3.9 (129 reviews)
Credit: Alberto Antonio Meneses Villalobos, Google Maps
Location: Parque Jesus Jimenez Zamora Provincia de Cartago Cartago
28. Ruins of Iglesia de Nuestra Senora de la Limpia Concepcion
4.8 (136 reviews)
Credit: Creator:Edwin Dalorzo, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: R5G7+WG2 Cartago Province Ujarras
27. Parque de Cocorí
3.9 (143 reviews)
Credit: Luis González, Google Maps
Location: R3QH+JP7 Barrio Cocori Provincia de Cartago Cartago
26. Pronatura Park
4.5 (195 reviews)
Credit: Juan ignacio Vargas, Google Maps
Location: V2Q3+CQV Cartago Province San Diego
Tel: 8654-4949
Web Address: https://facebook.com/pronatura.parqueecologico/
25. Fossil Land
4.6 (302 reviews)
Credit: David E Caro Bernal, Google Maps
Location: VXCJ+7QQ San Jose Province Patarra
Tel: 2276-6060
24. Cot Christ
4.7 (302 reviews)
Credit: geovanni alvarado martinez, Google Maps
Location: V4Q8+FRH Cruce a Pacayas carretera al Volcan Irazu Cartago Province Cot
23. Cráter La Olla
4.5 (361 reviews)
Location: W4MW+H3X Unnamed Rd. Provincia de Cartago San Juan de Chicua
22. La Carpintera Canopy Tour
4.7 (407 reviews)
Credit: Jeffery Forney, Google Maps
Location: La Carpintera San Rafael Provincia de Cartago Tres Rios
Tel: 2278-3355
Web Address: https://facebook.com/canopylacarpintera/
21. Catedral de Nuestra Señora de El Carmen
4.5 (460 reviews)
Credit: Kenneth Cole Schneider, License, Flickr
Location: V38H+33G Avenida Central Cartago Province Cartago
Tel: 2551-0282
Web Address: http://catedraldelcarmencartago.org/
20. Cartago Municipal Museum
4.6 (715 reviews)
Credit: Julio César Vargas Sequeira, Google Maps
Location: sala antano 200m norte de las Ruinassobre el sendero los Tigres Av Provincia de Cartago Cartago
Tel: 2591-1374
Web Address: http://cartagovirtual.com/museomunicipal
19. Parroquia María Auxiliadora
4.7 (790 reviews)
Credit: Peloy (Allan H.M.), License, Wikimedia commons
Location: Avenida Central Cartago Province Cartago
Tel: 2551-9078
Web Address: http://mariaauxiliadoracartago.org/
18. Ambiental Río Loro Park
4.5 (1,116 reviews)
Credit: Jay Saenz, Google Maps
Location: W353+JMH Rio Loro Cartago Provincia de Provincia de Cartago Cartago
Tel: 2537-1200- -108
Web Address: https://facebook.com/ParqueAmbientalMunicipalRioLoro/
17. Tejar Park
4.5 (1,143 reviews)
Credit: Randall Blanco, Google Maps
Location: R3W6+597 Av Provincia de Cartago El Tejar
Tel: 8975-5111
Web Address: http://muniguarco.go.cr/
16. La Expresión Laguna de Doña Ana Recreation Park
4.6 (1,179 reviews)
Credit: Josue Elizondo, Google Maps
Location: Cartago Province Paraiso
Tel: 2574-2274
Web Address: http://icoder.go.cr/servicios/parques-recreativos#expresion
15. Mirador Rancho Redondo
4.5 (1,236 reviews)
Credit: Gabriela Zelaya, Google Maps
Location: 218 Province San Jose Province Goicoechea
14. San Rafael de Oreamuno Park
4.4 (1,688 reviews)
Credit: Manuel Melendez, Google Maps
Location: V39W+Q62 C Provincia de Cartago Cartago
Tel: 6217-6058
13. Paraíso Park
4.4 (2,277 reviews)
Credit: Luis Mata, Google Maps
Location: R4QM+HH3 C Central Provincia de Cartago Paraiso
Tel: 8832-0276
12. Mirador de Orosi
4.7 (3,002 reviews)
Credit: Peloy (Allan H.M.), License, Wikimedia commons
Location: R49R+FP6 Provincia de Cartago
11. Cartago Municipal Market
4.3 (4,812 reviews)
Credit: Martin Law, Google Maps
Location: 100m Norte de la Plaza Mayor Av del Comercio Cartago Province Cartago
Tel: 2550-4650
10. Cartago Centro
4.6 (5,091 reviews)
Credit: Dalabulu, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: V37J+R6F Calle Provincia de Cartago Cartago
Tel: 6439-3341
9. Dr. Carlos Durán Cartín Sanatorium
4.4 (6,423 reviews)
Credit: Alejandro Almendras, Google Maps
Location: W4M8+3P7 Carretera al Volcan Irazu Potrero Cerrado Provincia de Cartago
Tel: 2530-3830
Our Top picks
8. valle de orosi
4.7 (52 reviews)
Credit: Peloy (Allan H.M.), License, Wikimedia commons
Location: R489+C25 Cartago Province Paraiso
7. Lake Cachí
4.6 (155 reviews)
Credit: David Broad, License, Wikimedia commons
6. Irazu Volcano national park – Prusia sector
4.7 (2,031 reviews)
Location: 4km norte del Sanatorio Duran Oreamuno Provincia de Cartago
Tel: 2200-4422
Web Address: http://sinac.go.cr/ES/ac/accvc/pnvi/Paginas/default.aspx
5. Ruinas de Ujarrás
4.6 (2,604 reviews)
Credit: Halcon09, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: R5H7+4GF Cartago Province Ujarras
4. Ruins of Cartago
4.6 (2,685 reviews)
Credit: Daniel32708, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: V37H+PX4 C Provincia de Cartago Cartago
3. Carlos Durán Sanitarium Viewpoint
4.6 (2,836 reviews)
Location: Sanatorio Dr Carlos Duran Provincia de Cartago
Tel: 2240-3016
2. Jardín Botánico Lankester
4.7 (4,736 reviews)
Credit: Franz Xaver, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: R4Q5+QWM Cartago Province Cartago
Tel: 2511-7939
Web Address: http://jbl.ucr.ac.cr/
1. Basílica de Nuestra Señora de los Ángeles – Basilica of Our Lady of the Angels
4.8 (14,115 reviews)
Credit: Esteban Folch, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: V37P+JRX C Provincia de Cartago Cartago
Tel: 2551-0465
Web Address: http://santuarionacional.org/index.php
Final Words:
Thank you for reading our list of the best things to do in Cartago, Costa Rica! We hope it helped you plan the perfect itinerary for your next trip to this fantastic destination. Happy travels!
Join the TouristWire community
At TouristWire, our team works tirelessly to bring you the most comprehensive itineraries and reviews to help you plan your next trip. Don’t miss out, join our mailing list and our reviews delivered directly to your mailbox!
!
