Home
Costa Rica
PLAN MY VISIT
Costa Rica Destinations HotelsThings to do Transport Maps Vacations Team
  • Top Destinations
PLAN MY VISIT →
  1. Home
  2. Costa Rica
  3. Destinations
  4. Central Valley

Alajuela & SJO Airport, Costa Rica

Alajuela, nicknamed City of the Mangoes, is one of the most important cities in Costa Rica. It is the capital city of the providence bearing its name and is located just 11 miles northwest (17 km) of San Jose. Just outside of town is where you'll find the Juan Santamaria International Airport (Aeropuerto Internacional Juan Santamaria), Costa Rica's principal airport.

HOTELS
Similar places: Airport  City 
Alajuela & SJO Airport Costa Rica
Alajuela & SJO Airport Costa Rica
Alajuela & SJO Airport Costa Rica
Alajuela & SJO Airport Costa Rica
Alajuela & SJO Airport Costa Rica
Alajuela & SJO Airport Costa Rica
Alajuela & SJO Airport Costa Rica
←→

The SJO Intl. airport is named after Juan Santamaria, the national hero of the Republic of Costa Rica, who was born in Alajuela. He was fatally injured in 1856 while attempting to halt the army of U.S. filibuster William Walker, who was embarking on a path down Central America attempting to form a private slave-holding empire. In commemoration of his bravery, the country celebrates a national holiday on April 11th.To learn more about the history, visit the small Juan Santamaría Historical Museum (Museo Histórico Cultural Juan Santamaría), which happens to be inside the old city jail and houses many interesting artifacts. There is also a statue of the hero in Juan Santamaría Park (Parque Juan Santamaría), which is lined with beautiful trees and can be found two blocks south of the central park. The Central Park (Parque Central) is the town square full of mango trees, providing a shady place to stop and relax. Adjacent to the park is the old 19th century Cathedral (Catedral), the elegant resting place of two former Costa Rican Presidents.

With a slightly warmer climate than San José, Alajuela is a pleasant escape from the hustle-and-bustle of Costa Rica's capital. It is a great cultural center and base for exploring the sights nearby. If you happen to pass through on a Saturday, the Central Market (Mercado Central) is an open market with fresh produce, meats and fish. People from all over town come to do their shopping and socialize with neighbors. Just west of Alajuela is the tiny suburb of La Garita, where you can find over 100 species of birds. Covering 142 acres (57 ha) is Zoo Ave, home to the endangered quetzal, toucans, cranes, monkeys, crocodiles and much more. There is even a rescue and breeding center on the grounds. Another great spot to see some beautiful creatures is the Butterfly Farm in La Guácima. It is from here that tens of thousands of pupae are shipped to zoos all over the globe. You can even stroll carelessly through butterfly habitats, secured by netting that allow these gorgeous creatures to dance overhead.

More laid-back than the busy streets of San José, Alajuela is a small city that is close to many of the spectacular sights Costa Rica has to offer. Within driving distance is the world-famous Arenal Volcano sitting 61 miles (98 km) to the northwest along the eastern slopes of Cordillera de Tilarán. Monteverde and the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve is an 87 mile (140 km) drive away and will leave you wallowing in the immense biodiversity and beauty of this unique area. Another option for wildlife viewing is Carara National Park, which is located along the highway headed for Jaco and the Pacific Coast.

For shorter drives and day trips, Poas Volcano is a popular destination. It is located within Parque Nacional Volcán Poás and situated 23 miles (37 km) directly north of Alajuela. Another short, scenic trip is to the northwest where you'll find the clean friendly town of Grecia. Grecia is famous for the hard-to-miss, huge, all metal Catholic Church (Iglesia Católica). The church is a hypnotizing deep-red, contrasted with a white trim and is completely made of steel. It is as beautiful inside as it is outside. The other main attraction in Grecia is the amazing World of Snakes (El Mundo de las Serpientes), an 18,000 ft² (1,672 m²) zoological garden housing over 50 snake species from all over the world as well as other reptiles such as crocodiles and lizards and various amphibians. The zoo charges an $11 entrance fee which aids the professional breeding and conservation of endangered species. Zoo hours are from 8 am to 5 pm and it is located 1 mile (1.5 km) from Grecia along the old road to Alajuela.

