Orosi, Costa Rica
Located less than an hour southeast of San Jose, the Orosi Valley is considered by many who visit here an undiscovered paradise It offers a peaceful, scenic setting from which you can explore some fascinating portions of Costa Rica.
The Reventazón River snakes through the valley until it ends in a lake formed by the Cachi Dam. Here you will find pine trees covered with Spanish Moss. This area famous for its eternal spring temperature.
Some of the popular activities include kayaking or white water rafting down the Reventazón River. There are a variety of kayak and rafting companies available. There are two parts of the river, that are popular for rafting, “Florida” contains Class III rapids and is recommended for the inexperienced rafter or an experienced rafter who wants to enjoy the incredible scenery while watching for toucans, kingfishers, herons, tanagers, iguanas and the bright green “Jesus Christ” lizards, so named because they appear to walk across the water.
The other option is the ‘Pascua” section which offers Class IV rapids and a huge adrenaline rush. This section is 15 miles of intense challenging rapids with numerous twists and turns. All participants must be in good physical condition and ready to remain active all day to participate in this portion.
Near the town of Ujarras, on the Reventazón river, see the Bridal Veil Waterfalls. These falls rush 328 feet down. According to a legend, the falls got it name when a group of family and friends arrived here to celebrate a wedding. The horse on which the bride was riding, went berserk and jumped over the cliff taking with him the bride and her long trailing veil.
When you are here, also visit the Cachi Lake which was originally created about 13,000 years ago when a lava flow blocked the Reventazón and Orosi Rivers to form a natural lake. Costa Rica has built the Cachi dam here which supplies San Jose with hydroelectric power.