The Province of Cartago in Costa Rica
Situated between the provinces of San Jose and Limon, Cartago Province, Costa Rica, has an opulent history from the time of Spain’s colonization.
Cartago is the second smallest province next to Heredia, but when the Spanish were settling the country it was the center of activity for that era. Cartago has many churches, basilicas, forts and other relics from the colonial time. In the city of Cartago, the ruins of Santiago Apostol tell an interesting story of a church that never came to fruition. The attempt of building the church on the site was met by a number of problems including natural disasters and fires.
The major national parks of Barbilla National Park, Tapanti National Park, Chirripo National Park and Los Quetzales National Park can be found within the province of Cartago, as well as a number of smaller national parks. These parks are the gateways to countless adventures, and the most active volcano in Costa Rica, Turrialba, is located in Parque Nacional Volcan Turrialba (Turrialba Volcano National Park in English). Turrialba has had two eruptions of note in the year of 2014, and continues to periodically spew volcanic material into the sky as of lately.
The highest mountain peak in the province of Cartago, Costa Rica, is Cerro de la Muerte (Peak of the Dead) at 3,600 meters above sea level, and the capital of the Cartago Province is the city of Cartago with a population of 156,600. Cartago city was formerly the capital of Costa Rica until the civil war of 1823 resulted in the capital being changed to San Jose. At that time, there were two major parties that time there were two majors parties vying for the right to direct the country. Those party lines were drawn across initiatives to either continue as an independent nation (not really independent, but a confederated state of Central America) or join the Mexican empire. The independents power base was in San Jose, and the Mexican imperialists were based out of Cartago and Heredia.
Cartago Province is home to many different guest houses, hotels, resorts and other kinds of accommodations. A few such accommodations in the area include Hemmingway Inn, Hotel Inca Real, Hotel Rio Perlas Spa and Resort and Casa Conde Hotel & Suites. Lodgings in the area of Cartago, Costa Rica, are suitable to most budgets.
Capital City: Cartago
Places of Interest: Turrialba Volcano, Cerro De La Muerte (Peak of Death), Parroquia de Santiago Apóstol (Santiago Apóstol Parish Ruins)
Hotels: Hemmingway Inn, Hotel Inca Real, Hotel Rio Perlas Spa and Resort and Casa Conde Hotel & Suites
National Parks: Barbilla National Park, Tapanti National Park, Chirripo National Park, Los Quetzales National Park
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