San Jose Day Trip: Heredia

Barva Volcano Lagoon

Set on the flanks of the impressive Barva Volcano National Park, this city was founded in 1706. Heredia is affectionately known as "The City of Flowers." A colonial church inaugurated in 1763 stands in the central park. The stone facade leaves no questions as to the age of the church, but the altar inside is decorated with neon stars and a crescent moon surrounding a statue of the Virgin Mary.

In the middle of the palm-shaded park is a music temple, and across the street, beside several tile-roofed municipal buildings, is the tower of an old Spanish fort. Of all the cities in the Meseta Central, Heredia has the most colonial feel to it -- you'll still see adobe buildings with Spanish tile roofs along narrow streets. Heredia is also the site of the National Autonomous University, so you'll find some nice coffee shops and bookstores near the school.

Surrounding Heredia is an intricate maze of picturesque villages and towns, including Santa Bárbara, Santo Domingo, Barva, and San Joaquín de Flores. The biggest attraction up here is the INBio Park(tel. 507-8107). Located on 5 hectares (12 acres) in Santo Domingo de Heredia, this place is part museum, part educational center, and part nature park.

This is also where you'll find the Café Britt Farm (tel. 277-1600). On the road to Barva, you'll find the small Museo de Cultura Popular (tel. 260-1619), which is open Monday through Friday from 8am to 4pm and Saturday and Sunday from 10am to 5pm; admission is $2. If you make your way to San Pedro de Barva de Heredia, stop in at La Lluna de Valencia (tel. 269-6665), a delightful rustic Spanish restaurant with amazing paella, delicious sangria, and a very amiable host.

Getting There:
The road to Heredia turns north off the highway from San Jose to the airport. If you're going to Sarchí, take the highway west toward Puntarenas. Turn north to Grecia and then west to Sarchí. There'll be plenty of signs.

Buses leave for Heredia almost every 5 minutes between 5am and 11pm from Calle 12 and Avenida 2, and from Calle 1 between avenidas 7 and 9. Bus fare is 45¢.

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