Most of Cartago's main attractions are less than an hour away from you when you stay at Casa Aura B&B!

The province of Cartago offers you a wide variety of fascinating places to discover and experience:

• Historical sites: explore the culture and traditions of the oldest city in the country.
• Eco–tours to National Parks, Biological Reserves and Protected Zones: hiking, wild life & bird watching.
• Nature tours: fishing, hiking and biking or just relaxing.
• Adrenaline filled adventures: canopy, rappel, hiking, biking, horseback riding, white water rafting, and more!

Let us know and we'll help you plan your tours for free! Or you can always book a pre-packaged tour with one of the local companies we recommend (ask us!)

Historical Sites and related

Cartago Ruins

Type of interest: historical.
How to get there: Simply walk 2 ½ blocks south from Casa Aura and you will be in the Central Park. You will be able to see the ruins from there!

Our Lady of Angels Basilica

Type of interest: architectural, historical and religious.
How to get there: From Casa Aura you need to walk 2 ½ blocks south and then walk 7 blocks east.

Orosi Church and Convent

Type of interest: architectural, historical and religious.
How to get there:
Bus: Take the Orosi bus, the fare is 385 colones, at the bus station in Cartago located from Casa Aura 4 ½ blocks south, and 3 blocks east. The first bus goes out at 4:45 am and the last bus to come back to Cartago leaves Orosi at 10pm.

Quircot Church

Type of interest: historical and religious.
How to get there:
Bus: Take the Quircot bus, the fare is 195 colones, the bus station is located from Casa Aura 1 ½ blocks south and 2 blocks west.

Note: Quircot church is open to the public only at the weekends, when they celebrate mass: Saturdays at 7pm and Sundays at 8 am and 4 pm.

Ujarrás Ruins

Type of interest: historical and religious.
How to get there:
Bus: You need to take the Cachí bus, the bus station is located from Casa Aura 4 ½ blocks south, and 3 blocks east.

Guayabo National Monument

Type of interest: historical and archaeological.
How to get there:
Bus: You need to take the Turrialba bus, the bus station is located 4 ½ south and 5 blocks east from Casa Aura. Once in Turrialba you need to take the Guayabo bus.
Guayabo Buses timetable:
From Turrialba: Monday to Saturday: 6.10 a.m, 11:15 a.m., 3:15 p.m., 5 p.m. Sundays: 9:15 am, 3:15 pm and 5pm. From Guayabo: 5:30 a.m., 7:10 a.m., 12:40 p.m., 4:20 p.m. Sundays: 12:30 pm and 4:20 pm

Nature and EcoTours

Lankester Botanical Gardens

Type of interest: orchids.
How to get there:
Bus: You need to take the bus to Paraiso, the station is next to the Orosi one (from Casa Aura 4 ½ blocks south, and 3 blocks east.)

Solo Rosas Gardens

Type of attraction: rose nurseries.
How to get there:
Bus: Take the bus to Llano Grande, the bus stop is ½ block south, 2 blocks west, and 1 block north and ½ block west from Casa Aura.

Irazú Volcano National Park

Type of attraction: ecological.
How to get there:
Bus: The bus stops ½ a block south and 2 blocks east from Casa Aura everyday between 8:30 and 9am, you need to be early. The bus returns from the volcano around 12:30 pm.

Tapantí – Cerro de la Muerte National Park

Type of attraction: ecological, fishing (with license)
How to get there:
Bus: You need to take the Orosi-Rio Macho bus (4 ½ blocks south, and 3 blocks east from Casa Aura), and from the bus terminal, either walk or take a taxi to the park (from the bus stop it is about 9 km to the Park.)

Adventure Tours

Carpintera Canopy

Activites: canopy, rappel, horseback riding.
How to get there:
Aventuras la Carpintera usually has 2 main canopy tours one in the morning and one early afternoon. It is better to call and book with them, they will pick you up from Casa Aura and will bring you back as well.

Reventazón Whitewater Rafting

Activites: rafting and canoeing.
How to get there:
There are many companies that offer white water rafting. The most experienced one is called Rios Tropicales, feel free to call them for a quote. We do not recommended doing rafting without at least a guide.

Pacuare Whitewater Rafting

Type of attraction: rafting and canoeing.
How to get there:
There are many companies that offer white water rafting. The most experienced one is called Rios Tropicales, feel free to call them for a quote. We do not recommended doing rafting without at least a guide.