HEREDIA
It is the fourth province of the country located on the
outskirts of the central Volcanic Cordillera, it borders
to he north with Nicaragua, to the south with San José,
to the west with Alajuela and to the east with Limón, I
has a surface of 2.656 square kilometers making it the
smallest of the country; it is divided into 10 cantons
and 43 districts. the capital IS Heredia, which is
located 10 kilometers away from San José, its climate
can be catalogued as moderate, the average temperature
is around 23ºC, the “City of the Flowers” as it is also
known as, is 1.150 meters above sea level.
The province is rich in colonial tradition; you can
still appreciate its old adobe houses with tiled roofs
and its colonial architecture as well as the typical
cart parades pulled by oxen, the retreats in the park,
and other beautiful age old traditions.
Heredia it characterized by its rough and tall mountains
of tropical forest, spectacular waterfalls and abundant
rivers, which add to the enjoyment of the exuberant
nature and adventure activities. The Braulio Carrillo
National Park is plagued by thick forest, voluminous
rivers opening up paths through deep canyons and
infinite waterfalls. The activities in this province
revolve around Nature, it is possible to take a ride on
the aerial tram through the treetops in the rainforest,
or enjoy a walk through trails in the forest, or an
exciting trip on the rapids.
In virtue of its geographic and climatologic conditions,
the Heredia mountains are the main source of drinking
water for the whole population of the Central Valley,
therefore there are limitations for the use of the
land. Among its elevations the Barva Volcano, the Cacho
Negro and Chompipe or Danta mountains outstand, and some
are considered also as volcanic formations: Gallito,
Arena or Piedra Mountain and Tres Marías. Among the
most important rivers that travel through this region
are Virilla, Chirripó, Sarapiquí, Río Sucio (Dirty
Rivers), Sardinal, Peje and San Juan. Some of these
rivers constitute a natural border for the province.s
It is also one of the most important zones of coffee
production in the whole country, also corn, vegetables,
fruits, beans, sugarcane, heart of palm and cardamom are
cultivated. In the last few years it has experimented
an enormous industrial and inhabitant growth; proof of
this are the free trade zones that have been
established, the INTEL plant, among so many other
industries.
SOME TOURIST ATTRACTIONS:
MONTE DE LA CRUZ (MOUNTAIN OF THE CROSS):
Recreational park, located 16 kilometers to the north of
the city of Heredia, it offers its visitors picnic areas
and sports fields, at the same time it offers a
wonderful panoramic view of the Central Valley.
OJO DE AGUA (EYE OF WATER):
It is a swimming resort located in San Antonio de Belén,
19 kilometers away from San José, the center of
attraction is the immense “water eye” through which more
than 23.000 liters of fresh water spring out per minute
coming from an underground river. This “eye of water”
provides, though a special system, to the pools of the
swimming resort.
PARQUE NACIONAL BRAULIO CARRILLO (BRAULIO CARRILLO
NATIONAL PARK):
It is located in the Central Volcanic Cordillera and it
includes the Barva Volcano, the Cacho Negro and the Bajo
de la Hondura, together with the National Park of the
Poás and Irazú Volcanoes, the Turrialba Volcano and
other protected areas, they constitute the Central
Volcanic Cordillera Biosphere Reserve, a status granted
by UNESCO in the year 1988. The forest that covers the
park functions as a real and immense lung that provides
oxygen to the whole country. The park is located only
24 kilometers away from San José and it is a must see
visitation spot in the itineraries of wildlife; here you
can find almost all the varieties of native birds from
Costa Rica, the humid tropical forest, as well as the
premontainous and mountainous humid forest, shelter
hundreds of varieties of orchids, ferns and bromelias.
A main road crosses, the park in the sector of the Palma
passage up to the great plains of Guápiles.
El Fortín, Centro de Heredia, Photo
Roberto Jiménez
Centro
de Heredia,
Photo Roberto Jiménez
Feria
Artesanal y comercial en el centro de Heredia,
Photo
Roberto Jiménez
Correo
Central, centro Heredia. Photo Roberto Jiménez
Retreta
Municipal, Parque Central, Heredia centro. Photo Roberto
Jiménez
CARRETERA DENTRO DEL PARQUE NACIONAL BRAULIO CARRILLO.
Photo Roberto
Jiménez