Guadalupe

Goicoechea is often called Guadalupe after its first district and main city, Guadalupe. However, the canton is home to six other districts - San Francisco, Calle Blancos, Mata de Plátano, Ipís, Rancho Redondo, and Purral. Goicoechea became a canton in 1981, when Guadalupe was designated as a government seat. The new canton was named after Friar José Antonio de Liendo y Goicoechea, a Franciscan priest.

Goicoechea is located to the east of San José, and along with its sister canton Moravia is home to more than 150,000 josefinos, or San José residents. Guadalupe is located just north of Montes de Oca, and just south of Moravia. Its position to the east of San José center makes the commute to downtown much easier, and it can actually be done in just 15 minutes when traffic cooperates.

Though Gudalupe used to be home to mostly tobacco crops, the most common crop today is Costa Rica's prized coffee. Surprisingly, nature mixes in well with the canton's bustling residents, Avance Hydroelectric plan, El Pueblo commercial center and dance locale, and sprawling suburbs. In fact, one of the most recommended visits within Goicoechea is a trip to Calle Blanco's own secret garden, the Spyrogyra Butterfly Garden.

The Spyrogyra Butterfly Garden is tucked into the streets of Goicochea, just a few hundred meters from the pumping beats of El Pueblo. Tucked behind butterfly nets, visitors are delighted by the many species of butterflies, turtles, and frogs that inhabit the peaceful garden. And when your trip along the garden's paths is finished, take a jaunt on the Meditation Trail, where sloths and birds deck the trees and the faint sound of a rushing river are the only things to break up your thoughts.