Beautiful Pool at Iguana Verde Bed & Breakfast
Well, it took me quite a while to hop out here, but here we are in the town of Orotina, located in the province of Alajuela. Fortunately, it'll only take you about 45 minutes to drive here from San Jose if you take the new Caldera Highway - so if you happen to see me hopping along the side of the road, you can slow down and give me a ride, if you like. I wouldn't mind resting my eyes - and legs - for a minute.
7 Days / 6 Nights
Starting at $779 per person
A tropical adventure
One of the best reasons to visit Orotina is Carara National Park. Here, you can go on canopy tours, hike around tropical forests and enjoy stunning views. The park is also home to a incredible variety of wildlife, including poison dart frogs, howler monkeys, scarlet macaws and pacas. You can reach Carara in about 20 minutes from Orotina and most of the trails are pretty gentle, making them perfect for families and inexperienced hikers. Keep an eye out for me while you're hiking around Carara - it's one of my favorite parks in the whole country!
Don't forget about the famous Rio Tarcoles. It is famous for viewing the American Crocodiles they can reach up to 17 feet in length! The best of all it is only 20 or so minutes away making this a great day trip. It is best to book the tour to see the crocodiles ahead of time. But don't worry I am going to talk about this more in my next post, See ferocious wildlife on a crocodile tour in Tarcoles.
Hiking at Carara National Park
The freshest produce
Aside from the area's spectacular scenery, most people come to Orotina to sample the fresh fruits and vegetables produced in the region. I prefer flies myself, but I hear that the food is really good, so I'll trust the locals on that! The weather is great year-round - just humid enough for my brothers and sisters and I, but dry enough for visitors.
Due to its agricultural roots, Orotina is also known as "Fruit Town," and produces much of Alajuela's fruit and vegetables. If you grab a bite to eat out here, you can be assured that only the freshest ingredients make it onto your plate.
If you're visiting in March, the locals celebrate their farming heritage during the annual fruit festival, which is a great opportunity to learn more about how agriculture plays a vital role in the country's economy.
Javi the Frog with delicious avocados
A place to lay your head
While you're here, why not stay at the Iguana Verde Bed & Breakfast? This luxurious hotel features Spanish villa-style architecture, and has a large swimming pool located right in the central courtyard - perfect for relaxing after a long day hiking around! Stick around for dinner too the food is awesome and you can even eat poolside! The staff are friendly and welcoming, and the Iguana Verde is the ideal place to stay after exploring everything that Orotina has to offer. I can't imagine why anyone wouldn't want to find a nice, shady leaf to sleep on, though...
Iguana Verde pool grounds
