Heredia Surroundings

The town of Barva is one of the oldest settlements in all of Costa Rica. Barva was founded in 1561 and most of the town is a national historic monument. The colonial, red-tiled adobe buildings in the center of town were built in the 1700s. Barva offers a relaxing setting with plenty of old-world charm.

The Museum of Popular Culture displays exhibits about daily life in 19th C rural Costa Rica. The museum is housed in a century-old farmhouse that has been fully restored and is furnished with period pieces.

The Café Britt farm "coffeetours" have combined an interesting tour and stage production to explain the coffee-growing process and highlight the importance of coffee to Costa Rica. The tour includes a visit to the coffee finca (farm) and the roasting plant where visitors can observe the coffee "cherry" transformed into a roasted bean.

A live, bilingual (Spanish/English) presentation follows, using both actors and multimedia. The tour is completed with coffee-tasting sessions that are led by experienced tasters.

The village of Monte de la Cruz offers excellent panoramic views of the entire Central Valley and beyond. Good hiking opportunities can be found throughout the area.

This facility offers a pool, sauna, go-carts, an ice-skating rink and a picnic area.

This small village is found on the southern slopes of the Barva Volcano. It lies at an elevation of 1,550m/5,084ft, so the climate here can be rather chilly. The mountainous terrain, vistas, birding and pleasant walks are the biggest attractions for visitors.