The small town of Orotina is the capital of the canton with the same name in the south-western part of the Province of Alajuela. Its location in the lowlands on the Pacific side of Costa Rica allows the region of Orotina to profit from the fertile soils and warmer climate to produce an abundance of fruits and vegetables. Crossing Orotina you will find a lot of street vegetable vendors and fruit stalls with one of the widest variety to be found in Costa Rica. Delicious typical food can be tasted in many road side restaurants and sodas. The Festival de Frutas in March is a highlight on the calendar of the people of Orotina. Fruit and vegetable growers from all over the country come to sell their products on the fair and of course there are plenty of other events to entertain yourself in the vibrant Costa Rican style. But also the scientific aspects of fruit and vegetable cultivation are not forgotten, since lectures and presentations have their place in the festival’s agenda. When you leave San Jose in the Central Valley to travel to for instance Jaco, Quepos or Manuel Antonio on the Pacific Coast, you can take a less travelled route. After passing the city of Alajuela (where the International Airport Juan Santamaria is located) follow the directions to the town of Atenas. After Atenas the road starts to meander uphill, because you have the cross the mountains that are surrounding the Central Valley. Once you reach the highest point you have a magnificent view of the coastal plains and the beaches on the Pacific Ocean. You can even decide to take a stop in one of the few bars up there to enjoy the beautiful landscape a little longer, just look for a sign that says ‘mirador’ or a name with ‘Buena Vista’ in it. There are some pretty steep and treacherous curves that take you downhill and the town of Orotina is your first encounter when reaching the lowlands. Just out of Orotina there is the junction of the highways that go north and south or west towards the city of Puntarenas. In the vicinity of Orotina you can find some hotels, but most people use the town as a pass through on their way to other destinations. There is a major tourist attraction though in the form of an ecological adventure park called Turu Ba Ri which offers several options such as botanical gardens and trails through the jungle that are perfect for birdwatching amongst others. For the more adventurous ones there is a canopy tour and a more than one kilometre long sensational cable ride and even an aerial tram, the second in the country besides the one in the Braulio Carillo National Park. Known for its pottery is the town of San Mateo, not far from Orotina and is an ideal stop to pick up some original souvenirs.