Get in
[edit]
San Ramón lies just off the Inter-American Highway north-west of San Jose.
Get around
[edit]See
[edit]Visitors can see cloud forest and dry forest ecosystem with a variety of birds, monkey and rugged geography. The drive along Route 702 north of San Ramón is particularly scenic, passing through pristine cloud forests, past waterfalls, with scenic overlooks and canopy tour operators along the way.
- 1 San Ramon Regional Museum (Museo Regional San Ramon), Costado norte del Parque Alberto Manuel Brenes, Av 1, ☏ +506 24477137. Tu-F 9AM-5PM, Sa 9AM-2PM, closed Su-M. Follow the history of Costa Rica and the San Ramón region, from the era of dinosaurs through today. Well-presented exhibits with explanations in Spanish and English.
- 2 Museo Historico José Figueres Ferrer, San Ramon, ☏ +506 2447 2178. Tu-F 10AM - 6PM, Sa 10AM - 4PM, closed Su M. Museum dedicated to the father of the country, whose philosophies of peaceful growth endure to make Costa Rica the country it is.
Do
[edit]- El Cocora Cloud Forest, Route 702, La Balsa (north of San Ramón). Short hiking trail through the cloud forest. Many hummingbirds and a butterfly habitat.
- San Lorenzo Canopy Tour, About 32 km north of San Ramón. Two zipline options: (1) 13 platforms, 8 cables, and 2 hanging bridges spanning 2 guided trails; or (2) the “Adventure Cable Tour” by zipline using 6 cables (the longest is 850 m) in which one achieves a speed of 80 km per hour!
- Parque Aventura, El Silencio de Los Angeles, Route 702, Los Angeles de San Ramón, ☏ +506 4461-0643. The private cloud forest park has 3 hiking trails (guided or unguided), horseback riding, and a canopy tour with 10 platforms. A nice and less touristy alternative to Monteverde.
Buy
[edit]San Ramón has a variety of shops, and one of the best farmers' markets in Costa Rica every Friday and Saturday.
Eat
[edit]Drink
[edit]Sleep
[edit]- Ecolodge Inn at Coyote Mountain, near La Guaria de Piededades Sur, ☏ +506 8383-0544. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: noon. Coyote Mountain offers guests a small and secluded place--with 4 guest rooms--and a true eco-lodge. The hotel is managed by Costa Ricans from this traditional coffee-growing region, hires locals, uses alternative sources for electricity, maintains its own organic vegetable and fruit tree plantings, conserves energy and resources, and engages in local reforestation and nature preservation. $89,219.
- Villa Blanca Cloud Forest Hotel, Los Angeles de San Ramón, toll-free: +1-877-256-8399. Villa Blanca Cloud Forest Hotel and Spa is a 75 acres (30 hectares) boutique hotel surrounded by a private natural reserve. There are 35 casitas to choose from, including 5 romantic honeymoon casitas, each with great views of the cloud forest.
- Casa Amanecer Bed And Breakfast, Apartado 567-4250 (3 km NE of San Ramón, road to Zarcero), ☏ +506 2445-2100. Situated in the nearby mountains of San Ramón, Alajuela this family-owned, four-room, eco-friendly, bed and breakfast is surrounded by rolling coffee farms, sugar cane fields and banana plants. The owners are two former Habitat for Humanity employees from the US and Peru. Local organic foods are prepared and served, biodegradable soaps are used, waste materials are recycled and the owners pride themselves on their home compost project. US$55.
- Vista Valverde Pacific View B&B (Vista Valverde), Calle Valverde (7 min outside of the town center), ☏ +506-8873-8714, [email protected]. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: noon. A small family-run and part Tico-owned B&B in the mountains overlooking the Pacific Ocean and the entire Gulf of Nicoya. Overnight or rent short term for up to 3 months. US$75-160.
Connect
[edit]- Free Wiki is available in the Central Park and many public areas
- Most cell providers offer pre-paid SIM cards to allow travellers inexpensive data and service to ease of travel. Look for signs for Kölbi, Claro or Movistar
Go next
[edit]- Atenas
- Grecia
- Aguacate Mountains Biological Corridor Conservation Area