//
District in Alajuela canton, Alajuela province, Costa Rica
Photo: Rodrigo Fernández, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Alajuela is a city in the Central Valley of Costa Rica, near San José. It is not to be confused with Alajuela Province, which extends north from the city of Alajuela to North Costa Rica.
From the travel guide. Select a place for details, a map and what is nearby.
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.
Five blocks east of the Central Cathedral, this landmark church has an ornate Baroque style, even though it was built in 1941.
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.
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.
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.
Cheap hairdressers all over the city, in case you want to get a cut before returning home.
Great Peruvian food, especially the spicy creamed chicken. Owners run the shop and are very friendly and happy to talk (mostly in Spanish).
Proper family-run guesthouse. The area does not to seem to be the safest, but just be a little curious.
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.
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.
Airport Hotel Costa Rica
5 minutes west of the SJO San Jose Airport. This hotel offers free transportation to and from the airport 24 hours.
Occupying a former historic home, this tranquil lodging features a courtyard with gurgling fountain and free wifi and breakfast.
Offers a relaxed garden atmosphere with two friendly dogs and complimentary homemade breakfast along with restaurant for other meals.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
All of the expected amenities of a Hampton Inn (e.g. pool, full breakfast, gym, corporate look).
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.
A nice coworking space with fast (100mbs up and down) wifi, phone rooms, and a quiet environment work.
By train
From San José (Estación Alantico) tickets are ₡1,005 (April 2020).
By bus
There are lots of public buses that criss-cross the city or travel to nearby towns.
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.
Choose an airport to see hotels, stations, taxi ranks and car rental desks around it.
San José (Alajuela) · International · SJO
Loading places around the airport…
Articles and travel topics about Alajuela and Costa Rica.
Travel tipsFind the best time to visit Costa Rica in 2026. Compare dry season sunshine, green season wildlife, rainforest hiking, hotel rates, and surf swells.
8 min read
InspirationThe best places to visit in December across sun, snow and culture, comparing Lapland, Chiang Mai, Vienna, Costa Rica and Cape Town.
7 min read
Nature & adventureDiscover the best nature retreats and farm stays for a relaxing break, featuring Tuscan agriturismi, cloud forest lodges, and fjord cabins.
7 min read
ItinerariesThe Pan-American Highway is a series of routes that passes through Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama in North America, and Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Chile and Argentina in South…
Wikivoyage
Every section of the guide. Open one to read it in full.