Guía turística

The best of San Rafael de Heredia, close to your chalet

• Rancho Típico Los Peroles (5 min): Rustic spot for traditional Costa Rican food and drip coffee among the trees, with Central Valley views, steps from Bosque de la Hoja.
• La Pataconería (6 min): Patacón (fried plantain) specialists with a varied, laid-back menu for every taste, on the road to El Castillo.
• La Consentida Puerta de Alcalá (7 min): The classic Puerta de Alcalá reborn as a mountain cantina and resto-bar, with food, cocktails, live music and DJs on weekends.
• Trova & Más (7 min): Mountain restaurant and gathering place serving breakfast through dinner, with live music and a family atmosphere.
• Restaurante Añoranzas (8 min): Since 1992, Costa Rican cooking at the country's only restaurant-museum, with 400+ antiques, gardens and a kids' playground.
• La Cantina de Sabina (10 min): Tapas, wine and live trova music in a mountain hideaway with the soul of a Spanish cantina.
• El Rancho de Pacho (8 min): Wood-fire chicharrones and traditional Costa Rican food with 28 years of history, plus a soccer field and event halls.
• Bosco Restaurante & Café (Montara Hotel) (10 min): Flagship restaurant of the brand-new Montara Hotel (former La Condesa), serving international dishes with seasonal Heredia produce and its own organic garden; great for breakfast or coffee amid the…
• Pizza La Finca (18 min): Classic wood-fired pizzeria in the Concepción hills, perfect for sharing with family, also serving pastas and meats, with occasional live shows.
• Restaurante Prana (18 min): Warm, chef-built restaurant serving Costa Rican flavors, with breakfasts, steaks, salads and coffee available all day.
• Luciérnaga Coffee Garden (6 min): Countryside garden for picnics, jazz and wine, with wood-fired pizzas, steaks and pastas in the mountains.
• Montirol Forest Café & Bakery (10 min): French-style forest café and bakery on the road to Monte de la Cruz, with Tarrazú specialty coffee, Sunday family brunch and wine dinners.
• Bosque de la Hoja Recreation Area (3 min): Over 20 hectares of pine and cypress forest with trails, grill shelters, streams and green areas, 3 minutes from the chalets.
• Finca Vikingos (27 min): Eco-farm with trails, two lookouts over the Central Valley and Gulf of Nicoya, a giant swing, a lake and fruit trees.
• Cerro Dantas Wildlife Refuge (38 min): Cloud-forest refuge on the edge of Braulio Carrillo National Park, with trails, waterfalls and rich wildlife for fit hikers.
• Barva Volcano (Braulio Carrillo National Park) (60 min): Cloud-forest trail to Barva Lagoon in the volcano's crater at 2,900 m, with lookouts and plenty of mist.
• Britt Coffee Tour (20 min): Costa Rica's best-known coffee tour: from bean to cup with humor, theater and tasting, minutes from the airport.
• Canopy Adventure Park (26 min): Zip-line with 11 cables and 13 platforms in a private cloud forest on the slopes of Barva Volcano, plus mountain biking, hiking and rappelling.
• Toucan Rescue Ranch (27 min): Wildlife rescue and rehabilitation center with toucans, sloths and owls; guided tour to meet them and learn their stories.
• Sibö Chocolate (35 min): Guided tasting of artisan Costa Rican chocolate in the San Isidro hills, with bonbons, traditional indigenous hot chocolate and the story of cacao.
• Finca Rosa Blanca – Coffee Tour (30 min): Tour of an organic high-altitude coffee farm in Santa Bárbara, from harvest to roasting, ending with a cupping, with optional lunch at its restaurant.
• Monte de la Cruz Park (10 min): Municipal park on an old volcanic cone with sweeping Central Valley views, cypress trails, a volcanic lagoon, picnic shelters and a dog park.
• Sabor del Cielo Mirador & Restaurante (10 min): Hilltop restaurant and lookout above San Rafael with Central Valley views, short trails, a mini farm, steaks, pastas, gourmet burgers and cocktails.
• Súper La Coope (8 min): Closest supermarket, in the center of Los Ángeles de San Rafael.
• Megasuper San Rafael (14 min): Full supermarket in downtown San Rafael, on the north side of the church.
• Fresh Market San Rafael (15 min): Large convenience store in downtown San Rafael, handy for quick shopping.
• Walmart Heredia (25 min): Hypermarket for big shopping runs: groceries, home goods, electronics and pet supplies.
• Farmacia Fischel San Rafael (15 min): Chain pharmacy in downtown San Rafael.
• San Rafael gas station (15 min): Closest gas station, in downtown San Rafael.
• Banco Nacional San Rafael (ATM) (14 min): Banco Nacional branch and ATM in downtown San Rafael.
• Los Ángeles public clinic (EBAIS) (9 min): Closest public primary-care clinic (CCSS), in Los Ángeles.
• San Rafael public clinic (CCSS) (15 min): Public CCSS clinic serving the canton, in downtown San Rafael.
• Hospital San Vicente de Paúl (23 min): Heredia's regional public hospital, with a 24-hour emergency room.
• San Rafael Veterinary Hospital (14 min): Closest vet, in downtown San Rafael, with 24-hour emergency service.