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Orosi Mission Church at Orosi Valley. 3 00 years old. 
long years ago and the relic which she is said to have left 
with her commands a nation-wide veneration, making the 
church a Mecca for pilgrims from all parts of the Republic, 
Cartago is a convenient centre for side-trips to such 
interesting places as the Orosi Valley and the Irazu volcano. 
The trip to Cartago and back from San Jose by automo¬ 
bile requires about 2 hours. Fare $ 2, whether for one or four 
persons. 
Orosi Valley 
This might be called the “Vale of Enchantment”, 
so lavish has Nature been with her scenic gifts. Running 
throughout the length of the valley is the foaming Reven- 
tazon river, whose very name reveals its turbulent nature: 
“The Rushing and Roaring of the Waves”, 
A good road enables one to traverse the valley by 
autom/obile in comfort but the more adventurous person may 
feel like mounting a horse and exploring the virgin jungle 
at the far end of the valley in order to locate the mighty 
cataract of Orosi, 300 feet high, a beautiful waterfall in the 
heart of the forest. 
There are several hot sulphur springs in the Orosi valley, 
connecting links with Costa Rica's volcanoes. 
Besides scenic grandeur the valley is of great historical 
interest. The little old-world village of Orosi is justly famed 
for its ancient Spanish Mission, over three hun|dred years 
old, and but little changed from the days when the once mighty 
Spain ruled supreme in the New World. 
The trip to the Orosi Mission from San Jose via Cartago, 
lasts about four hours and costs about $ 4.50 (1 to 4 persons). 
20 
lilt 
Highway from San Jose to Cartago 
Ujarras 
Not far from Cartago, although accessible by automobile 
only in the summer, are the ruins Ujarras Mission, dating back 
to 1575 which stand in a small but beautiful valley. A visit to 
this picturesque and ancient spot will not be regretted. 
Irazu Volcano 
If the compiler of this little book has so far been some¬ 
what conservative in the use of those superlative adjectives 
usually associated only with travel brochures and movie fea¬ 
tures he cannot continue thus when it comes to talking about 
Irazu Volcano. 
Magnificent! Stupendous, Mighty! Marvellous! Wonderful! 
Gorgeous! Beautiful! Unbelievable! Something beyond the ima¬ 
gination! All these, and more, may justifiably be used when 
describing the mountain that is Irazu, which dominates the 
central plateau and whose smoke the visitor from his hotel 
winlcfow back in San Jose may see gently coiling upwards to 
meet the cloulds the whole day long. 
Thanks to the excellent arrangements of the National 
Tourist Board the trip >to the volcano's crater and back may 
be made in less than 6 hours. 
As the air at the summit is usually clearest in the early 
hours of the morning, one's arrival has to be timed accordingly, 
and so-the volcano-climbing party should set out from San 
Jose about 1 or 2 o'clock in the morning for the first stage 
of the journey which is made by automobile. 
The sleeping city of Cartago is soon reached and passed 
and then the car begins the stiff climb up the winding con¬ 
crete road which leads as far as the famous Duran Sanatorium 
