Farms in Costa Rica
Basilica at Cartago, Farms Above and Below the Clouds, Street Fair
Farms in Costa Rica blanket the landscape for miles around Cartago, Costa Rica, about a half hour drive and 25 km / 15 miles southeast of San Jose.
These Costa Rica farms fill the valleys and sprawl up the sides of the volcano at Irazu, its rich volcanic soil producing food crops of beets, potatoes, carrots, cabbage and more. Coffee plantations where you can see coffee beans growing are more prevalent north of here, towards Poas.
The basilica at Cartago On a day tour from San Jose to Irazu, this stop at the basilica (Feast Day August 2, site of the Black Madonna) was a travel bonus! The early morning tour pickup at my San Jose hotel had me up and down the Irazu volcano to arrive at the Basilica de Nuestra Senora de Los Angeles in time for Sunday mass at noon.
Basilica de Nuestra Senora de Los Angeles Cartago, Costa Rica farm country 
Cartago Basilica gleams in midday sunshine on the edge of a plaza in the center of the city. I found this googlemap to show the location.
Sunday worshippers filled the basilica, while others visited in the surrounding Plaza de Los Angeles, or filled the street on the south side, closed for a street fair this day.
Many came for the farmer's markets, or the PALI store, which, my guide said, has the cheapest prices for groceries.
Plaza del Sanctuario Nacional ~ Center For Farms in Costa Rica Heartland
Our minibus followed the PanAmerican highway from San Jose to Cartago. Near the the exit into Cartago, the paved road was like washboard, really in rough shape, and not at all comfortable to ride on.
Cartago was the original capital of Costa Rica for two years, until Independence Day (Sept 15, from Spain) in 1821. Then San Jose beccame the capital, also for two years. Then the capital city changed every two years, until San Jose became the permanent capital.
Or so I understood from Max, our guide. The two cities have a friendly rivalry to this day.
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City Street Traffic in Cartago Costa Rica with Farm Fair 
Parking and traffic was a challenge on this street that I believe is Avenida 2. Street addresses are almost non-existent in Costa Rica, even in large cities.
In farm country, they become even more so, with directions and even mail addresses made up from landmarks, compass direction and distance to travel between the landmarks. That anyone ever gets mail delivered, or a pizza, for that matter, is a minor miracle!
TIP: If you are driving and find yourself wedged into a tight parking spot, ask a passerby to guide you out, then tip him a few 100 colones coins for his trouble.
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Farms in Costa Rica Under the Cloud Deck near Cartago 
In this photo, you can see how the farms cover a wide plateau under the cloud deck, which is itself usually around the 8,000-foot level.
Irazu crater, our destination, is at 11,000 feet, so above the cloud deck - picture this page and one below.
As you climb from Cartago (about 4700 ft elevation), yet stay below the clouds, the weather is fairly warm and pleasant much of the year, though conditions can vary greatly.
Rainy season is roughly May to October west of the central mountains; The Caribbean coast, "it's 'aways in rainy season," said the guide.
Rise above the cloud deck, and you'lll need a light jacket (see my travel tips section, especially the Dominican packing page that covers what to pack for different climate conditions, tours etc).
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Farms Above the Cloud deck ~ Costa Rica Central Valley Tour 
Look under the clouds and you'll see the city of Cartago in the distance. Farms located higher up the mountain grow different crops than those in the lower lands.
Along the midline of Costa Rica, you are never far from the Continental Divide.
Though the roads are, of course, very steep and full of switchback turns, I saw a number of cyclists in full gear pedaling their little legs off.
Going up may be hard work; I'd be more concerned about the downward journey, wondering how the brakes were holding out.
This made me wonder about the brakes on our minibus (as I did riding down the Rock of Gibraltar), so I asked: For private cars and trucks, new brakes or brakes servicing are done every two years. For commercial vehicles, such as tour buses, brakes are serviced every year.
If you are renting a home or condo, or staying at a smaller hotel or B&B, this is a great location to buy farm fresh produce in season. And in much of Costa Rica, something is always in season.
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