Heredia

• Barva to the north is a small mountain town known for its preservation of old traditions, a museum (Museo de Cultura Popular) for that purpose and the August "turno" (fair) with masks are the most famous characteristics of Barva honoring Saint Bartholomew.

• San José de la Montaña and Sacramento are mountain towns in Barva on the way to the Barva Volcano section of the Braulio Carrillo National Park.

• Monte de la Cruz is a small section on the north end of San Rafael with a public park with excellent views of the Central Valley.

By bus

• Amarillas: Goes from San Jose, through the Interamerican Highway directly to Heredia.
• La 400: Goes from Uruca to Heredia, useful mostly for workers.
• Tibas: Visits Tibas and Santo Domingo, nice route to get a quick glimpse of small San José towns.
• Tuasa: Goes to Alajuela through Heredia, but not all of the rides. Ask the driver.

By car

• From the airport instead of following the Interamerican Highway to San José, take a left turn on the first junction and follow the Heredia signs, this route goes through San Joaquín de Flores and directly to downtown Heredia. From Alajuela is a similar route, or you can take the internal route through Santa Barbara and Barva.
• From San José, take the Interamerican Highway and near the first roundabout or Juan Pablo II bridge, stay to the right without taking the bridge, follow the road, cross the Virilla bridge, keep your right and you will be in Heredia.
• Taxi: use an official taxi service, the orange ones (Airport-only shuttles) or the red ones with a yellow triangle. Never take an unofficial taxi, there are many crime reports about those. There is an informal service of porteadores with a blue circle, those aren't safe either, and can't pickup users in the streets legally, only from door to door.

By train

• Heredia Train StationTake the train at the Estación Al Atlántico in downtown San José. Service is only available at commuting hours and the train gets very packed. The train also goes to/from Alajuela a few times a day, but the train station is some two kilometers from the airport.

• "San Francisco" train stationThis station with the delightful name of Saint Francis is served only by those train that go on towards Alajuela or come from there.

• San Joaquin train stationServed by trains going to/from Alajuela and on to/from San José

Downtown Heredia

• Parque CentralThe town's central square is adorable and charming, and contains most of the city's landmarks. Many shops and restaurants line this square, which is popular with college students and romantics.

Rquesada

• Iglesia de la Inmaculada ConcepciónBuilt in 1797, is the focal point.

Rquesada

• El FortínThe symbol of Heredia, though it is closed to the public. It was built in 1876 by the then president Tomas Guardia as a defense fort. In 1974 this monument was declared a National Symbol and property of the Heredia town.

• Oficina de CorreosThe old post office, still in use, give a glimpse of how the city looked back in its heyday.

• Palacio MunicipalCity council building.

• Escuela República ArgentinaOld primary school.

Rquesada

• Casa de la CulturaThis historic house, once home of Costa Rican president Alfredo Gonzáles Flores, offers periodic rotations of art and music.

• Facade of old buildingThe free-standing facade of a demolished building stands in front of what is apparently a parking lot.

• Liceo de HerediaHeredia's first high school. Occupies most of a whole block, beautiful architecture.

• Iglesia del CarmenBeautiful Catholic church, across the street is a renovated park.

Barva

• Historic city centerAround the main square and surrounding the local church, most of the houses and buildings replicate the building techniques used in the late 19th century and early 20th century. The main square displays many sculptures and hold several artistic events through the year.

• Rquesada

Sarapiquí

• Equesgo16

Santo Domingo

• INBioparqueA small artificial park that provides a sample of Costa Rica's varied flora and fauna in a single place. They also actively research and catalog new species and collaborate with many foreign institutions.

Stream waterfall

• Buses from Heredia go out to small nearby mountain towns. In particular there is a bus to the town of Barva, ten minutes north. Barva is small and cute, but it has a river with gorgeous waterfalls and swimming holes. The bus route to Barva ends at the central plaza facing the church. If you face the church you will see one street running directly in front of the church. Walk to the left of the church and follow the first road to the left after the one that runs in front of the church. Follow this road for 400 m (¼ mile) and you will run into a playground, to the left of it there will be a trail going down to the river, follow this trail upstream for half a mile and you will find a 2½-m (8-foot) waterfall with a nice swimming hole and rocks that get great sun. There are more waterfalls and beautiful swimming holes further up the river, but the trail only goes so far.

Golf

• Cariari Country Club

  address: Cuidad Cariari

Outside recreation

• Rquesada
• Rquesada

Tours

• Britt Coffee Tour

  phone: +506 2277 1600
  A guided tour in a recreated coffee plantation near Heredia downtown that explains all the process required to grow, prepare and taste coffee.

