Costa Rica Day Tours: Excursions from San Jose

Tours Through Farmland Around Cartago, Costa Rica

Costa Rica Day Tours: Our tour left San Jose around 9 a.m. on a Sunday morning headed for Irazu volcano park. I opted for a half day tour, while others continued on the full day tour.

Farmland around Cartago Costa Rica showed evidence of the rich volcanic soils, as tidy farms some with Brahma cows placidly grazing, blanketed the valley, and in January, farmers were selling produce from stands set up along the mountain highway. Below are my travel pictures of this Costa Rica day tour from San Jose via Cartago.

Day Tour San Jose Costa Rica to Cartago Passes former TB Sanatorium

My pick-up at the Adventure Inn was at 7:40 a.m. and it took an hour and 20 minutes to pick up the other day tour passengers from various hotels around San Jose, including the Best Western Irazu.

As it was Sunday, the day I was here, traffic was light on the PanAmerican highway leaving San Jose and heading south. Most highways around San Jose are toll roads.

I took this photo of a large farm, a former TB sanatorium, out the minibus window as we passed on a narrow two-lane paved highway outside Cartago (I believe it is Route 8). The posted speed limit was 60 kph (37 mph) but much of the time we were driving at 40 kph (25 mph).

Brahma (Brahman) Cows Graze Along Highway a Costa Rica Day tour sight

As with lands in much of Costa Rica, the terrain is steeply hilly, and lush. Here, in a narrow field, part of the herd grazed contentedly, oblivious to passing traffic.

Nearby fields were dotted with farm workers picking cilantro (coriander).

Other farm fields were neatly planted with rows of crops such as beets, cabbage, onions, potatoes, and canola.

Farmer in Costa Rica selling local produce from back of truck

Our minibus stopped on the side of the road so the driver and guide could buy fresh produce from this farmer and his wife who were selling onions, carrots, radishes and more from the back of their truck.

Strawberries were also coming in to season, though in this area, southwest of San Jose, and at a higher altitude, it seemed to me only hardier crops were grown. Much of Costa Rica potatoes are grown in the area around Cartago.

I would estimate the altitude here is about 4000 feet (1200 meters), maybe a bit higher, as I didn't see coffee beans growing here.

Above the Cloud Deck Overlooking Farmlands around Cartago Costa Rica

As our day tour bus kept ascending the mountainside, we actually drove through the cloud deck above Cartago.

For about 10 minutes' drive, the bright sunshine in the valley was obscured by thick fog and misty rain as we drove 'through the clouds' to the sunshine above.

I have to say that this experience alone - driving through clouds - made this day tour worth the money (just under $50 USD, including Irazu park entry fees, for half-day tour).

My Costa Rica day tours pictures in this area continue on Tours San Jose Costa Rica (Irazu Volcano) page with more farms in Costa Rica and Cartago pics here.

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