By Jack Donnelly

Ujarrás is a wonderful place you should not run off to visit. You should plan a trip to several attractions in the area and spend some time in Ujarrás as part of your trip, maybe a nice picnic lunch.

The Ruins of Ujarrás are not well known, even though they were declared a National Monument of Costa Rica by executive decree in 1985. They lie east of Paraíso (Cartago), just off the road to Cachí (watch for the sign as you come to the bottom of a winding descent).

Between Paraíso and the turnoff to Ujarrás you will find the Mirador Ujarrás, a picnic and observation area with a panoramic view of the Orosi Valley. The Mirador offers a nice vista of the ruins surrounded by coffee and chayote plantations. Chayote is grown on a matrix of small cables about six feet off the ground, so the very flat looking fields you see are chayote. Just beyond the ruins you can see Lake Cachí. Please note there are restrooms, but food and drink are not available at the Mirador.

The first church on this site was a rough chapel built between 1561 and 1569. It was upgraded to an adobe structure a few years later (1575-1580). The current building was constructed between 1681 (1686 according some sources) and 1693. It was severely damaged by an earthquake in 1822.

In 1832 the town was moved to a place called Llanos de Santa Lucía, which is today known as Paraíso. There are various reasons given for the move—disease, flooding, poor quality local building materials, etc. Some allege there were political and economic pressures behind the decision.

Today, the church is a lovely historic ruin which has been partially restored. It is surrounded by a verdant park with picnic tables and a playground—an ideal spot for a family or group outing. Take a walk through the old church and then enjoy outdoor dining under the many shade trees. You will need to bring your meal with you as no food is sold in the park—there are facilities.

A good idea is to combine a visit to Ujarrás with other local attractions. Nearby you can also visit Irazú Volcano, Turrialba Volcano, Guayabo National Monument (a pre-Columbian archaeological site), the scenic town of Orosi (the beautiful church of San José Orosi), Cartago (including the basilica housing la Virgen de los Ángeles), and Lankester Botanical Garden (between Cartago and Paraíso).

A visit to the Ruins of Ujarrás is the perfect complement to a trip to an area with an abundance of fascinating places to visit.

 

About the Author

Jack Donnelly has been a life-long enthusiast of Latin American folk culture. As a young man, during the 1960s, he studied cultural anthropology at the Universidad de las Américas in Mexico City. He went on to volunteer with the U. S. Peace Corps in Guatemala.

Now, Donnelly lives in Heredia, Costa Rica. He travels around the country investigating and documenting folkloric events. Donnelly is the author of COSTA RICA: Folk Culture, Traditions, and Cuisine which is available on Amazon in paperback and Kindle.