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Home arrow 5. The City

Travel to Heredia, Costa Rica

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playacarmentravel.jpgCosta Rica is bordered by Nicaragua to the north, Panama to the south-southeast, the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, and the Caribbean Sea to the east. Just a short distance from the capital San Jose, the lush and gorgeous province of Heredia is one of the most beautiful in Costa Rica, known for its verdant hills and volcanic national parks. This region also has dense tropical forests, stunning waterfalls and roaring rivers.

Heredia, population 50,000, is the capital of the Heredia Province of Costa Rica. Heredia is located in the tropical foothills of the dormant Barva Volcano, amidst vast coffee plantations and lush greenery. A relaxed and laidback place, the main attraction of Heredia is its superb colonial architecture that can be seen all over town. Warm year-round, the rains are spread throughout the year and the temperate climate makes Heredia an ideal destination to visit.

Things to do on a visit to Heredia:


  • Visit Heredia’s historic La Inmaculada Concepcion, a majestic church built in 1796, with bells imported all the way from Cuzco, Peru.
  • Explore Heredia’s Parque Central - visit El Fortin, a wonderful colonial tower of an old Spanish fort, and La Casa de la Cultura, which holds historical and art exhibitions.
  • Marvel at the extensive campus of the National University (UNA) and enjoy a Costa Rican roasted coffee with the students at the nearby surrounding cafes and restaurants.
  • Barter and bargain in the Mercado Central where the locals go to buy locally grown produce.
  • Visit the top of Monte de la Cruz, where you can marvel at the spectacular views of the city, its surrounding areas, huge coffee plantations, and the distant Poas and Barva volcanoes.
  • Enjoy famous Heredia medlar’s marmalades, preserved grapefruits and Ponche Casero (an egg based drink with milk, guaro  juice, vanilla and rum)
  • Trek through the National Park Braulio Carrillo, protected by UNESCO since 1988, that holds within the Varva, Cacho Negro and Bajo de la Hondura volcanoes. 
  • Swim and relax in Ojo de Agua, a bathing thermal spring in the outer lying mountains.
  • Visit the La Paz Waterfall Gardens where one can see hundreds of species of butterflies, snakes, birds and frogs roaming freely in their natural habitats.
  • Taste local Heridian dishes including Gallo Pinto (rice, beans, meat and maize’s tortilla), Lomo coiled (spicy pork stuffed with potato, egg, tomatoes and chilli) and Olla de Carne (soup with vegetables, green banana and beef).
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Daily Life in Heredia


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Enjoying the same ideal subtropical climate as Cancun but without the crowds, Heredia enjoys an average temperature of 25 Celsius and sunny days throughout most of the year. As the weather ranges from warm to hot for most of the year, and with usually very high humidity, time moves at a slower pace like many other coastal areas within the region. The sea is almost always warm enough for a swim, and it is common to break up a day’s worth of study or work with a dip or two in the ocean.



playacarmenhistoria.jpgHistory of Heredia
Heredia was founded in the 1570s as Cubujuquí, it later changed its name to Villavieja before adopting its current name in 1763. The name Heredia is in honor to Alonso Fernandez de Heredia who obtained the Villa title for the new town in 1763 but was overturned in 1769. For a brief period in the 1830s, Heredia served as the capital of Costa Rica due to its many beautiful gardens and wonderful flora found within. It is often referred to as the "Ciudad de las Flores," yet not because of the city's flowers, but rather due to the wealthy “Flores” family that dominated political and social life in the city at the turn of the 19th century. Their home is now the city's municipal museum, located directly north of the central church.

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