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Turrialba Volcano was named after the region of Costa Rica in which the volcano is situated in Turrialba County, Cartago of Costa Rica. There is no clear consensus on the origin of the name Turrialba, but historians disagree with attempts to attribute the name to the patronym Torrealba (from Aragon in Spain) or from the Latin Turris alba (white tower). The general consensus is that Turrialba derives from a local Indian language (Huetar) but there is no agreement on its actual roots.

The stratovolcano is 3,340 m (10,958 ft) high and is about 45 minutes from the Atlantic slope town of Turrialba. The summit has three craters, one of which has fumaroles and sulfur pits. Visitors used to be able to hike down into the main crater, but increased gaseous activity has caused the time at the summit to be limited to no more than fifteen minutes. The hike to the top from where the vans usually are forced to stop takes about one to three hours depending on the ability of the hikers. Below the summit is a mountain range and cloud forest, with ferns, bromeliads, lichens and mosses. During the 19th century, it explosively erupted several times (1847?, 1853, 1855, 1861?, 1864-1865, 1866), producing pyroclastic flows. The last major eruption was in 1856, but in January 2001, the volcano reported increased activity, displaying strong fumaroles at the central craters.

Turrialba is adjacent to Irazú and both are among Costa Rica’s largest volcanoes. It had at least five large explosive eruptions in last 3500 years.

You can get to the Turrialba volcano and the amazing zone of Turrialba from Sanchirí Lodge & Mirador, visit our website www.sanchiri.com

Tapantí National Park, sometimes called Orosí National Park, is a National Park in the Pacific La Amistad Conservation Area of Costa Rica located on the edge of the Talamanca Range, near Cartago. It protects forests to the north of Chirripó National Park, and also contains part of the Orosí River.

The Tapanti National Park, Macizo Cerro La Muerte protects forested areas in the northern Talamanca Mountain region, north of Chirripo National Park. The park is traversed by the Rio Grande de Orosi, with many other rivers and creeks joining the main river.

The upper Orosi River Valley watershed is one of the rainiest areas of Costa Rica, receiving up to 280 inches of rain annually. It eventually drains into Lake Cachi, the site of the Cachi Dam and Angostura hydroelectric project.

To reach Tapanti National Park, take the road southeast out of Cartago toward Paraiso, then continue to follow the signs to Orosi. Continue through town and keep on the main road all the way until it ends at the park.

The Biological Station near Tapanti National Park can be reached by continuing through Cartago on the Interamerican Highway. Shortly after you pass the turnoff to Copey de Dota, the road to the Station will be on your left.

The Pittier Ranger Station at Tapanti is open for visitor attention from 5am to 5pm. Hiking trails lead to scenic overlooks and picnic areas.

Oropendula Trail and Pantanoso Trail lead to a swimming area with picnic tables and grills. La Pava Trail takes you to the Salto and Palmitas Waterfalls.  Arboles Caidos Trail is a heavily forested nature hike.

The La Esperanza de El Guarco Biological Station, operated by InBio is in Tapanti National Park. It has lodging for up to 15 people, with water, restrooms, showers and electricity.

For more information you can visit our website www.sanchiri.com

The Irazú Volcano is an active volcano in Costa Rica, situated in the Cordillera Central in the city of Cartago. Its name could come from either the combination of “ara” (point) and “tzu” (Thunder) or a corruption of Iztarú, which was the name of an indigenous village on the flanks of the volcano. In Costa Rica it is known by the name of  “El Coloso” (The Colossus) due to the catastrophes that it has provoked in the past. Irazú has erupted frequently in historical times ,at least 23 times since its first well-recorded eruption in 1723.  It is the tallest active volcano in Costa Rica, standing at a frigid 3,432 meters above sea level (11,259 feet). There are five craters to observe in this desolate moon space, with the main crater measuring more than 3,450 across and over 1000 feet deep. Its most famous recent eruption began in 1963 and continued until 1965.  It began on the day US President John F. Kennedy started a state visit to Costa Rica and showered the capital San José and much of the central highlands of Costa Rica with ash.

Since the 1963-65 eruption, the volcano has been dormant, although frequent earthquake swarms show that magma is still moving about beneath the volcano. In 1994, a small phreatic eruption occurred, caused by heavy rains destabilising part of the volcano’s flank, resulting in rapid decompression of a shallow hydrothermal system.

