How does it sound going for a hike and then doing a picnic with a view of the Central Valley? Good right? When I visited Emerald Forest in San Isidro, Heredia, hiking and picnicking were my plans.
Emerald Forest is a place that few people know about, but they usually go back when they visit. I don’t know if it’s the peacefulness of the place or that not many people know about it. But after I saw this place, I wanted to go back and spend an afternoon enjoying the lovely views.
General information
The name of this place is inspired by the forests and mountains that surround this place, which is part of the Braulio Carrillo National Park. The goal of this place is to give all visitors a relaxing space where they can reconnect with nature.
This fascinating place is located in San Isidro, Heredia Province. This is one of the highest points from Heredia, so the temperature is usually colder than the rest of the Central Valley.
Here is the exact location: Emerald Forest location
You can drive any car there, but I recommend using an SUV. You must book your ticket before going. So reach out to them before. You can call them or send them a WhatsApp message (contact information below).
Things to do at Emerald Forest
Hiking
Even though the trails are not long compared to other places I’ve visited, they are well maintained. The trails are perfect for recharging from nature around this place. As you walk down the two main trails, you’ll find a small river, a pond full of frogs, and small shacks where you can meditate peacefully.
If you would like to do a longer hike near San José, I recommend going to Montañas de Cariblanco or Hacienda la Chimba.
Picnic
When I visited this place, I did a picnic, as I mentioned. There is plenty of space, and you can do your picnic over the grass or use some tables they have there with a view! And what a view!
When I visited this place, the owners were there, and they were super helpful in providing some things we forgot to bring with us for the picnic.
Sunsets
As you can see in the cover photo of this article, the views from there of the Central Valley are breathtaking! You can see Heredia and San José provinces from there.
I didn’t stay to watch the sunset, but I imagined, and I’ve also seen amazing photos!
Meditation and Yoga
This is the perfect place to disconnect from your busy life and reconnect with nature and yourself. As you walk through the trails, you’ll find a lot of spots to do Yoga or meditate surrounded by nature.
Special Events
They offer private tours during the day and the night with a professional guide. They also have facilities (main building) for groups with kitchen and everything you need to spend the day there.
You could also rent this place for photo shooting sessions, team buildings, yoga events, and birthdays. If you are more interested in this, you can reach out to them to request specific information about this.
Emerald Forest Hiking and Wellness Recap:
- Location: San Isidro, Heredia (Drive there)
- Difficulty: Easy
- Access: Any car
- Contact: +506 8644-4172 (Make sure you book!)
- Schedule: Weekends 9am-6pm / Monday to Friday open to private groups.
- Cost: Tourists/Costa Ricans ($6 / 4,000 colones)
- Parking: Yes
- More info about the place: Emerald Forest FB and Emerald Forest IG
- Hidden Gem Score:
