en.infoglobe.cz » Costa Rica – Carthage and Irazú Volcano

Costa Rica – Carthage and Irazú Volcano

Published: 4.9.2021

We reach the volcano by bus, which stops in front of the National Theater in San José and goes directly to the crater parking lot. The road is quite tiring and slow, a short distance from the top will be delayed by a column of cars in front of the ticket offices (like every national park, this one is also charged).

At the top of the volcano there are several craters, the main one being 1000 meters in diameter and 300 meters deep. Another crater Diego de la Haya is 1000 meters in diameter is 80 meters deep and at its bottom is a beautiful turquoise crater lake with varying depth. The volcano reaches a height of 3432 meters above sea level and at its peak there are also many unsightly television transmitters. On clear days one can see the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean coast at the same time, but more often large white clouds are scattered all around the crater.

It has been known for at least 23 eruptions of the Irazu volcano since 1723, but the most famous was in 1963, when US President John F. Kennedy arrived in Costa Rica. Central Costa Rica was all covered with ash. The last eruption then occurred in 1994 and lasted just a day. Quite a lot of tourists go to the volcano every day, it is a beautiful place.

In the afternoon we move to Carthage, the third largest city in Costa Rica. It lies approximately 25 kilometers from the capital San José at 1435 meters above sea level at the foot of the Irazú volcano in the province of the same name. Carthage was founded in 1563 by Juan Vasquez de Coronado. It was severely damaged by an earthquake several times. Until 1824 it was the capital of Costa Rica.

Pilgrims head to Carthage every year to visit the gigantic Roman Catholic Basilica of Our Lady of Angels, which houses the statue of the Black Madonna (La Negrita), which is supposed to have healing powers. The basilica was built in 1639 and after partial damage caused by the earthquake was restored. It combines elements of colonial architecture and Byzantine style.

The ruins of the parish and the Cathedral of Saint Santiago (Santiago Apostol) are located on Plaza Mayor. The ruins come from an unfinished building, which was damaged by the earthquake of 1910 and then its further construction was suspended. Today it serves mainly as a smaller park.

GPS: 9°45'35.1"N 83°46'59.6"W

Text and photos: Veronika Schubertová

Discussion at the article (0)

Costa Rica, Golfito – Harbor Town

Published: 10.7.2021

From Panama, we head northwards to neighboring country of Costa Rica. First we choose a flight to the town of David, which is relatively close to the Costa Rica border, and the interstate flights are very convenient. From there we take the bus to the border, the journey with the locals is really cheerful, but we are well on the way - the small port town of Golfito. Just be careful that the customs officers do not forget to stamp your passport, which is a little messy. Otherwise, you will cause many problems. On the border there is a duty-free zone, many locals come here for shopping and there is really a great bustle, at the same time there is a lot of restaurants and various kiosks where you can refresh yourself.

Costa Rica – Rincón de la Vieja National Park

Published: 14.8.2021

We still dwell in the north in the town Liberia, from which we had the opportunity to go on a day trip yesterday and experience how beautiful neighboring Nicaragua is. We have a lot places to cross, so today we finally intend to go on a proper tourist trip.

Costa Rica – Tortuguero National Park

Published: 21.8.2021

Today a great journey is upon us for we leave Liberia and head to the east coast of Costa Rica, which is washed by the Caribbean Sea. We go to Tortuguero National Park (Parque nacional Tortuguero), located in the province of Limón. The name Tortuguero comes from the Spanish word tortuga - tortoise. The park covers an area of 312 km² and also has a small village. You can only get here by boat or plane.

Costa Rica – San José and Visit to Café Britt

Published: 28.8.2021

We move from the wild Tortuguera to the central part of Costa Rica, where we plan to spend the last few days of our trip. The destination is the capital of San José, where we also want to make several trips to the surroundings. We stay in the great Costa Rica Backpackers, a hostel with amazing facilities including a swimming pool, bar, kitchenette or restaurant. They also offer an exchange of money for a very pleasant course and many optional trips.

Nicaragua – A One-Day Trip from Costa Rica

Published: 7.8.2021

After visiting the picturesque Montezuma, we move to the north for the last time. The destination is the city of Liberia, but it will only be our starting point for the next two trips. The first is a visit to Costa Rica's northern neighbor, Nicaragua. You can go on your own or with an organized tour. However, we recommend the latter option, as crossing the border is not easy. The guides already know how to walk right and save you a few hours of waiting.

Costa Rica – Puerto Jiménez and Matapalo

Published: 17.7.2021

Approximately thirty minutes of drive from the town of Golfito to the small port of Puerto Jiménez, a small town in the province of Puntaneras on the Osa Peninsula. It is probably the cheapest and fastest way (about half to three quarters of an hour) to get to this southern tip of Costa Rica. There is also a regular flight here because there is a small airport in Puerto Jiménez. However, it only holds about 4 passengers, and the flight price is countless higher than for cruises. At the same time, if you are lucky, dolphins will join you on a short journey.

Costa Rica – Quepos and Manuel Antonio National Park

Published: 24.7.2021

After visiting the exotic Puerto Jimenez and the surf paradise of Matapala, we take a bus along the Pacific coast to the north. Our next stop is Quepos and we are still in the province of Puntaneras. Quepos is about 60 kilometers from the capital of Costa Rica - San José - and is a kind of gateway to the popular tourist park Manuel Antonio.

Costa Rica, Montezuma – Remote Paradise

Published: 31.7.2021

After visiting Quepos and the beautiful Manuel Antonio National Park, we set out on another journey through beautiful Costa Rica. Along the Pacific coast we take a local bus to Puntaneras, located on a small promontory in the Gulf of Nicoya and is the capital of the province of the same name.

Nicaragua, León – Colonial-style Town

Published: 2.3.2020

Finally, we find ourselves in Nicaragua and curious about it. It is the largest country in Central America with a very diverse landscape. Nicaragua is known as the "Land of Lakes and Volcanoes" and is primarily divided into three areas: the Northeast Mountains, the Pacific Coast and the Caribbean Coast.