Shopping malls

• Paseo de las FloresStandard mall with food court and cinemas. Probably the most visited in Heredia.

• Plaza HerediaThe first shopping center in Heredia, but little by little most of their retail spaces have been rented by offices of the National University. A few restaurants are available.

• Real CariariShopping mall, popular with office workers.

• Plaza RubíSmall U-loop strip mall with a few restaurants and banks.

Marketplaces

• Feria del Agricultor

  address: Avenida 14
  Each Saturday morning at the south end of the city, The street is closed for car traffic.

• Mercado Central

  address: Avenida 6 and 8, and Calle 2 and 4.
  City-owned market, with butcheries, grain stores, fish market and a couple of "sodas" (small restaurants). A visit is a must. Occupies a whole block.

• Mercado Florense

  address: Avenida 8 and 10, and Calle Central and 2.
  Privately owned market with similar stores to Mercado Central near by.

Souvenir and crafts stores

• Galeria Octagono

  phone: +506 2267-6325
  address: Los Angeles de San Rafael de Heredia
  Handmade textile art and handicrafts. Natural wood furniture, clocks and lamps. Art classes.

Budget

• Delicias Caribeñas de Mami

  address: Calle Central, Avenidas 1 y 3
  Pati, plantintá, rice and beans, all the exoticness of the Caribbean.

• Rinconcito Caribeño

  phone: +506 2237-4916
  address: Calle Central, Avenidas 1 y 3
  Family business selling Caribbean rice and beans, rondón, pati and similar. Veg-friendly.

• Loving Hut

  phone: +506 2260 0707
  Fully vegan local cuisine, served in big Latin portions.

Lebanese

• Shawarma Nataly

  address: Calle 9, Avenidas 2 y 4
  Huge mixed shawarma sandwiches with chicken, beef and falafel. Very cheap, delicious and satisfying.

• Restaurante Libanés Cedro

  address: Avenida 2, Calles 5 y 7
  Excellent service and amazing Lebanese food.

• Shawarma Hassan

  address: Calle 9, Avenidas 4 y 6
  Shawarma, falafel and other Lebanese dishes.

Pizza and pastas

• La Pentola D'Oro

  address: Avenida 2, Calles 5 y 7
  Authentic Italian dishes cooked by its Italian owner. Pasta specialists. Offers pizza at night.

Mid-range

• Lung Fung

  address: Avenida 4, Calles 5 y 7
  Chinese. Huge spring rolls (tacos chinos) and dishes.

• El Barco de los MariscosStaple Costa Rican seafood served in a beautiful mid-20th-century house.

• La CandelariaBeef, steak and crepes, charismatic service and high quality dishes.

• KoB Café

  phone: +506 8745 4819
  Vegetarian and vegan café. Offers lunch, dinners and desserts.

Costa Rican

• Casona de mi TierraStaple food of Costa Rica, a bit on the expensive side.

• Soda Paco AlfaroA typical "Soda", staple Costa Rican food and good service. Their original location is in the Mercado Central de Heredia.

• Añoranzas

  phone: +506 2267-7406, +506 2267-6481
  A typical Costa Rican restaurant with nice view, plenty of outside games for kids and a medium museum of antiques.

• FresasCosta Rica's equivalent of an North American diner restaurant. Huge desserts and sandwiches; ask for the Lorenzo sandwich.

• Casona del MaízAll and any of the many corn- or maize-based dishes can be found here.

Japanese

• Sushi Home

  address: Plaza Heredia
  A popular sushi place among college students and office workers.

• Sushi Nippon

  address: Plaza Heredia
  A popular sushi place among college students and office workers.

• Ichiban

  address: Paseo de las Flores
  An upscale sushi chain.

• Makizu

  address: Plaza Roble Sabana
  This restaurant serves Japanese, Filipino and Korean dishes.

Latin American

• Costumbres Argentinas

  address: Calle 2, Avenidas 1 y 3
  Delicious empanadas, beef dishes and pizza.

• CubitoCuban staple food, here is where you can get the Cuban version of Gallo Pinto, Congrí.

• Fiesta MexicanaA veteran restaurant in Heredia with many years preparing delicious Mexican food.

• La Parrillita de PepeColombian fast food, huge hot dogs and hamburgers.

• Ceviche del Rey

  address: Santo Domingo, Avenida 3, Calles Central y 1
  Great Peruvian restaurant, delicious ceviche and seafood, many other dishes like arroz chaufa and pastas are available.

