One of the Cartago province’s free historic sights are the ruins of Ujurras, a village destroyed by a flood in 1833 and then abandoned. The remains of the Iglesia de Nuestra Senora de la Limpia Concepcion, dating all the way back to 1693, still remain on the site. Legend has it that a miraculous painting of the virgin Mary refused to be moved, forcing the clerics to build a church around it.

If you are in the area on the Sunday closest to April 14^th, don’t miss the day of La Virgen de Ujarras which is held at the ruins. The festival attracts over 3,000 people who walk from the nearby town of Paraiso and celebrate through Mass, food, and music.

The ruins are open from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. seven days a week and have bathroom facilities, trails, and a picnic area. The Mirador de Ujarras, located two miles north, affords a spectacular view of surrounding countryside. Both the ruins and mirador are free but visitors will need to bring their passports, which are checked by security guards who patrol the site to ensure safety.

The ruins of Ujarras are located 9 ½ miles northeast of Orosi just under 30 minutes by car from Orosi, while the mirador is 7 ½ miles north of Orosi about 20 minutes away. Both are reachable via the scenic and winding highway 224. It is also possible for hikers to reach these sites without a rental car. A twenty minute bus ($1 USD) from Orosi will get you to the nearby town of Paraiso, followed by a 2.3 mile hike east to the mirador and an additional 2.2 mile walk to the ruins.