SANCHIRI LODGE Is our lookout point for romantic days like Valentines Day. This family owned business offers cabinas for a mid budget price, motorcycles (if you have a moto license) and a restaurant with pretty good food. For us it's the friendliness and service that makes the place. TAPANTI NATIONAL PARK This 5000 hectare cloud forest is located approximately 12 km. from Orosi. Within the park you will find 3 beautiful trails taking you down to the river, up a steep hillside and down to a picnic and swimming area. There is also a cascading waterfall that can be admired from the mirador. Although it is difficult to see to see a lot of wildlife, the park is home to over 211 species of bird and many other forms of wildlife, and will offer you a wonderful day of hiking. Take the bike for the day and save the taxi ride. Entrance fee: $6.00 LANKESTER BOTANICAL GARDENS We were pleasantly surprised to find out that Lankaster Gardens is not only an orchid garden, but offers you a wide range of plant species, sites and trails. You could easily spend two hours checking out the variety of plant garden ranging from orchids to rainforest, bamboo to cactus, leading you through well marked trails and plant life. Take your book and spend an afternoon, but don't forget to bring your bug spray! CHARRARA SPORTS PARK Charrara sports park is a long walk or a quick taxi ride away, but if your looking for a sporty day away, you'll be delighted to go there. Charrara is a sports park offering you overnight camping, a football field, basketball court, pool, picnic area and fishing facilities, and with a cheap entrance fee, there not much more to ask for! Don't forget to bring your sunscreen and beach towel and if you still have enough energy, there are a few hiking trails as well. OROSI CHURCH AND MUSEUM This church is the most famous in Costa Rica as it is the oldest church still in use. Don't let the outside appearance fool you... it's quite spectacular! If your interested in the religious culture of a small town like Orosi, go and sit through a mass. Don't forget to check out the artefacts on display in the museum, and keep your eyes open for the entrances to the hidden, and haunted, tunnels! OROSI OVERLOOK This overlook offers you a great view of both the valleys of Orosi and Cachi. Take a book and your camera and spend the morning. Combine the overlook with the tour to Lankester Gardens and you'll have another wonderful day away, while still being close to home! LOS BALENARIOS MINERAL SPRING POOLS If we had to choose between the 2 swimming pools, this is our favourite as they offer more "space to graze". The pools are clean and are supplied water by local hotsprings, which we hope to discover in our backyard one day. If your eating in the restaurant, be sure to check your bill as they seem to have problems calculating. PURISIL TROUT FARMS These trout farms are quite nice and offer a wide variety of things to do with in the grounds. There are three trails, one which takes you to a 10 mtr. Waterfall, one directly in heavy brush and another which just leads up. All have a wide variety of plants and views. There are three stocked ponds which means almost anyone can catch a fish, unless you're extremely unlucky. This trip can be done within one morning and works in good combination with Tapanti on the bike! MONTE SKY MOUNTAIN RETREAT This private reserve located in the mountains near the town of Purisil is a great alternative to Tapanti. There are 4 main trails taking you to waterfalls, the three peaks and more before coming back to the central area for the most spectacular view point we have seen yet. They have a little lodge where you can use the Bar-b-q and relax for a bit. For a spectacular day, start out with fishing at the Purisil trout farms then catch a lift to Monte sky, bar-b-q your fish and then hit the trails. If that is too much just take a book and enjoy the clean, refreshing and normally quiet trails of one of the nicest private reserves we've been to. P.S. don't forget to look for the lion, turtle and man's face in the rocks on the left hand side of the large waterfall. They are the guardians of the waterfall. OROSI COFFEE TOUR Although this tour is not an official one as of yet, we are sure you will enjoy a quick look at the coffee processing that takes place just 25 minutes from here. The coffee mill is located on the main street just across from Los Patios swimming pool will allow you to enter to take a look and if there is someone available give you a tour and explanation from the beginning to end. The full tour takes approximately one hour. Take your camera and flash as it gets a bit dark inside. If you do get an official tour we do ask that you give them some form of a donation as we would like them to make this an official tour. This tour is available from 8-11 & 2-5 during coffee season which is October to February. Don't forget to buy some ground coffee from them. Take some home...it makes a great gift! LOCAL ORCHID FARM ARTISIAN SHOP NEED SOMETHING LOCAL? Check out this local Orchid and plant farm. They have 2 thousand plants that they have been collecting for over 25 years. Anna can give you a good quick tour, but if you need more technical information, go after 2:00 pm and her husband can give you all the orchid details your heart could desire. Anna also creates tourist type gifts so if you haven't bought something yet, check out her work, but look in detail as it looks better up close. SUGAR MILL TOUR This 88 year old sugar mill has been passed down throughout the generations without too many changes. Even if you have seen the sugar process before, this will still be a treat. The whole process can usually be seen within a half hour and can later be bought in the "supermercado." The mill is only open on Fridays from 5:00 am to 3:00 pm. The only problem is, they don't always work each Friday and we never know in advance, but the one hour walk is still worth it. We ask that you give them a donation, for allowing you in the facilities. ¢ 200 is what we give! HORSE BACK RIDING Horses can be rented from hotel Rio Palomo, which is located about ½ hour walk from here. This horse back-riding trail will take you slowly into the mountains with beautiful views of the coffee fincas and surrounding areas. If you would like to ride a little faster, the trip back down will speed up your pace. If your are interested, let us know and we will book the horses for you one hour in advance and confirm a young guide for you. The price is $3.50 per hour. Don't forget to take your bathing suit, as you can go for a cool down swim in their pool after your trek. RIO MACHO SWIMMING HOLE This swimming hole is located about 45 minutes walk from here, in the direction of the Rio Macho Power Plant. For directions, see the trail write up. This natural pool is easily accessible by bike and is surrounded by nature. The pool is COOL if not COLD and is not swimable in rainy season, but is great when the sun is hot. Take a Frisbee and make your time there more enjoyable. For a full day trip, combine this with the natural hotsprings as they are reasonably close in location! RIO MACHO WATERFALL This waterfall is a major hike, 3 hours each way, but worth the hike. The views along the way are beautiful, taking you through many different types of vegetation. The trail is a slight slope the whole way there, with a steep uphill for about a half hour. There is a pool for swimming at the bottom, but it is COLD! Don't forget to take the dogs and your camera. See the trail write-up for specific directions! SUPERMARKET "ANITA #2" A home away from home, the "super" offers us everything we could possibly need, specialising in products that "only us foreigners" buy. From beer to peanut butter, Ziploc bags to bug spray, La Anita does their best to serve your needs. They offer phone, fax and photocopy services and can help you with about anything else you could need. Their butcher has the best meats in town and if you are around on Friday and Sunday, their fruits and veggies and in ample supply. Need to change dollars?? Buy something and they are quite willing! The Super Anita is our saving grace!!! TOTE'S HAIR SALON NEED A HAIR CUT? For $4.00 dollars, you can't go wrong. José does a great job on all his work from hair cuts to perms and colours, all for a great price. He's busy, so it's best to make an appointment in advance. There is no telephone , but he's just around the corner! And if you can believe it even more including many restaurants, pool halls, a disco, bars, a dentist, pharmacy and a doctor.