If snakes don't get your heart pounding, then Los Chorros Waterfalls (Cataratas Los Chorros) certainly will. These amazing waterfalls plummet from high above and invite those brave enough to repel down the steep cliff. On a calmer note, exploring the Grecia Regional Museum (Museo Regional de Grecia) will lead you down an informative path of the city's history. Surrounding all these sights are beautiful green forests giving way to a very important agricultural focal point. Pineapples, coffee and large amounts of sugar cane are cultivated and can be seen as you move through the area.

Just a few miles from Grecia, is the small pueblo of Sarchí. Famous for Costa Rican artesanía, this town is where you will find literally thousands of handcrafted oxcarts, including the world's largest constructed oxcart. In the 19th century, these oxcarts were one of the only forms of transportation, especially for farmers needing to deliver their fresh coffee beans to markets around the country. Now, the oxcart has been adopted as a national symbol. Smaller, colorfully hand-painted oxcarts can be found all over the country and serve as a beautiful way to remember Costa Rica and part of its history. Opened in 1902, the Joaquín Chaverrí Oxcart Factory (Fábrica de Carretas Joaquín Chaverrí) is revered as the birthplace of oxcart manufacturing in the country. It is the largest and most popular factory among visitors, who can purchase any one of these unique handicrafts. Besides oxcarts, it's hard to miss all the souvenir and artisan shops in the area which sell a wide-variety of handcrafted furniture and mementos that reflect the local culture. Many people wait until the end of their trip to visit Sarchí and do their purchasing, some leaving with many receipts and full shopping bags. The other main attraction is the unforgettable pink and teal colored church (iglesia) which may be one of the most attention grabbing churches you've ever seen. Built in the 1950's, the identical towers gaze out over the town and are awe-inspiring.

For a chance to spot some wildlife check out Bosque de Paz, a private reserve perfect for birding. The trails wind through 960 acres (390 ha) of wet landscape that is also home to big cats and monkeys.

One of the most impressive parks to behold is the topiary park in the town of Zarcero. The creation of Evangelisto Blanco, the park is a series of well-manicured shrubs that you'll have to see to believe. With the help of the vibrant shrubbery, the park is an expression of flowing shapes and animals that is sure to bring a smile to your face. Adjacent to the park is the town's white church with red domes.

For some wildlife viewing in the area, try the private 2,000 acre (810 ha) Los Angeles Cloud Forest Reserve (Reserva Biológica del Bosque Nuboso de Los Angeles), where the trails will invite you to meet some 200 bird species as well as some big cats found in Costa Rica. Driving through the area it is hard to deny the economic importance of the coffee plantations as the shiny green leaves can be seen throughout the rolling green hills.

Southeast of Monteverde and northwest of Zarcero lies the Alberto Manuel Brenes Biological Reserve (Reserva Biológica Alberto Manuel Brenes), this sits atop the Tilarán Mountain Range. It's remote enough to attract few visitors and the severe terrain is full of plant and wildlife. Brave travelers will be rewarded with waterfalls, plenty of bird and mammal species to observe, and an array of pristine orchid-filled vegetation. There is even a research facility with accommodations for visitors.

Alajuela & SJO Airport Personalized Trips

All-In-One Magical Family Vacation, Costa Rica
Costa Rica
All-In-One Magical Family Vacation

Customer Reviewed Best trip ever! Costa Rica is absolutely beautiful and magical. All the drivers were waiting and all the accommodations arranged — Anywhere took care of every detail so we don’t have to stress.

