En route to Cartago, you will understand why Costa Rica is called the “Garden of the Americas” as we travel through some of the country’s most picturesque and impressive areas. We will ascend one of Costa Rica’s highest volcanoes, with an elevation of 11,257 feet (3,432 meters), the Irazu Volcano. Our next stop will be the city of Cartago, the former capital of the country during the Spanish reign. We will visit the Basilica of the Virgin of the Angels, which according to religious custom is a place of pilgrimage for many believers. The next stop is the Lankester Botanical Garden, created by Charles Lankester in 1917, and currently a research center of the University of Costa Rica. It was created for the protection and preservation of more than 800 species of orchids, as well as other plant species. Next, we will continue to the scenic Orosi Valley, surrounded by beautiful mountains and various crops. Here we will visit one of the few colonial churches still standing, followed by a typical lunch in a local restaurant.