Pizza and pastas

• Pizza Mangiare

  phone: +506 2560-6025
  Huge pizzas, specialists in delivery. Flat rate pizza price according to size not ingredients.

• L'Antica Roma

  phone: +506 2262-9073
  address: Calle 7, Avenida 7
  Good Italian food at a decent price.

• Tasty Pizza

  phone: +506 2560-8787
  address: Avenida 4, Calles 5 y 7
  Thick and juicy pizza at an affordable price.

Splurge

• Bistro de Chamonix

  phone: +506 2267-6222
  address: Hotel Chalet Tirol
  International cuisine.

• Baalbek

  phone: +506 2267-6683
  One of the oldest Lebanese restaurants in Costa Rica, famous countrywide due to the amazing view and the belly dance and live music.

Other

• Ganesha

  phone: +506 8379-7951
  This is an Indian, Mediterranean and Middle Eastern restaurant. Great hummus, baba ganoush, seekh kebab, chicken tikka masala and lassis.

• Green Dragon Pub & Grill

  phone: +506 2267 6222
  At Hotel Chalet Tirol. 6 km north of San Rafael de Heredia.

• Boulevar RelaxVery popular with university students. This place and its surroundings will be packed almost every Friday and Saturday night. Beers, bar food, pool tables, foosball tables, two floors.

• Cardero

• El Cadejo

  address: Calle 1, Avenidas 11 and 13
  Bar and restaurant with seasonal craft beer offerings and artisan made food.

• Chichi's Sport Bar & GrillAmerican sports bar, with a lot of huge screens all tuned to sports shows, hot wings, hamburgers and the like.

• Hooligan's

  address: Paseo de las Flores
  Sports bar with good selection of beers and huge hamburgers.

• Hooters

  address: Plaza Bratsi
  Yes, the American chain.

Mountain

• Hotel y Villas La Condesa

  phone: +506 2267-6000
  Atop the mountains of Heredia offers a great view of the city and the central valley. On Sundays there is a buffet on Patio del Conde restaurant open to all visitors.

• Hotel Chalet Tirol

  phone: +506 2267 6222
  Swiss chalets in the mountains and the international restaurant "Los Tiroleses".

• Las Ardillas

  phone: +506 2266-1003
  Cozy mountain cabins.

• La Montaña de Milena

  phone: +506 2266-1003
  Cozy mountain cabins (sister location to Las Ardillas).

• Hotel Monte Campana

  phone: +506 2269-8724
  address: Birri, Santa Barbara
  Many types of rooms, hostel to cabins with private kitchen and bathroom. The property has the Diligencia restaurant, and a swimming pool with slide and jacuzzi.

• Hotel El Cypresal

  phone: +506 2266-0012
  address: Birri, Barva, Heredia

• Hotel El Pórtico

  phone: +506 2266-1732
  address: Birrí, Heredia
  With Italian restaurant "Las Tres Marías" and private hiking trails with access to a stream near by.

• Hotel Villa Zurquí

  phone: +506 2268-8856, +506 2268-7026
  address: Route 32
  Cozy hotel with chalet-style rooms with restaurant (Restaurante Las Calas). Located on National Route 32, the main access from the Central Valley to Limón and the Caribbean.

City

• Hotel Heredia

  address: Calle 6, Avenidas 3 and 5
  One of the cheapest hotels with adequate interior. Close to Parque Central.

• Hotel America

  phone: +506 2260-9292
  Probably the most comfortable place in downtown Heredia. It is half a block from Parque Central.

• Hotel La India

  phone: +506 2560-7161
  address: Calle 7 and Avenida 11, Heredia

• Hotel Valladolid

  phone: +506 2260-2905
  address: Calle 7 and Avenida 7, Heredia

• Hotel Hojarascas

  phone: +506 2261-3649
  address: Calles 4-6, Avenida 8, Heredia

• Hotel Bougainvillea

  phone: +506 2244-1414
  Sophisticated hotel in Santo Domingo, near INBio Parque and between Heredia and San José cities.

• Hotel Cibeles Resort

  phone: +506 2260-3176, +506 2261-3528, +506 8394-9685
  address: Route 113
  Between the city and the mountains of San Rafael.

• Alajuela:

• The scenic route from Heredia to Poás Volcano goes straight from Barva to the north, look for Ruta 126 green signs and brown signs with directions to Volcán Poás.
• Also through Río Segundo to get fast to the Airport, just follow the Airport signs.