Heredia

Heredia is the capital of the province of the same name, Heredia. It is a small city, which was founded in 1705. It is easy to handle because of its size yet it offers all the amenities that San Jose could possibly have. It may only be 20 minutes away from the capital, but it is less chaotic, it looks better, it is friendlier, and gentlemen, they say that this is where you will see the most beautiful girls of the country. Because of the University, Universidad Nacional, there is always a large amount of students in Heredia. There are a good variety of bars and restaurants and the city is young at heart!

It has that feel of a smaller city and has managed to preserve most of its colonial feel. The main plaza is the meeting point of the city, and the historic church La Inmaculada Concepcion that was built in 1796; the bells were brought all the way from Peru, while the stained glass paintings in the church are the oldest in Cost Rica. This plaza, or Parque Central, has a nice variety of restaurants and coffee shops to choose from.

Heredia is often called the "city of flowers" because of all the gardens and vegetation in the area. The climate is cool but not cold and usually quite pleasant. There are many shops for those who like shopping and it has a pleasant mall, Paseo de Las Flores as well as many big supermarkets. The central market is also an interesting place to go to and this is where you may well find the little souvenir you were looking for. There is an old music temple and an impressive colonial tower, vestige of an ancient Spanish fort in the Parque Central near the church. Indeed the tower can be seen from many different spots throughout the city! La casa cultural also holds artistic and historical exhibitions.

Coffee plantations surround Heredia and some of the country’s best coffee grows around the city. The chain of volcanoes stands majestically above it, Poas and Barva being of great interest, indeed, Barva is one of the few volcanoes which can be climbed entirely on foot. The Braulio Carrillo National Park, which is a must if you want to experience a cloud forest, is lush and thick, green and even greener. You can find shelter from the mist under one of the huge umbrella leaves, catch a sight of a resplendent quetzal, maybe a puma, or a tapir, and watch out for the mischievous White Faced Monkeys. It is important however to remember to always stick to the trails, one can be lost for days and needless to say, exposure may be fatal. The trails however are very well marked. For some parts it is even a good idea to go with a guide, as they know the flora and the fauna so well, they can give some very interesting information and facts and spot certain birds you would have otherwise missed.

There are other interesting attractions in the province of Heredia; there is a magnificent Butterfly Farm, a snake museum, or Mundo de los Serpientes, and Zoo Ave, a beautiful park with an amazing collection of birds and monkeys and small mammals; like a zoo, but with a unique flair!

If you wish to visit Heredia, you can reach it either by bus from San Jose, or by car or even by taxi. Remember, it is only 20 minutes away from the capital, but it is so much nicer!

• Heredia Hotels