Inland regions of Costa Rica

Heredia

With an extension of 2,656 sq km and a population of 75,000 people, Heredia is the smallest province of Costa Rica. It keeps its colonial tradition and the adobe architecture can still be seen in Barva and Santo Domingo.



Coffee plantations are ubiquitous in the region, and many of them are open to visits.
Among the natural wonders of the region there is the Braulio Carrillo National Park, a tropical rainforest reserve. Excellent for birdwatching, especially quetzals. The imposing Barva volcano, 2,906 meters high, dominates the western part of the Park.

Cartago

Also known as The Old Metropolis, the city of Cartago was Costa Rica’s capital city until 1823, when San José became the new one. This is the most important region of Costa Rica in terms of colonial art and heritage.



The region has a wet tropical climate and is located between two ridges, Central and Talamanca, where is the Cerro Chiripó, the highest mountain in Costa Rica with its 3,600 m. But Cartago’s main point of interest is the Irazú volcano, a 5-craters monster, still active today, which attracts thousands of tourists every year.


Alajuela

Called “Land of mangoes”, this is one of the country’s biggest regions. It is located at the north of the country, bordering with Nicaragua. The city of Alajuela was founded in 1782 and it is the birthplace of historical personalities such as the national hero Juan Santamaría.

This province possesses natural treasures ranging from rainforests to the lust northern plains. Visitors can enjoy the sights of two of the most active volcanoes in the world, whose flows of lava form a fascinating night show, and the Poás volcano, in the central Volanic Ridge.