Cartago is a city in Costa Rica, about 25 km (15 miles) east of the capital, San José. It is at an elevation of about 1435 m (some 4930 ft) above sea level, at the base of the Irazú Volcano. Cartago is the capital of Cartago province. The city covers an area of 152,68 km².
It includes the districts of city downtown: Oriental, Occidental (known as the typical downtown area), San Nicolás (the main entrance to the city, at west), El Carmen (north), San Rafael de Oreamuno (at east, is the capital of canton of Oreamuno), Dulce Nombre and San Francisco (at south, San Francisco is known commonly as Aguacaliente). In 2008 the city will have a population of 156,600 inhabitants, according to the Stadistics and Census Institute of Costa Rica.
Many pilgrims come to Cartago annually, to visit the national's principal church, the enormous Basílica de Nuestra Señora de Los Ángeles, on the feast day of the Virgin of the Angels (August 2). The church has a statue of the Black Madonna known as La Negrita, who supposedly had great healing powers. The sick come to her statue in hope of a miracle from La Negrita.
The central park in Cartago includes the "ruins" of the main church of Cartago (the "parroquia" of Santiago Apóstol), about five block west from the basilica. Despite their beauty, they are not real ruins but an unfinished building, which was badly damaged by the 1910 earthquake and then interrupted. The city's government is declaring 100 blocks as "the Cartago's historical center." This is a way to keep the historical buildings alive in the future, as many cities in the world have done. In the other hand, the Government of the city and JASEC (the company that offers the electrical service in the city) has been working both to light some of the most important historical buildings and to attract inhabitants and tourists to the city at night.
PLACE TO VISIT
Irazu Volcano Located around 30 km (12 miles) from Cartago downtown is one of the most famous volcanos in Costa Rica. This volcano erupted in 1963 when John F Kennedy was visiting Costa Rica, right now is extinguished.
Orosi Valley Beautiful landscape. Orosi is a small town about 12 km (8 mi) east of Cartago where you can see one of the first churches built in Costa Rica. Is surrounded by beautiful mountains and coffee plantations. Easily you can find hostels, hotels and restaurants in the area.
Cachi Dam Is next to Orosi around 7 km (5 mi) east. A Dam was built in the 70s and the lake is surrounded also by beautiful mountains. Cachi is also a little town where "casa del leñador" or the woodcutter house can be found. It is a place to buy woodcraft made from the coffee roots. Some very good restaurants are located around the lake, the speciality is "Trout"
Trout growers are very often in this are of Costa Rica and you can catch the fish for yourself and just wait to be fried afterwards. The Area has experienced a very important grow for people that look for properties specially foreigners. Few years ago a five star Hotel was opened RIO PERLAS and another is on paper right now that will offer stay for people that is in Costa Rica for a special health treatment.
Turrialba Is the second city of the Province. It is located around 40 km (25 mi) east of Cartago downtown. Is the house of the best rafting of Costa Rica. Very good hotels are here (Casa Turire, Pochotel) specially around the lake that was created for a big Dam. The Turrialba volcano is active and you can see it from different places (gases only) Hotel Turrialba Lodge is one that is very close to the volcano. Also in Turrialba you can find the only big archaeological site of Costa Rica, Guayabo.
The Lankaster Botanical Gardens in Paraiso, just outside of Cartago (7 km east). Home to Central America's largest collection of orchids and epiphytes, Lankaster is a must see.
The Basilica home of "La Virgen de los Angeles"
Las Ruins - The legend: One day two brothers went to the city of Cartago, one was single and the other a priest. There began a bitter rivalry as they both fell in love with the same woman. The woman chose and married the single brother, who was the more friendly and was loved by all. The priest only became all the more bitter and did everything he could to destroy his brother. In 1577 during the celebration of mass on new years he saw his brother in the church. That day he killed him with a knife. In penance for the deed he build a church for the city of Cartago. On the year it was completed an earthquake destroyed it.
The church has been rebuild, but each time it was brought down by earthquake. The city abandoned the church as cursed after the final destruction in 1910 and left it as the ruins you can now see when you visit the town square.
WHAT TO DO
Good Friday Procession A massive spectical beginning with the Romans marching into the city early in the morning arriving in the center of town around 9AM. They arrive at the church and then carry Christ off around 10am taking a long rout to the Bacilica.
Romero Starting the end of July some 1.5 million people WALK to the Bacilica in Cartago to honor the Black Virgin. Streets are filled, traffic redirected, vendors are out in force. Final day of the walk is 2 August (see above for the legend).
Return of the Virgin After the Romero the Virgin travels around Costa Rica for a month. Then she returns to Cartago. Another procession from the church in the center of town 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.
HOW TO REACH
There are many buses running between San Jose and Cartago. For c300 you will be able to catch a bus downtown or most anyplace along Av 2. They run every 15 minutes.
