The Valle Central (Costa Rica's Central Valley) extends from the city of San Ramón in Alajuela to the west, to the city of Paraíso in Cartago to the east. The mountains surrounding the plateau to the south are part of the Talamanca range. A smaller range, the Cerros de la Carpintera (Carpenter Hills), which run from north to south closer along the border between the provinces of San José and Cartago, divide the valley in two sections.

The Cerros de la Carpinera were established in July 1976 as a Protected Zone, the area covers 2,396 hectares. Approximately 25 species of mammals, 187 species of birds and almost 70 species of orchids, among other flora and fauna, inhabit it.

The highest section of the Carpintera is extremely humid and is classified as a cloud forest. It is particularly important for the zone since it is the cause of 50% of the local precipitation, giving birth to several of the small mountain streams which eventually feed the major rivers of the area.

The Instituto Meteorológico Nacional (Costa Rican National Meteorological Institute) along with the Asociación de Guías & Scouts, Costa Rican Scout Movement, run a joint meteorological station in the area, located in the Campo Escuela Iztarú (Iztarú Scout School) at 1,687 m above LMSL. You can click here to see present weather conditions in the area.

The Carpintera is the greatest place to do canopy in Cartago. There are 19 platforms, 13 cables – the longest is 450 m long. You can also try a 10 m, and a 40 m rappel walls. The facilities, which also include a restaurant, are run by Aventuras la Carpintera.