Cartago

The site is located 7 kms. from Paraíso via Ujarrás-Lake Cachí. The Town of Orosí is 8 kms from Paraíso on the road to the River Macho and Tapantí

Only 6 kms south of Paraíso along a road that descends between hills is Reventazón Valley, a region of lakes dams, waterfalls, chayote and coffee plantations, old colonial ruins, hot springs and soaring mountains.

Among the attractions of the valley are Los Novios waterfall, the hydroelectric Cachí Dam, Charrara Lake Site, the ruins of the Church of Nuestra Señora de La Limpia Concepción at Rescate de Ujarrás (built between 1681-1693), the colonial church that is still in use, and the hot water spas, both at Orosí.

The look-outs on the road between Paraíso and Ujarrás afford a view of a scenic beauty of the valley basin, presided over by Lake Cachí. Part of the history of this lake region dates back 13,000 years ago when a lava flow from Pasqui Peak, an adventitious cone of Irazú Volaco, blocked the Rivers Reventazón and Grande de Orosí, forming a natural lake. With the passage of time, the waters eroded the lava and opened an outlet. Thousands of years later the Cachí Dam was built in the same place, blocking the waters again to produce electric energy. Today the lake has become a tourist attraction. The Costa Rican Institute of Tourism has built the Charrara Lake Site, a recreation area with swimming pools, a restaurant, picnic tables, green zones and rowboats for outings on the lake.