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Things to do in Heredia

Our most recommended things to do in Heredia

San Jose: Irazú Volcano, Cartago City & Orosi Valley Tour

1. San Jose: Irazú Volcano, Cartago City & Orosi Valley Tour

Start with a pickup from your hotel and travel by minibus along the Panamerican Highway until you reach the base of the Irazú Volcano. Travel up the winding road through fertile farmlands where many types of fruit and vegetables are cultivated.  Enjoy spectacular panoramic views of the surrounding hills and valleys. At the summit of the volcano, on a clear day, marvel at the spectacular view of both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Next, descend to the city of Cartago and stop at the Virgin of the Angels Basilica. Discover this local pilgrimage site which has large vaulted ceilings and exquisite examples of stained glass windows.  Continue the tour through the Orosi Valley, an area of magnificent natural beauty. Visit one of the few remaining colonial churches in the region and stop for a tasty typical lunch at one of the local restaurants. Finally, be returned to your hotel to complete the tour.

San Jose: Tortuguero Park Day Tour with Breakfast & Lunch

2. San Jose: Tortuguero Park Day Tour with Breakfast & Lunch

The day begins with pickup from your accommodation in San Jose, Heredia, or Alajuela at 6:00 AM. On your way to breakfast, drive past rolling coffee plantations and admire the mountains of Braulio Carrillo National Park. At around 7:15 AM, stop for a traditional Costa Rican breakfast to set you up for the day's adventure. Enjoy fresh fruit juice, coffee, eggs, and the popular gallo pinto (a typical Central American rice and bean dish.) After breakfast, visit a local banana plantation and learn about the process of growing and exporting fruit. At around 10:00 AM, leave the bus behind and hop onboard a boat as you cruise into the jungle of Tortuguero National Park. Surrounded by tropical rainforest, which covers over 29,000 hectares, soak up the magic of this luscious green landscape. As you sail along the jungle canals, see native green sea turtles, as well as other endangered animals such as sloths, monkeys, and manatees. There are also countless colorful butterflies, toucans, herons, crocodiles, and more. Learn about each of the animals and their habitat in the jungle, as well as about local conservation efforts to protect them. Once you’ve worked up a bit of an appetite, enjoy a hearty buffet lunch. After lunch, take a relaxing stroll through Tortuguero Village where you’ll discover local life and learn about the history of the town and its residents. At the end of an unforgettable day, get back on the bus at around 3:30 PM and begin the return journey back to San Jose.

From San Jose: 3-Day Tortuguero National Park Excursion

3. From San Jose: 3-Day Tortuguero National Park Excursion

Explore the protected Tortuguero National Park in the Limón Province, reachable only by airplane or boat. Take in the wealth of biodiversity in its eleven different habitats, including rainforest, mangrove forests, swamps, beaches, and lagoons. Trip itinerary: Day 1: After an early morning hotel pickup, admire the biodiversity of a primary forest through the window as you drive past Braulio Carrillo National Park. Sample a delicious Costa Rican breakfast during the drive. Mid-morning, board a comfortable boat and travel along the Tortuguero Canals. Be enchanted by the surrounding paradise and its varied flora and fauna. Then, enjoy a refreshing cocktail and a delicious lunch at the hotel. After lunch, tour the canals and take incredible photos for the rest of the afternoon. Arrive at Pachira Lodge (or similar) for a delightful dinner and a restful night's sleep. Day 2: Discover the flavors of Costa Rica with breakfast at the Lodge. Then, hike along the Lodge's private trail and work up an appetite for lunch. After lunch at the Lodge, visit the Sea Turtle Museum, the beach, and the picturesque village of Tortuguero. In the evening, enjoy dinner at the Lodge again. Day 3: After breakfast at the Lodge, head back to San José, stopping for lunch at El Ceibo in Guápiles on the way. Arrive back in San José in the afternoon.

