Post by berni on Sept 7, 2011 9:10:43 GMT -6
La Guacima Butterfly Farm (15 minutes from the Alajuela, 45 mins from San Jose if you don't get lost which you will):
make sure it is a sunny day or the butterflies will be shy
Poas Volcano and/OR La Paz Waterfall Gardens (45 minutes from Alajuela or an hour plus from San Jose:
leave early by 7am for best viewing. If you go by private van we can shift the itinerary if the volcano is clouded over that day.
Alajuela:
the old museum, the cathedral, the new Juan Santamaria square, the Mercado Central (a typical “experience” in most of Latin America) and the Alajuela Farmers Market AKA Plaza Ferias on Friday afternoon or Saturday morning is the biggest and most interesting farmers market in Costa Rica. It offers an amazing selection of Central American produce from friendly farmers.
InBioParque in Heredia (35 minutes from Alajuela or San Jose):
this repository of Costa Rica’s biodiversity is also an educational visit contrasting the structure and preservation of the tropical dry forests, the rain forests, etc. Also a nice bookstore for botanists.
Grecia, Sarchi & Zarcero (starts 30 minutes from Alajuela or an hour from San Jose):
Drive around the back hills of Alajuela to the metal church at Grecia then on to Sarchi and wood crafts, souvenirs shopping and memorable photos. Sarchi is home of the painted ox cart (the old Alfaro brothers workshop is quite close to the church but has now become a tourist event though the septuagenarian brothers still work there; also try the little visited and very nice Elsie Kintzler gardens behind Sarchi (a rare find). You might even meet the local “Edward Scissorhands” working on the topiaries at the church plaza in Zarcero.
San Jose:
1/2 day and more city tour of museums, city walk, etc. The Gold Museum (world class), indigenous art at NAMU gallery (a must visit), the revamped National Museum, Jade Museum etc
Doka Coffee Tour:
pilgrimage for coffee aficionados to Doka Coffee Farm just up the hill from us (20 minutes from the hotel). This is the tour of vintage coffee processing using the water separation method.
Ark Herb Farm:
this is one of our favorite places near Heredia. It offers acres of medicinal plants and interesting herbs, unique trees and produce.
make sure it is a sunny day or the butterflies will be shy
Poas Volcano and/OR La Paz Waterfall Gardens (45 minutes from Alajuela or an hour plus from San Jose:
leave early by 7am for best viewing. If you go by private van we can shift the itinerary if the volcano is clouded over that day.
Alajuela:
the old museum, the cathedral, the new Juan Santamaria square, the Mercado Central (a typical “experience” in most of Latin America) and the Alajuela Farmers Market AKA Plaza Ferias on Friday afternoon or Saturday morning is the biggest and most interesting farmers market in Costa Rica. It offers an amazing selection of Central American produce from friendly farmers.
InBioParque in Heredia (35 minutes from Alajuela or San Jose):
this repository of Costa Rica’s biodiversity is also an educational visit contrasting the structure and preservation of the tropical dry forests, the rain forests, etc. Also a nice bookstore for botanists.
Grecia, Sarchi & Zarcero (starts 30 minutes from Alajuela or an hour from San Jose):
Drive around the back hills of Alajuela to the metal church at Grecia then on to Sarchi and wood crafts, souvenirs shopping and memorable photos. Sarchi is home of the painted ox cart (the old Alfaro brothers workshop is quite close to the church but has now become a tourist event though the septuagenarian brothers still work there; also try the little visited and very nice Elsie Kintzler gardens behind Sarchi (a rare find). You might even meet the local “Edward Scissorhands” working on the topiaries at the church plaza in Zarcero.
San Jose:
1/2 day and more city tour of museums, city walk, etc. The Gold Museum (world class), indigenous art at NAMU gallery (a must visit), the revamped National Museum, Jade Museum etc
Doka Coffee Tour:
pilgrimage for coffee aficionados to Doka Coffee Farm just up the hill from us (20 minutes from the hotel). This is the tour of vintage coffee processing using the water separation method.
Ark Herb Farm:
this is one of our favorite places near Heredia. It offers acres of medicinal plants and interesting herbs, unique trees and produce.