Cartago is normally overlooked by tourists so it's more geared towards national visitors. It's full of small, family-run hotels and restaurants.

Around and closeby
Catch the early bus from Cartago to Purisil via Orosí, then it's a 5km walk to get to the Tapantí National Park. There are trails to follow, one of them leading to the freezing swimming hole, another to a stunning waterfall. It's a great park because you can almost guarantee that you'll have it all to yourself.

Sightseeing
Visit the Lankester Botanical Gardens in Paraiso, just outside of Cartago. Home to Central America's largest collection of orchids and epiphytes, Lankester is a must see.

Don't miss the Basilica home of "La Virgen de los Angeles" Good Friday Procession, a massive spectacle beginning with the Romans marching into the city early in the morning, arriving in the centre of town around 9am. They arrive at the church and then carry Christ off around 10am, taking a long route to the Basilica. Before the procession begins the path of the procession is decorated. Sand paintings, flowers, paper sculptures...a beautiful and unique expression of adoration for the Virgin. Some 1.5 million people walk to the Basilica in Cartago to honour the Black Virgin. Streets are filled, traffic redirected, vendors are out in force. The final day of the walk is 2nd August, when the Virgin is returned after a month of travelling around Costa Rica.

Getting there
There are many buses running between San José and Cartago. For C 300 you will be able to catch a bus down town or almost any place along Av 2. They run every 15 minutes.

Getting around
The best way to get around is to hire a 4WD and go exploring but do drive carefully.