The volcano’s summit has several craters, one of which contains Diego de la Haya, a green crater lake of variable depth. It is the highest active volcano in Costa Rica. It is easily visited from San José, with a road leading right up to the summit craters and a weekly bus service to the top. It is thus a popular tourist spot. The volcano summit also spots a few television transmitters for television stations in San José.

From the top it is claimed to be possible to see both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans on a clear day; however, such clear days are very rare indeed, and it is typical for the volcano’s summit to be covered in cloud for much of the time.

You can visit the Irazú Volcano National Park and all the beautiful north zone of  Cartago just in minutes from Hotel & Restaurant Sanchiri, visit our website www.sanchiri.com for more information.

The Lankester Botanical Garden ’s history goes back to the 1940’s when the British naturalist and orchidologist, Charles H. Lankester , became interested in the study and culture of Costa Rica ’s epiphytic plants. As an amateur botanist, he collaborated with the most prominent orchidologists of his time and dedicated his life to the creation of a private garden in his farm. After his death, the importance of preserving his garden became evident. Through the joint efforts of the American Orchid Society and the Stanley Smith Horticultural Trust, the garden of “don Carlos” was donated to the University of Costa Rica on March 2nd, 1973, with the promise to transform it into a botanical garden. With dedication and much effort, the Lankester Botanical Garden has become one of the most active and important botanical institutions of the Neotropics.

Officially founded in 1973, the mission of the University of Costa Rica ’s Lankester Botanical Garden is to promote conservation, enjoyment and sustainable use of the epiphytic flora through scientific research, horticulture, and environmental education.

You can visit this wonderful place just in minutes from Hotel & Mirador Sanchirí, visit our website www.sanchiri.com for more information.

The Basílica de Nuestra Señora de los Ángeles (Our Lady of the Angels Basilica) is a basilica in Costa Rica, located in the city of Cartago and dedicated to the Virgen de los Pardos, officially known as la Virgen de los Ángeles (the Lady of the Angels). The basilica was built in 1639 and was partially destroyed by an earthquake. The basilica has since been restored and constitutes a unique mix of colonial architecture as well as 19th century Byzantine style.

The Basilica of Our Lady of the Angels is consecrated to the Virgin of Nuestra Señora de los Ángeles, a small representation of the Virgin Mary carrying the infant Jesus, said to have been discovered by a peasant girl in Cartago. The story goes that the little girl found the small statue on a rock and took it home. The next morning she found that the statue was not there but back at the rock, so she took it to the priest and he locked it in a small box. The next morning the statue was back at the rock. During the construction, the church was destroyed by earthquakes many times; so it was finally decided to move it to the location were the statue was found and they were able to finish construction. Many people think that the earthquakes were signs that the Lady of Los Ángeles wanted the basilica built there.

Owing to the dark complexion of the stone, she is sometimes affectionately called La Negrita or Reina de Cartago (lit. Queen of Cartago). The original statue is kept in a golden shell inside the basilica. An official decree declared the Virgin of the Angels the official patron of Costa Rica.

In August the Basilica is the object of extensive pilgrimage and visitation by about 1.5 million believers throughout the country, many of whom join in the celebrated 22-kilometer walk to the basilica during the Romería. Though many people start the pilgrimage from locations all over Costa Rica, some, as a demonstration of their piety, choose to crawl the 22 kilometers on their hands and knees.

At the basilica they wash themselves and drink the water from the rock on which the statue was found. Scientists have since found this water to be safe to drink even though no filtration or chemicals are used to purify the water.

Also on the church grounds is a museum displaying names of those killed in disasters or war. A wall is lined with medals to commemorate those who fell in World War II. The basilica is open all day long and it is not uncommon to find several people stopping in for a prayer. In addition people will bring small silver medals shaped like body parts, where the shape represents the body part the pilgrim is concerned about. They leave them in front of “La Negrita” in hope that they will be cured. After a time, these medals are collected and stored. A selection of some of them can be seen in the Museum.

You can go to the Basilica from Sanchiri Lodge & Mirador in just a few minutes, for more information visit our website www.sanchiri.com.