The Ruta de los Pioneros and the hiking trails on Cosme Gamboa’s farm offer different perspectives on El Jardín: the history of its historic routes and rural tourism. A 2021 report described the Ruta, also called Ruta Cero, as a historic tourism project then being developed in El Jardín. For the farm, it mentioned two hiking trails and a rural tourism project that Cosme Gamboa and his family hoped to resume at the time. If you’re planning a hike today, check access in advance.
The Ruta de los Pioneros and its history
Ruta Cero is another name for the Ruta de los Pioneros. The account of the historic route tells of the first settlers of the Valle del General, who crossed Cerro de la Muerte to reach the area of Santa María de Dota. Thus, the Valle del General, Cerro de la Muerte, and the area of Santa María de Dota are part of a shared route narrative. The historic tourism project drew on this history and was being developed in El Jardín in 2021.
Those interested in settlement history will find a clear narrative thread here: the route represents not only a name but also the reported movement of the first settlers into the area of Santa María de Dota. The name Ruta Cero refers to the same route, not to a separate project. This makes it possible to distinguish its historical significance from the question of whether a trail is accessible for hiking today.
Agriculture in El Jardín de Páramo
Another perspective on the region comes from agriculture. At the time of the 2021 visit, blackberry and vegetable farming were the main livelihoods for most families in El Jardín de Páramo. This differed from the coffee-growing communities in the comparison made at the time. The contrast adds an economic dimension to the story of the routes and rural life: for the families described, blackberries and vegetables were central, while coffee farming characterized the comparison communities. This information relates to the visit at the time and shows the connection between local history and livelihoods.
Hiking trails on Cosme Gamboa’s farm
There were two hiking trails on Cosme Gamboa’s farm in 2021. One led through a cypress forest of about half a hectare. The area refers to the forest and gives the described trail a specific landscape setting. At the time of the report, Cosme Gamboa and his family had been developing a rural tourism project for five years. They hoped to resume it then.
The two farm trails and the historic Ruta serve different interests. The Ruta offers a story about the first settlers and the area of Santa María de Dota; the information about the farm concerns hiking trails and a cypress forest. If you’re more interested in the history of the route, the Ruta offers a historical connection. If you’re interested in hiking, the farm is the specific point of reference—check current access before planning your visit.
Discover more destinations: Las Nubes, Desamparados, Curridabat, Aserri, Brasil, Aguas Buenas, Rivas, Santa María
For the broader travel overview: San Jose.
