Heredia is a mere 10 km north of the capital, San Jose.
It’s a friendly little town. The only reason you would have heard of it is if you ever considered a study abroad option in Costa Rica; almost the only known attraction in this town is the University of Costa Rica. The city is a perfect choice to escape the craziness of San Jose, with enough nature to keep you visually stimulated.
OVERVIEW
POPULATION: 25,000
WEATHER: Comfortable (15-25 °C). Rainy season May-October
MUST DO: Parque Central. It’s not only a must do, it is one of the few things you can do it a town this small. Take a seat and do some building watching and people watching.
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RENT AN APARTMENT IN HEREDIA
$350.00-$400.00. Expats have drove the property rental prices up in Costa Rica. Even in Heredia, it seems.
NIGHTLIFE IN HEREDIA
6/10
So it turns out that size doesn’t matter!! For a town of about 20,000, Heredia does a fine job of nightlife. The people are what makes going out pleasant here. There are plenty of pretty university girls that’ll make your heart yearn after you leave; even the guys are friendly!
I recommend: Bulevar Relax. For once, Lonely Planet was right: Bulevar really is the place to be in this town. The joint is packed nuts-to-roof on the weekend with fun-loving students. The price is right too.
IS HEREDIA SAFE?
Yes, it is safe. The people in Heredia are friendly and, unlike most of the country, I found them refreshingly honest and forthright. This is often a welcome surprise once you get away from beach destinations in countries that are primarily known for their beaches!
COST OF LIVING IN HEREDIA
GROCERIES: Milk (1L)= $1.40 Loaf of Bread= $1.50 Eggs= $3.20 Water (1.5L)= $2.10 Cigarettes= $3.00
BOTTLE OF BEER: $2.00
TAXI: No more than $3.00 to cruise around here.
HOSTEL DORM BED/NIGHT $15.00
JOB OPPORTUNITIES
Here? Not really. Although in other parts of the country where more tourists go you’ll probably be able to teach English or something.
FINAL THOUGHTS
As a country, Costa Rica does not do much for me. There is quite a bit of of petty crime, people trying to cheat you at every turn and it has a bad case of gringovitus. Heredia is the star pupil of this country. If you want to skip the above hassles, skip San Jose, skip the beaches and have a pleasant stay in Heredia!
OVERALL RATING: 7/10
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Schedule Your Personal Consultation With My Latin Life
