Costa Rica car rentals and Heredia and Grecia
Delightful day trips are just a short drive away from San Jose, so why not embark on an adventure through the country's stunning rural areas during your upcoming Avanti Rental Cars Costa Rica vacation? Some of the country's quaintest communities are located just northwest of the city, providing customers of Avanti Car Rentals Costa Rica with plenty of alternative itinerary options. The scenery here is rich and verdant, especially in the towns of Heredia and Grecia. The scattered farming communities are truly representative of the country's rich agricultural identity, as are the friendly locals that live and work the land. All things said, this is a great area to explore in a car rental, provided you don't mind getting a little lost every now and then!
Head to Heredia
Located on the flanks of Costa Rica's impressive Barva Volcano, Heredia is one of the nation's finest colonial cities. Founded back in 1706, the city is affectionately referred to as “The City of Flowers.” Customers of Avanti Rental Cars Costa Rica will discover a number of local landmarks in the town, including a colonial church from 1763. Located in the city's central park, the church features a beautiful stone facade, while the interior boasts a large alter to the Virgin Mary. Visitors will also find a music temple in the same park.
Good eats are always available
Customers of Avanti Rental Cars Costa Rica will have plenty of great restaurants to choose from during their visit to Heredia. This is because the town is home to the National Autonomous University. So where's the best place to dine? Well, that would be the La Lluna de Valencia, which is located just outside the city on the road to San Pedro de Barva de Heredia. This delightfully rustic Spanish restaurant features an amazing paella, refreshing sangria, and one of the area's most amiable hosts.
Explore the outskirts of Heredia
Outside Heredia, customers of Avanti Rental Cars Costa Rica will discover an intricate maze of picturesque villages and towns. These include Santa Barbara, Santo Domingo, Barva, and San Joaquin de Flores. Travelers will also stumble upon the INBio Park; a 12 acre educational center and nature park. Customers of Avanti Rental Cars Costa Rica are invited to tour the Park's museum as part of their visit. Hop on the road to Barva, and you'll pass the Museo de Cultura Popular, which is open seven days a week. The Ark Herb Farm, which features more than 300 types of medicinal plants, is also in the vicinity.
Grecia
The little town of Grecia is located just a short drive north of Heredia, and is well worth a side trip as its home to one of the nation's most unusual churches. Located at the town's center, the church is made entirely of metal and painted a deep red. Customers of Avanti Rental Cars Costa Rica will also find the Grecia Regional Museum in the tiny community. It is located just off of the central park and is open daily.
Have a hissing good time on your road trip
If you're looking for a unique place to visit during your Avanti Rental Cars Costa Rica day trip to Grecia, Avanti highly recommends heading to World of Snakes, which is located about a ½ mile outside of the town, on the old road to Alajuela. The facility is open from 8am to 4pm, and is home to more than 150 snakes representing more than 50 species. Admission is just 11$ for adults and $6 for children. This includes a fully guided tour of the serpentarium.
The road to Heredia turns north just off the highway from San Jose to the airport. If you're planning to continue on to Grecia, take the highways west towards Puntarenas. You'll need to turn north to get to Grecia (there'll be plenty of signs to lead the way).