Heredia

Heredia is a city that is emblematic of the Costa Rican lifestyle. It is located only a short distance away from San José, the capital city of Costa Rica, and offers many big-city amenities, but life in Heredia is decidedly relaxed, calm and enjoyable. The city showcases pleasant plazas, lush green spaces and parks, and friendly people enjoying their days. The smell of coffee wafts into the streets from nearby homes and from the many coffee plantations that surround the city. Some people say life in Heredia really is la pura vida (the pure life).

Heredia lies approximately 11 kilometers to the northwest of the capital city, San José, in the verdant tropical foothills of the extinct Barva Volcano. The city of Heredia was founded in the beginning of the 18th century and for a short period served as the capital of Costa Rica. Today, Heredia boasts some of the oldest and most well-preserved colonial architecture in the country while also adapting and become one of the most modern and liveable cities in Costa Rica. Heredia is a university city and its sizeable student population includes many who come to study the Spanish language. Students and locals alike enjoy all that Heredia has to offer, including excellent cafés, ice cream parlors, vegetarian and health food, and several options for nightlife, as well as the ability to easily make a trip into San José for the day!

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