2 Best Hotels in Heredia, Central Valley

Set amid fields of green coffee, this exclusive, hilltop B&B hideaway has a much-deserved reputation as one of the country's sumptuous splurges. The Gaudí-esque main building has a soaring two-story atrium and white-stucco arches, set among tropical flowers and shaded by massive fig trees. Rooms are filled with interesting artistic flourishes, as well as such luxuries as Jacuzzi bathtubs and 100% bamboo sheets. The spacious two-story suite, popular with honeymooners, is out of a fairy tale: a spiral staircase with a carved-serpent handrail leads up to a romantic, window-lined tower bedroom. The sumptuous, secluded Cielo suite has its own entrance through the gardens. The owners work hard to make the hotel as eco-friendly as possible. Prix-fixe gourmet dinners are available at the chic restaurant El Tigre Vestido, but lunch on the terrace—with its spectacular view of San José down in the valley and the Escazú mountains beyond—is a better value. After a day of touring, unwind in a full-service spa. Finca Rosa Blanca offers occasional Web-only promotions.

The entrance here resembles any other storefront downtown, and you could pass right by without noticing this quiet, family-run gem. Although smack-dab in the middle of Heredia’s central business district, the property extends back 70 meters and provides peace and quiet you’d never expect to find here. Rooms have blindingly white walls and tile floors, which keep things bright—windows face the long, skylighted hallways rather than outdoors. All contain armoires and colorful spreads. A substantial breakfast, served in the upstairs dining room, fortifies you for a day of sightseeing.