San José: Transfer between Hotels & Juan Santamaría Airport

4. San José: Transfer between Hotels & Juan Santamaría Airport

Enjoy a stress-free transfer between Juan Santamaría International Airport and your hotel. Choose from either a hotel to airport transfer or an airport to hotel transfer depending on whether you are departing or arriving in the city. Relax on a private airport-hotel transfer and enjoy quality service. Take advantage of private service between Juan Santamaría International Airport and your San José hotel. Experience a relaxing transfer where transport units are authorized to load and unload passengers at the airport with proper tourism permits, and modern transport units. Take comfort in the provided insurance policy in case of an accident for the transfer of tourists. Be met at the airport or your hotel by a driver with extensive experience and a sign with his name to better locate you, and then proceed to your destination. Provide flight details for arrival or departure upon booking to ensure the transfer is properly scheduled to arrive on time.

San Jose: Sarapiqui River & La Paz Gardens Tour with Lunch

5. San Jose: Sarapiqui River & La Paz Gardens Tour with Lunch

The day begins with pickup from your hotel in San Jose and heads to the stunning La Paz Waterfall Gardens. This private nature reserve has been designed to educate visitors and provide sanctuary for rescued wildlife through a variety of gardens and exhibits. Enjoy a stroll through the park's luscious green landscapes and see rescued jaguars, colorful butterflies, exotic birds, and unique plants. Theres's also plenty of tropical cascades to admire and snap photos of for your vacation album. Later, discover the wonders of the Sarapiqui River on a relaxing boat cruise. Soak up the tranquility of the river and surrounding rainforest as you listen to the sound of bird’s chirping and trickling water. At the end of an unforgettable adventure, be dropped off back to your accommodation.

San José: Coffee Production Tour and Tasting

6. San José: Coffee Production Tour and Tasting

Immerse yourself in the world of Costa Rican coffee as you learn about all the processes, skills and passion that go into a perfect cup. Visit a sustainable plantation, roaster and learn about coffee’s subtle characteristics from an expert taster. After being picked up from your hotel in San José, your tour will begin at a plantation, where the beans start out as seedlings. Your expert guide will take you through the phases of coffee growing and teach you about the practices and techniques they use to produce the beans in a sustainable way. The tour continues at the roasting plant, where an expert taster will take you through all the characteristics they look for when choosing the perfect grains to roast. You’ll get the opportunity to roast your own coffee sample and directly experience how the beans change during the process. Next will be a demonstration of ‘cupping’, the process of exploring the tastes and aromas of a coffee batch once it is brewed. You'll be able to enjoy a coffee tasting, accompanied by an assortment of delicious chocolates, as well as full lunch.

Irazú Volcano & Turrialba Volcano Day tour from San Jose

7. Irazú Volcano & Turrialba Volcano Day tour from San Jose

We will pick you up from your lodging in San Jose, Alajuela, Cartago or Heredia downtown to take to this adventure and visit two of the most famous volcanoes in Costa Rica with all entrances and typical lunch included: - Pick up from your lodging in San Jose, Alajuela, Cartago or Heredia downtown, no matter if it is airbnb, house or hotel - Drive for around 1.5 hours to visit Irazú Volcano in Cartago, our first Volcano. - We will go for a delicious typical lunch, you can choose what eat. - After taking a rest we will continue to Turrialba Volcano(Not the crater) - If time allow us we will visit some beautiful waterfalls close to Turrialba Volcano, small hiking of 15 minutes - Return to your hotel, drop off directly at your lodging, no matter if it is airbnb, house or hotel

Other Sightseeing Options in Heredia

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What people are saying about Heredia

Overall rating

4.7 / 5

based on 89 reviews

Best tour of my trip. Edgar was great guide, very accommodating, informative, and funny. Make sure to bring warm clothing - it can be literally freezing at volcano and very windy. Lunch was terrific at beautiful restaurant. Make sure to go explore the path in the garden below.

The experience of this tour was beyond expectations! Pedro from Willy Tours was a great Guide! I totally recommend this tour! It was a shame to volcano's lake was dry, but it was still magnificent experience! 100% recommended!

Even though it was windy, it's quite an experience. Awesome views. I enjoyed walking in the crater. Then there was the trip own into Cartago. The views along the way are out of this world.

This excursion was amazing. The lunch they provided was the best lunch I had all trip. The guide was informative and polite.

Our guide was very good and calm, it was very cloudy but even with that I really enjoyed the tour