Orosí

For other meanings of Orosí or Orosi, see Orosi (disambiguation).

Orosí seen from the South

Orosi is a town in the Cartago Province in Costa Rica, about 35 kilometers south of the capital San José. Orosi is situated on the Reventazón River in the Orosi Valley. The cultivation of coffee is the leading industry in the area. Orosi has a population of approximately 4,600 and has the oldest Catholic church still in use in Costa Rica. The church, Iglesia de San Jose de Orosi, was built in 1743 during the Colony.

Orosi is a very well known valley in Costa Rica because of its beautiful coffee plantations and also because of its Hot Springs, one of the most famous of these private farms is Chucaras Hotsprings Estate, where tourists can learn about coffee production and enjoy its Hot Springs swimming pools.

With it's rain forests, volcanoes, hills and valleys lined with rows upon rows of coffee plants and sugar cane, the Orosi region offers some of the richest scenery to be found in Costa Rica. But the region is also rich in history and contains a number of monuments to the past, including a colonial capital founded in 1563 and archeological excavations that date back to 1000 B.C. Although this area was one of the first in the country to be settled, it has been one of the last to be developed for tourism, which makes it all the more desireable as a destination.There are several nice hotels in the area for every budget; the Lonely Planet lists the Orosi Lodge as "our pick".

A few kilometers away, at the southern end of the valley, the road ends and the Parque Nacional Tapantí Macizo Cerro de la Muerte begins. This park covers about 600 km² and forms the northernmost section of a massive collection of nature parks that extends into Panamá (the largest of which is the Parque Internacional La Amistad). As a result, wildlife abounds. However, access is difficult and largely restricted apart from a few kilometers of easy trails. The abundance of birds makes it a popular place for ornithology studies. Part of the reason for the abundant growth is the heavy rainfall, which ranges up to 7000 mm in the mountains. Lago de Cachi lies to the northeast.

In the hills near Orosi

A coffee plantation just south of Orosi

External links

• Christian missionaries in the Orosi Valley
• Info about the Orosi Valley

Coordinates: 9°48′N 83°51′W / 9.8°N 83.85°W / 9.8; -83.85