Heredia is located 6 miles north of the capital San Jose and is widely considered the safest city in Costa Rica .

Spanish Schools in Costa Rica find this an excellent location, a perfect place to learn Spanish and to begin your exploration of Costa Rica. Pura Vida Language Institute is located on the main street, 200 mts este de Banco Nacional.

The city and its surrounding areas provide all the conveniences of a medium-sized city and has a surprisingly youthful and active feeling due to the presence of the many young Costa Ricans attending the National University. 
 
San Joaquin de Flores is located just four kilometers west of Heredia City. The county of Flores was named after a doctor who was famous for his public labor in 1914. The town of San Joaquín is older: in 1777, at the end of the colonial period, it was called Quebrada Seca (Dry stream).

The town had its main development during the years of Costa Rica 's first exports of coffee, around 1843, in which some families in the country became a wealthy oligarchy. Many of Costa Rica ’s famous coffee plantations surround Heredia where one can still see ox-carts loaded with beans.
 
Flores county is the smallest of Costa Rica , only 7 km. In this zone of Heredia prevails a pleasant climate among the 17 and 23°C or more. From May to September the climate is warm with afternoon showers. October and November are cooler and rainier. December to April are the drier, hotter months of the year.
 
One historical icon in San Joaquín is the centennial church, which was declared an architectural and historical heritage site because of the beauty of its structure and decoration. It was built between 1865 and 1888

August 16 is San Joaquín Day. There are parades and a fair which has typical games, popular music and art. Holy week, in the beginning of April, is also a big celebration in Flores with church activities, street decorations, traditional masks and music.

The annual crafts fair in December brings out the best of the people's creativity: wood toys, bamboo articles, traditional paintings, make-up for costumes, legend masks made by local artisans, typical food and sorbetera ice cream are exhibited through an entire week.

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