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Visit the Most Haunted Building in Costa Rica – Finca Sanatorio Duran

August 11, 2015 By Sammi 6 Comments

Sitting in a beautiful area of the Cartago mountainside is the mysterious Finca Sanatorio Duran. Many people who visit Irazu Volcano drive right past it thinking it’s another abandoned farm when in reality, it was an important hospital back in the 1910’s – 1920’s for tuberculosis patients.

Since the hospital closed in the 1960’s, it has decayed and now lays abandoned. Only in recent years was it turned into a tourist attraction for those curious and brave enough to venture into the most haunted building in Costa Rica.

Finca Sanatorio Duran

Finca-Sanatorio-Duran-sign most haunted building in costa rica

Location

Finca Sanatorio Duran is 18 kilometers southwest of the Irazu Volcano National Park.

History of the Most Haunted Building in Costa Rica

Finca Sanatorio Duran outside most haunted building in costa rica

Officially opening in 1918, Finca Sanatorio Duran housed thousands of tuberculosis patients in its time as well as mentally ill patients. The doctor who started this project, Dr. Duran was especially proactive in building this center as his daughter too suffered from the disease.

Back then, treatment for the disease was nonexistent in Costa Rica so Dr. Duran traveled to New York to meet with Dr. Loomis, as he was famous for his knowledge of consumption. After coming back to Costa Rica, Dr. Duran set forth to find the perfect location to treat the tuberculosis patients and found it in Cartago with the right balance of cool temperatures, humidity, wind, amount of sunlight and availability of drinking water as advised by the specialists.

And so the Finca Sanatorio Duran came to exist and operate for the next several decades. It eventually became unnecessary as advances in medicine helped diminish the prevalence of the disease in the country.

Today visitors can wander around the property and explore the buildings including all the rooms. You can see where the patients slept, where the children were kept, and *gasp* maybe even have an accidental run in with a ghost. Due to the deaths and physical suffering that occurred at the sanitarium, paranormal activity including ghost sightings and strange noises has been documented.

History of Ghost Sightings

Finca-Sanatorio-Duran most haunted building in costa rica

With more than enough reports of the supernatural, it’s safe to say that Finca Sanatorio Duran wasn’t completely abandoned. The following has been documented at the sanitarium:

  • Sudden cold breezes right before the appearance of a nun and a little girl
  • Ghosts of nuns on the top floor
  • Groaning sounds at night
  • Little girl ghost roaming the halls

We didn’t see any ghost sightings but it was a bit spooky to walk around the rooms and hallways, as my mind went wild imagining what exactly went on inside these walls.

Though it was a beautiful sunny day, I would get a chill every time I peered out the barred windows as I wondered how many other faces looked out the exact same window before me.

Finca-Sanatorio-Duran most haunted building in costa rica

The hospital is fairly big with two floors and several sections. You can walk around to see the bathrooms, surgery rooms, consultation rooms and dormitories.

Finca-Sanatorio-Duran most haunted building in costa rica

Finca-Sanatorio-Duran most haunted building in costa rica
Hallway full of the children’s handprints

Finca-Sanatorio-Duran most haunted building in costa rica

Finca-Sanatorio-Duran most haunted building in costa rica

Finca-Sanatorio-Duran most haunted building in costa rica

Outside the main building is the doctor’s headquarters. You can also go inside his house and see what living quarters were like for the doctor treating all the consumption patients back then.

Finca-Sanatorio-Duran most haunted building in costa rica

Walk up the spiral staircase to the top to get a nice view. I wonder if this was built so that the doctor could easily keep an eye on the patients…

Finca-Sanatorio-Duran most haunted building in costa rica

But you can see exactly why they chose this spot to build a sanitarium for tuberculosis as they believed the combination of fresh cool weather, a healthy diet, nature and clean living was essential to the treatment process.

Costa Rica does indeed have plenty of that!

It’s hard to believe the supernatural stories during the day when it’s sunny and bright out, but I can imagine that it’s a completely different story when night falls…

Tips for Visiting Finca Sanatorio Duran

  • 1200 colones per person
  • Hours are 8AM to 4PM
  • Be respectful. You will see a ton of graffiti in the building but refrain from making your own mark. This is an important historical building after all
  • To get there from Irazu Volcano National Park, turn right off the main road (you will see the finca from the road) 18 kilometers from the park

Not too keen on supernatural stuff? You can see the Finca Sanatorio Duran in our video instead!

Here are some more things to do in the Central Valley

National Theater

Doka Coffee Estate Tour

Filed Under: Activities and tours Costa Rica

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Lee says

    January 19, 2017

    P>S

    San Lucas Prison is also a must visit for those seeking ghosts , spirits and of course the cold chills that run down your spine. it was featured in ‘Ghost Hunters International’ back in 2010 which brought me to visit this place…and i was not let down!

    Reply
    • Sammi says

      January 19, 2017

      Ooh looks scary. Thanks for the recommendation, put it on the list!

      Reply
  2. Lee says

    January 19, 2017

    This is one of the most creepiest places i have visited during my stay in Costa Rica.
    a wonderful area, a truly superb setting, but my god this hospital is creepy!
    from the moment i arrived i felt uneasy, at this point i should point out im rather sensative to paranormal activity. yes there is a little girl, but she is not the one that made these awful feelings. sadness, anguish pain, and so many more feeling swept through me as i walked those rooms. I am thankful that kick out time is 4 pm There is nothing on earth that would keep me there after dark!

    Reply
    • Sammi says

      January 19, 2017

      I totally agree, after learning about the history of the place, when you walk around it’s almost like you can feel the suffering that went on as you observe the surgery rooms and children’s rooms. It’s in a gorgeous place and I’m glad we went during the day too!

      Reply
  3. ALHELI says

    December 6, 2016

    Quisiera saber si abren al publico el 24 y/o 25 de Diciembre, gracias

    Reply
    • Sammi says

      December 6, 2016

      Disculpe, no se la verdad. Tal vez el 25 de diciembre no.

      Reply

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