Best Orosi Hotels, Costa Rica • James Kaiser

This beautiful valley, located 10 kms (6.2 miles) southeast of Cartago, is filled with coffee farms and surrounded by lush mountains. It’s a terrific destination if you’re interested in visiting a traditional Costa Rican village that remains largely unaffected by urbanization. The town (pop. 10,000) is centered around a large plaza with a charming colonial church, la Iglesia de San José Orosí, on the west end. The church was built in 1743 by Franciscan missionaries, and today it’s the oldest functioning church in Costa Rica. Orosí is also home to two hot springs, and towards the southern end of the Orosi Valley lies Tapantí National Park.