General information
| Destination | Category |
|---|
| San José, Costa Rica | Sightseeing Tours |
Program details
Stand in the shadow of a mighty volcano, discover the secrets of a perfect cup of Joe and visit the cradle of Costa Rican handicrafts on this fantastic tour from San José. Learn about the world's most delicious coffee, sample fantastic local cuisine, experience the rumbling activity of the Poás Volcano, and visit the artisan town famous for its colourful painted oxcarts.
Take the Pan-American Highway towards Alajuela. En route you can see the Agriculture Monument, the Juan Santamaria Monument and the famous Mango Park, named for the shady fruit-bearing trees that grow there. Next, head out into the Doka coffee plantation to learn the secrets of the ‘golden bean’ of Costa Rica. As you travel towards the otherworldly Poás Volcano, the farms give way to mysterious cool cloud forest. Ascend to the top of this majestic volcano, view the impressive main crater and its smoking fumaroles, and then take a hike down to the beautiful Botos Lagoon, learning about the area’s different ecosystems. Enjoy a scrumptious lunch at Doka Estate.
Next, stop at Grecia, famous for its all-metal church, a national monument dating back to the 19th century. Head to nearby Sarchi, where the streets are lined with the artwork of the locals, who specialise in painting bright patterns onto objects such as rocking chairs, chests, masks and jewellery. Yet it's for the painted and decorated oxcarts, huge brightly coloured pieces of farm equipment transformed into art, that the town is known. Nowadays, the oxcarts have become the perfect symbol for the Costa Rican character, simultaneously deeply practical and yet full of artistic verve and a riotous sense of fun that intoxicates visitors.
Meeting point: Pick-up from the hotel.
Duration: Ten hours.
Start/opening time: Approx. 7.30am.
End/closing time: Approx. 5pm.
Languages: English and Spanish.
Italiano
Русский