Cool Off Near the Capital in Heredia, Costa Rica

While Costa Rica is a hot and tropical country in Central America, it’s full of mountains and volcanoes, so to bring the temperature down you just need to gain a little altitude. If you want a break from the hot coastal areas or want to ease into the heat on your trip, spend some time in the Heredia area close to the San Jose airport, one province north of the capital.

The Central Valley of Costa Rica often gets overlooked by travelers who are in a hurry to hit the beach or get into the jungle. There’s a wealth of beauty and nature close to San Jose though, plus this is a prime coffee region, home of the county’s best-known brand.

A fair number of expats from the USA and Canada live in this area, as well as upscale Ticos and students attending the largest university. It’s best to rent a car in Heredia, Costa Rica to explore the area in depth and control your schedule. Adobe Rent a Car is a local company with a good reputation and they have an office in the main city with the same name as the province.

Here are a few ideas on where to stay and what to do if you make it up to this slower-paced area with less traffic.

Where to Stay Near Heredia

The top hotel in the region is Finca Rosa Blanca, which we have reviewed in detail on Luxury Latin America. Billed as Costa Rica’s first eco-boutique hotel, it is a long-time  member of the Sustainable Tourism Certification program. The 13 rooms and two villas are surrounded by lush trees and plants intersected by walking paths and a 35-acre coffee farm is part of the estate.

With a well-regarded organic restaurant, uniquely designed lodging, good coffee, and plenty of excursions nearby, this is a great base for exploring the region. See our review of Finca Rosa Blanca.

One province over, also close to the airport, is Xandari Resort, an artsy and funky boutique property that also has personality to spare but a larger pool and a more open view of the city and mountains. See our full Xandari review here.

Peace Lodge is in Heredia province, but it is about an hour north of the namesake town, by Poas Volcano. It is a part of a well-known nature park next to a waterfall, a place where you can see colorful tropical birds, butterflies, frogs, and more in a manmade nature theme park in the next section. Rooms here aren’t as luxurious as the others, but it’s an especially good choice for families. See our Peace Lodge review here.

Attractions and Activities in Heredia, Costa Rica

Despite being just outside the biggest city, there’s plenty of nature to explore here. If you want to be sure of spotting animals from the region though, head to La Paz Waterfall Park to walk paths leading you from one kind of fauna to another, with bountiful flowers and landscaping. Big cat, snakes, monkeys, and hummingbirds are just a few of the animals.

Plus there’s the namesake waterfall of course, an orchid house, and a pond where you can go trout fishing. See prices and more info here.

If you would rather see a more natural version of nature, head to Braulio  Carillo National Park. It’s easy to get to any of the trailheads since a national highway runs through the park. You’ll see Poas Volcano on one side, Irazu Volcano on the other, with both offering trails around them. Then there’s an extinct volcano that’s one of Costa Rica’s highest mountains: Barva Volcano at more than 9,500 feet at the peak.

Some of the shortest hikes in the national park lead to Barva Lagoon, a crater lake next to cloudforests you walk through on the way. Trails range from 1.5 kilometers each way to 11 kms.

To get into the treetops, you can ride an aerial tram in Braulio Carillo National Park that takes you along the canopy. You’ll have much better birdwatching success at this level than on the ground. To get more adrenaline pumping, you can also move quickly through trees on ziplines. Several companies also offer horseback riding options closer to Heredia City. Check with your hotel concierge to make arrangements.

Get your coffee fix at one of the many small fincas that offer tours and tastings, or be sure the place isn’t closed by putting huge Café Britt on your schedule. A fixture of airports throughout Latin America, Café Britt was the first company to roast and sell its beans in Costa Rica instead of sending them all abroad. They have welcomed more than a million visitors, so they’ve got it down. They also snagged the best possible domain: coffeetour.com!

Costa Rica never had major Spanish colonial cities like you find in many other areas they conquered, but Heredia City and Barva offer a step back to those times. Some of the buildings surrounding the main square in Heredia date back to the late 1700s and in Barva, the basilica there has been standing since 1767.

Will you have plenty more time in the country? Then check out our page on luxury Costa Rica travel and tours for more exploration ideas.