Parque Central

Parque Central Review

Heredia is centered on tree-studded Parque Central, one of the country's loveliest and liveliest central parks, surrounded by some notable buildings spanning more than 250 years of history. The park has a large, round, cast-iron fountain imported from England in 1879 and a Victorian bandstand where the municipal band plays Sunday-morning and Thursday-night concerts. Families, couples, and old-timers sit on park benches, shaded by fig and towering palm trees, often inhabited by noisy and colorful flocks of crimson-fronted parakeets. Drop into Pops, a national ice-cream chain at the south side of the park and pick up an ice-cream cone, then take a seat on a park bench and watch the passing parade. Tap your foot but don't start dancing—for some arcane reason, dancing in this park is prohibido!