More Activities in Barva 2026
In February and March, I visited the Barva district twice, and overall it was a very pleasant experience that I’d like to share with you. First, I’ll tell you about the patron saint festivities in San José de la Montaña, a community located 3 kilometers north of the city of Barva.
Next, I’ll talk about the Valentine’s Day activities in downtown Barva. I’ll keep this brief so you can enjoy the photos and videos from both events.
San Jose de la Montaña Patron Saint Festival
March 19 is Saint Joseph’s Day, and the residents of the community of San José de la Montaña held their patron saint festivities for two weeks in honor of their patron saint.
My wife and I decided to stop by on Sunday, March 15, to experience these celebrations for the first time.
The first thing we noticed was the absence of amusement rides. But the kids didn’t seem to lack enthusiasm.
What there were, however, were food stalls with affordable prices: cheese tortillas, pork rinds, cotton candy, and grilled beef. In addition, the two parish dining halls were packed, with people buying picadillo de papa, homemade bread, picadillo de arracache, rice with chicken, buttered corn on the cob, coffee, and aguadulce (a drink made with dulce de tapa, a product of sugarcane).
If you’d like to stay updated on future editions of the San Jose de la Montaña Patron Saint Festival, follow HERE the local parish’s Facebook page.
There were also bingo booths and game stalls offering household appliances as prizes.
Many families and groups of friends took advantage of the green spaces to set up camp and enjoy the activities and food.
After Mass, there was a concert featuring the band Los Faranduleros. People took advantage of the small plaza in front of the church to dance to the band’s popular hits and original songs.
We were surprised that, despite the lack of amusement rides, the event drew such a large crowd. It was a very family-friendly event, and I hope to attend again in 2027.
Los Josefinos de la Montaña closed out the event on March 19 itself with a solemn Mass and the karaoke finals.
Valentine’s Day in Barva
On February 14, my wife and I decided to try visiting another town in Heredia County besides Barva.
But we found ourselves drawn back to Barva because of a poster advertising a concert by the band Los Hicsos to celebrate Valentine’s Day.
As the concert began, we decided to wait behind the San Bartolomé Parish, where there’s a great green area to sit as a couple and enjoy the afternoon.
Meanwhile, a bingo game was being held, so the parish kitchen was open. After the bingo ended, we took the opportunity to enjoy some delicious Barva food.
We ordered a tasty tamale and a plate of vigorón (pork rinds, salad, and yuca, served with escabeche).
The entrance to the top of the grotto next to the church was open—something I’ve rarely seen—so I took the opportunity to film it.
After having coffee with the tamale, we went to Mass, and afterward we enjoyed the concert.
Los Hicsos are very popular in the province of Heredia, and the people of Barva turned out in force for a dance where people of all ages participated.
No artificial intelligence was used in any part of this article—it was written by people, for people!!