City or town
Things to see in Cartago, Costa Rica (Costa Rica): 12 places and when to go
Cartago, Costa Rica is a city in Costa Rica with around 197,000 inhabitants, and this site lists 12 places in and around it, mainly Nature (8), Mountains (4), Wildlife (3). The best known are Irazú Volcano, Guayabo National Monument and Basilica of Our Lady of the Angels, Cartago. The best time to come is December to March; also possible: April to August and November. In June there are 12 h 34 of daylight, and in December, 11 h 26. Here is what there is, when to go, how to get there and what else is nearby.
In a nutshell
- Where
- Costa Rica · 9.87, -83.93
- Population
- About 197,000
- Places
- 12 places on this site, in the town and around it.
- What people come for
- Nature (8) · Mountains (4) · Wildlife (3) · Temples (2) · History (1) · Museums and art (1)
- Best time
- December to March.
- Also possible
- April to August and November.
- Nearest airport
- SJO San José (Alajuela), 34 km as the crow flies
- Highest point
- Irazú Volcano, at 3,432 m.
What to see in Cartago, Costa Rica
The places in and around Cartago, Costa Rica, best known first, each with its own page: what it is, when to go and what is next to it. Distances are from the centre, as the crow flies.
- Irazú VolcanoMountain in Costa Rica15 km
- Guayabo National MonumentProtected area in Costa Rica28 km
- Basilica of Our Lady of the Angels, CartagoChurch building in Cartago, Costa Rica2.0 km
- Irazú Volcano National ParkNational park14 km
- Orosi ChurchColonial church in Costa Rica12 km
- Cerro Cabeza de VacaMountain in Costa Rica12 km
- Cerro GurdiánMountain in Costa Rica13 km
- Cerro CarpinteraMountain in Costa Rica6.1 km
- Cerro VueltasMountain in Costa Rica29 km
- Vueltas Hill Biological ReserveProtected area in Costa Rica29 km
- Museo Municipal de CartagoMuseum1.2 km
- Termales Hacienda OrosiHot spring15 km
When to go to Cartago, Costa Rica
The best time to visit Cartago, Costa Rica is December to March; also possible: April to August and November. This comes from its own places: a month counts as the town's best time when it is the best time for half of what there is to see.
- JanBest time11:29
- FebBest time11:41
- MarBest time11:56
- AprPossible12:13
- MayPossible12:27
- JunPossible12:34
- JulPossible12:31
- AugPossible12:20
- SepBetter not12:03
- OctBetter not11:47
- NovPossible11:32
- DecBest time11:26
Best timePossibleBetter notHours of daylight
In June there are 12 h 34 of daylight, and in December, 11 h 26. In January, 12 of the 12 places are at their best.
When to go to Costa Rica in general, with its festivals and peak seasons, is in its country guide.
Getting to Cartago, Costa Rica
The nearest main airport is Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO, San José (Alajuela)), 34 km as the crow flies. How to get around Costa Rica (train, car, bus) is in its country guide, and what to sort out before you leave is in its checklist.
Where it is (opens in a new tab)Directions (opens in a new tab)
Other towns nearby
- San José, Costa Rica39 places19 km
- Heredia, Costa Rica12 places25 km
- Guacimo6 places35 km
- Alajuela11 places37 km
- Quesada, San Carlos11 places76 km
- Puntarenas8 places100 km
And all of Costa Rica, in its country guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is there to see in Cartago, Costa Rica?
The best known: Irazú Volcano, Guayabo National Monument, Basilica of Our Lady of the Angels, Cartago, Irazú Volcano National Park, Orosi Church. In all, 12 places in the town and around it, all on your trip map from day one.
When is the best time to visit Cartago, Costa Rica?
December to March; also possible: April to August and November. In June there are 12 h 34 of daylight, and in December, 11 h 26.
How do you get to Cartago, Costa Rica?
The nearest main airport is Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO), 34 km away. From there, directions opens the route on the map.
How do I add it to my trip?
Create a trip with Cartago, Costa Rica as the destination and these 12 places are on your map, each with its category. The ones you like go into a day's plan with one tap, and Kokai reminds you when you pass nearby.
Keep reading
- Costa RicaBefore travelling to Costa Rica: 8 things worth sorting out, each with its deadline. No visa is needed for stays of up to 90 days: a valid passport is enough, plus, at i…
- Nature147 places for nature in Costa Rica, from Cocos Island to spots hardly anyone knows. Best time: December to March. Each with its own season by altitude and daylight.
- Where to travelPick what you fancy (mountains, beaches, museums…) and the months you have free, and Kokai tells you which countries to go to and what to see there.
Data from OpenStreetMap, licensed under the ODbL, from Wikidata, CC0, cities from Natural Earth and airports from OurAirports. Daylight hours are calculated from the latitude. More in credits.