Paraiso Escondido

This is another volcano accessible from Paraiso Escondido as a day trip. It's only 20 miles from Heredia on narrow roads that wind through landscape of fertile Farms and dark forests. As at Irazu, there's a paved road right to the top. The volcano stands 8,800 feet tall and is located within a national park, which preserves not only the volcano but also dense stands of virgin forest. Poas's crater is over one mile across and is said to be the second largest crater in the world. Geysers in the crater sometimes spew steam and muddy water 600 feet into the air, which distinguishes it as the largest geyser in the world.

There's an information center where you can see a slide show about the volcano, and there are marked hiking trails through the cloud forest that ring the crater. Be prepared when you visit Poas: This volcano is often enveloped in dense clouds. If you want to see the crater, it's best to arrive early. Moreover, it can get cold up there and muddy as well, so wear boots and dress appropriately.

Heredia was founded in 1706, and a colonial church dedicated in 1763 stands in the central park. The stone facade leaves no question as to the age of the church, but the altar inside is decorated with neon stars and a crescent moon surrounding a statue of the Virgin Mary. In the middle of the palm shaded park is the tower of an old Spanish fort. Of all of the cities in the Meseta Central, this is the only one with some colonial feeling to it.

You'll still see adobe buildings with Spanish tile roofs along narrow streets. Heredia is also the home of the National University so you'll find some nice coffee shops and bookstores near the university. This is also where you can visit an open-air market every Saturday morning (photo at left).The merchants are set up by 5am and the entire city is bustling by 6am. If you are in Heredia on a Saturday morning, a visit to the market is a "must see" experience. The state of Heredia is where wealthy Costa Ricans live. Heredia has the highest household incomes in all of Costa Rica. Nightlife abounds in Heredia. If you are looking for a night out-on the-town you should first visit Bolivar, a local Pub that offers fabulous appetizers at no charge to its patrons. A bottle of beer cost about 90 cents and mixed drinks are about one dollar. After filling up on some food and drink, check out any one of the many dance clubs. Area favorites include Mira Flores, Tica Linda and Champs. All of them begin to get crowded starting around 9:30pm.

Distance from Paraiso Escondido: About 5 minutes (10 minutes by bus)
Cost: Transportation only (Taxi is about $4.00 or it's about 20 cents by bus)