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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.