Famed as one of Heredia Province’s hidden jewels, San Rafael is a sleepy rural town that mixes luxury real estate and old-style farms with a host of other contemporary delights. Surrounded by verdant highlands and cypress trees, it is known for its scenic beauty, which is augmented by cool weather and bucolic charm. Among San Rafael’s charms is a wide variety of cozy, highland-style restaurants and inns and access to nature. Trails into the woods start right from town, including one that leads to Bosque de la Hoja, a park ideal for picnics—or a full-day’s outing—amid babbling brooks and a host of birdsong.
