His father was Leonardo Elizondo Bolañdo of Heredia, a military guard and a Costa Rica's first polo team member, and his wife Maclovia Arce Vargas of Orotina.
He left Tilarán for San José where he worked in the National Bank, attended high school at night and began publishing poems in El Diaro de Costa Rica.
As a young boy Hernán Elizondo began writing poetry about his native Tilarán, encouraged by the Catalan educator, Don Domingo Flaqué.
Hernán Elizondo, first discovered by Don Pepé Figueres, has left his mark on Costa Rican fiction and poetry, especially by capturing rural life in Guanacaste with all its hardship and humanity.
Source: Camilio Rodríguez Ch., "Hernán Elizondo Arce, El poeta que descubrio Don Pepe," Mirada A La Actualidad, San José, Costa Rica, Sept. 27 – Oct. 14, 2006, pp.