Alajuela

Alajuela is a city in the Central Valley of Costa Rica, near San José.

Fountain in Parque Central Alajuela

Understand

There is not very much to see in the city itself, but Alajuela is an excellent spot for beginning and ending a trip in part due to "San José" Airport being here.

Get in

By plane

• 1 Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO ^IATA) (only 2-3 km from the center, walkable). Alajuela is cheaper and quicker to reach from the airport than San Jose. A cab ride into the center of town costs only around US$5, as opposed to US$25 to San Jose.  

By train

• 2 Alajuela Train Station. A train aimed mostly at commuters goes three times in the morning and twice in the evening to/from San José (Costa Rica) with an intermediate stop in Heredia. The station was inaugurated in 2016 and there are plans to expand service if and when demand rises. Although the rail line passes by the airport tantalizingly close, there is thus far no direct service to the airport, necessitating you to find some way to traverse those two kilometers of distance if you want to combine train and plane. (updated Jul 2018)

From San José (Estación Alantico) tickets are ₡1,005 (April 2020).

Get around

On foot

Alajuela is small enough to take in by foot. You can see the entire downtown in one afternoon.

By bus

There are lots of public buses that criss-cross the city or travel to nearby towns. There are two main bus companies, TUASA and Station Wagon, that provide service between Alajuela and the capital, San Jose. The buses are cheap, less than US$1, and run every few minutes. There are also buses that depart to other nearby towns like Sarchi, San Ramon, Heredia, and Poas. Also, you can catch buses to farther destinations that regularly travel through Alajuela on the way to Pacific destinations.

By car

Taxis are often the easiest and a cheap way to get around the town. Taxies are red and there are many taxi stands scattered around the city. While the orange airport taxies will accept US dollars, the red taxies will only accept colones. Tipping is not expected, but you can let a taxi driver keep the change.

See

• 1 The Central Cathedral. Alajuela's Central Cathedral is the very center of the town as is traditional in colonial Spanish urban planning. The church is pretty, but not a spectacular piece of architecture. In front of the cathedral is the central park which is a nice spot for people-watching and you may get a glimpse of wildlife such as parrots and a sloth that is an elusive resident. 
• 2 Iglesia La Agonía. Five blocks east of the Central Cathedral, this landmark church has an ornate Baroque style, even though it was built in 1941. 
• 3 Parque Juan Santamaría. Alajuela is the hometown to Juan Santamaría, the Costa Rican National Hero. Around the city you can see the location of his home, although now there is just a small plaque and garden as the house in long gone. A block south of the Central Park is the Juan Santamaría park with a statue of the hero and a small collection of 1860s-era cannons.  
• 4 Museo Histórico Cultural Juan Santamaría. A block north of the Central Park is the Juan Santamaría Museum, which shows some era pieces explaining the legacy of Juan Santamaría and the 1856 campaign against the filibuster invaders led by U.S. Southerner William Walker, who finagled their way into the Nicaraguan presidency and wanted to take control of Central America. Free to enter. (updated Mar 2022)

Do

• For the nearby Braulio Carrillo National Park and Poás Volcano National Park see region article on Central Valley.
• Liga Deportiva Alajuelense (Fútbol). Alajuela is home to Liga Deportiva Alajuelense ("La Liga") soccer club. It is a powerhouse in the Costa Rican soccer league and is regularly ends first or second in the Costa Rican First Division. The Morera Soto Stadium is very close to downtown and tickets are usually inexpensive. While the Alajuela crowd will be enthusiastic, Alajuela does not suffer from hooliganism, thus taking in a game is appropriate even for single women and families. (updated Mar 2019)

Buy

• Hairdresser. Cheap hairdressers all over the city, in case you want to get a cut before returning home. From ₡2,500. (updated Mar 2019)
• 1 City Mall. Four story mall, dozens of stores and food options, feels very much like a big American mall. A clean and air-conditioned place to relax before your flight out. There is a bookstore here full of new books, mostly in Spanish. (updated Mar 2022)

Eat

• 1 Miski Perú, ☏ +506 8930 9258 (whatsapp). Great Peruvian food, especially the spicy creamed chicken. Owners run the shop and are very friendly and happy to talk (mostly in Spanish). ~₡5000 per main course. (updated Mar 2022)

Work

• 2 Venture X (Located in City Mall). 24/7. A nice coworking space with fast (100mbs up and down) wifi, phone rooms, and a quiet environment work. $10 for a half day. 

Sleep

Budget

There are small hotels and hostels catering to budget travelers. However, they tend to be somewhat overpriced due perhaps to the city's proximity to the international airport.

