Explore Iconic Irazú & Hidden Turrialba Volcanoes with a Local

We will stop in a viewpoint to see the Sanatorio Duran Ruins.

Sitting in a beautiful area of the Cartago mountainside is the mysterious Finca Sanatorio Duran. Many people who visit Irazu Volcano drive right past it thinking it’s another abandoned farm when in reality, it was an important hospital back in the 1910’s – 1920’s for tuberculosis patients.

Since the hospital closed in the 1960’s, it has decayed and now lays abandoned. Only in recent years was it turned into a tourist attraction for those curious and brave enough to venture into this place called the most haunted building in Costa Rica.

During the journey of approximately one hour we will observe beautiful natural landscapes and agricultural fields on the slopes of these brother volcanoes, to go to our first destination, the highest volcano in Costa Rica, the Irazú Volcano.

After observing the main crater and walking around the different craters of this volcano surrounded by an amazing lunar landscape we will go to the restless Turrialba Volcano where we will observe his volcanic cone with its characteristic activity of gases and ash.

Once in the Turrialba Volcano we will venture to walk through the impact zone of the 2014 and 2016 eruptions where we will be able to appreciate the destruction that these eruptions left as well as the changes in the vegetation and the affectation to the life of the local people.

We will visit the Basilica, it was constructed in honor of the apparition of the Virgin of the Angeles in 1635 who is the patron saint of Costa Rica. The stone statue is located in this church. The first building (chapel) was erected in 1639 and was later expanded, rebuilt and renovated.

The current building is in Byzantine style and was constructed between 1912 and 1930 and designed by the architect Luis Llach. The facades were designed by the engineer Fabio Garnier. It was declared a historic architectural heritage site of Costa Rica in 1999. Our Lady of the Angels Basilica is a first-rate National Sanctuary. Hundreds of thousands of Costa Ricans make the pilgrimage to this site to profess their faith. It is one of the most important religious events in Costa Rica.

We will visit the Cartago Church Ruins, built in 1575, Las Ruinas de la Parroquia's outer walls only remain today after being destroyed by two earthquakes, but the unique architecture and intricate design is still worth a visit. This isn't the only area of ruins that are worth a peek. Las Ruins of Cartago has a deep-rooted past that began with two brothers who were fighting over the same woman. After one brother killed the other one night, he decided to build a church on the site. Each time it was constructed, an earthquake destroyed it. After devastation in 1910, the ruins were left as they were, and it remains as the town square today.