• 1 Habitationes con excelente ubicaion. Proper family-run guesthouse. The area does not to seem to be the safest, but just be a little curious. Double ~US$25. (updated Mar 2019)
• 2 Mitamon B&B Casa Aeropuerto, ☏ +506 83435696, +506 70345238, mitamonhostel@gmail.com. Excellently rated hostel with a friendly lady as owner. Spotless cheats and a decent kitchen. Close enough to the airport for walking. The area does not to seem to be the safest, but just be a little curious. US$12-15 for a dorm bed. (updated Mar 2019)
• 3 Alajuela Backpackers Hostel, Calle 4 Avenida 4. The only real downside to this place is that bizarrely the booking engine on its own website doesn't work and pre-booked rates are a lot cheaper than booking at the hostel. So you'd have to book through an aggregator. The rooms are cozy and clean, the view from the rooftop bar/restaurant is amazing even though the prices are on the high side and there's a free airport shuttle. From US$10 for a dorm if pre-booked online. (updated Sep 2018)

Mid-range

• Hotel Aeropuerto (Airport Hotel Costa Rica), ☏ +506 2433-7333. 5 minutes west of the SJO San Jose Airport. This hotel offers free transportation to and from the airport 24 hours. 
• Alajuela City Hotel & Guest House, Avenida 3 (downtown), ☏ +506 2441 0525. Occupying a former historic home, this tranquil lodging features a courtyard with gurgling fountain and free wifi and breakfast. US$50. 
• Hotel Pura Vida, Corner of Tuetal Sur y Tuetal Norte (2 km north of Alajuela along Ruta 727), ☏ +506 2430 2929. Offers a relaxed garden atmosphere with two friendly dogs and complimentary homemade breakfast along with restaurant for other meals. US$110. 
• Hotel La Rosa de America, Calle La Rosa (15 minutes west of the San Jose Airport, in the town of La Garita de Alajuela), ☏ +506 7101 6785. This hotel offers sparking clean accommodation in twelve rooms and two family suites arranged in cabinas, located around a large beautifully maintained tropical garden and swimming pool. Breakfast at the restaurant is included. US$71. 
• Vista Atenas Bed & Breakfast, Atenas, Alajuela (Sabana Larga Atenas), ☏ +506 2446 4272. Check-in: 1PM, check-out: noon. 35 minutes from San José International Airport, the lush rolling countryside, with its bountiful fruit orchards and sweeping valley vistas, transforms as you ascend the winding mountain road that brings you to Vista Atenas B&B. US$61. 
• Casa Amanecer Bed and Breakfast, Apartado 567-4250 (San Ramon), ☏ +506 2445-2100. A B&B that focuses on sustainability, that encompasses how the house was designed and built, vegetarian meals, and day-to-day operations, which include recycling and composting. It supports Habitat for Humanity Costa Rica. Volunteer opportunities are available: just ask. US$55. 
• Trapp Family Country Inn, ☏ +506 2431 0776, +1 786-8379198. Check-in: 1PM, check-out: noon. The Trapp Family Country Inn is 1.6 km from Juan Santamaría International Airport. Comfortable accommodations along with genuine family service in a peaceful atmosphere. This colonial style hotel is surrounded by beautiful gardens with centenary fig trees. US$80. 
• Casa Cielo Grande (50 meters south of Hotel Buena Vista in Pilas north of Alajuela), ☏ +506-4701-0048. Great entry/exit point for travellers, minutes away from main tourist pick up points and the airport. Provides comfortable rooms with memory foam mattresses, private bathrooms, restaurant and beautiful surroundings such as Doka coffee fields and Poas Volcano. 

Splurge

• Airport Hotel Berlor, ☏ +506 2431 4414, +506 2440 1320, info@berlorairportinn.com. 5 minutes from Juan Santamaria International Airport in Costa Rica (SJO), breakfast and free shuttle to the airport. Rooms with A/C, cable TV, free Wi-Fi. outdoor swimming pool and safe parking. 
• Xandari Resort and Spa, 1 Km Ne Del Salon El Diamante (Alajuela), ☏ +506 2443-2020. The elegant Xandari Resort and Spa sits in the central valley region of Costa Rica, 20 minutes from the international airport. The central valley is wrought with volcanoes, lush plantations, and hillsides, and blessed with outstanding weather. San José is a short drive away and offers an abundance of international cuisine, shops, open markets and entertainment. US$219. 
• Hampton Inn, Hwy 1 Airport Blvd (Right in front of the airport, adjacent to Fiesta Casino and a Dennys restaurant.), ☏ +506 2436 0000. All of the expected amenities of a Hampton Inn (e.g. pool, full breakfast, gym, corporate look). (updated Jan 2021)

Go next

• Atenas, in Alajuela Province – It had been ranked as the best weather worldwide. Atenas town in well known by the American community here. It is on the way to the central Pacific beaches becoming a mandatory stop on the way to Jaco or Manuel Antonio National Park.
• San Ramon
• Grecia
• Palmares