12 days $$View Trip
A Mother/Daughter Nature Expedition, Costa Rica
Costa Rica
A Mother/Daughter Nature Expedition

Customer Reviewed I did not meet one unfriendly person. Everyone was friendly and helpful. I loved the experience of Costa Rica!

8 days $$$View Trip
Epic Coast to Coast Couple’s Journey, Costa Rica
Costa Rica
Epic Coast to Coast Couple’s Journey

Customer Reviewed Costa Rica was awesome. We do a lot of travelling and this was one our best trips ever.

22 days $$$View Trip
This Getaway Was Paradise!, Costa Rica
Costa Rica
This Getaway Was Paradise!

Customer Reviewed We visited three very different parts of Costa Rica—Monteverde, Manuel Antonio, and Drake Bay. Tracy at Anywhere.com was wonderful! Very responsive, proactive, and helpful!

10 days $$View Trip
An Adventure of a Lifetime, Costa Rica
Costa Rica
An Adventure of a Lifetime

Customer Reviewed Costa Rica has really got itself well organised for tourism, the service was spot on, the travel timing accurate ( although some of the roads were really poor, pot holed). Hotels and activities are really geared for tourists and they made us feel welcome.

17 days $$View Trip
See More Trips


Excellent!
Trustpilot Rating
Based on 705 reviews
Trustpilot
Anywhere Designed a Fantastic Itinerary
The travel route was designed with great precision and it was a seamless experience from start to finish. Yahaira unders...
Dec 03, 2022
– JKen R
Trustpilot Rating
Will use them again!
Communicative, helpful and honest. They stuck to my budget and accommodated my changes. My kids and I had such a good ti...
Dec 01, 2022
– Kayla C.
Trustpilot Rating
100 Stars!!
If I could give 100 stars, I would wholeheartedly. All the booked activities were excellent and pricing was unbeatable. ...
Nov 30, 2022
– Ravi D.
Trustpilot Rating
Stress Free Vacation
Everything on our itinerary went according to plan. This saved anxiety about transportation and allowed us to experience...
Nov 29, 2022
– Catherine.
Trustpilot Rating
Best Travel Experience Ever!
Working with the Anywhere team was the best experience I have ever had with a travel agency. Every person we interacted ...
Nov 25, 2022
– Aaron B.
Trustpilot Rating
5 STAR service
All the planning, communication and ability to offer on the ground assistance was spot on, responsive and helpful. Could...
Aug 23, 2022
– Jessica H.
Trustpilot Rating
Everything was Perfect!
Our agent (Harold) was amazing. He was incredibly responsive, worked hard to make our honeymoon perfect, and even adjust...
Aug 22, 2022
– Maya & Ka.
Trustpilot Rating
We loved every minute of this trip.
Leonardo was great at tailoring our experience to suit our needs, temperaments and budget and the process of planning th...
Aug 04, 2022
– Andrew M
Trustpilot Rating
Friendly and Very Responsive
My kids think this is the best trip ever (we travels a lot as a family, so this is definitely a big compliment)
Jul 19, 2022
– Emily Y
Trustpilot Rating
Travel with Ease
Every aspect of our trip was well designed to make travel easy and fun. I will recommend Yahaira and this company to any...
Jul 17, 2022
– Maureen V.
Trustpilot Rating
Trip of a lifetime for my family
The task was to plan an exceptional experience for my complete family to celebrate our 50th wedding anniversary. My expe...
Mar 28, 2022
– Claude Ca.
Trustpilot Rating
Third time using Anywhere Costa Rica
I am writing to thank you for all of your help and expertise in assisting us, once again, in putting together a beautifu...
Mar 14, 2022
– Betty Kni.
Trustpilot Rating
Kudos for Anywhere
Harold was an amazing trip advisor. We had a complicated itinerary, and Harold managed to find us the right places and c...
Mar 13, 2022
– Julia B.
Trustpilot Rating
Anywhere.com is the Best!!!
We booked our trip to Costa Rica with Anywhere.com and it was nothing short of perfect! We told Harold the primary desti...
Jan 07, 2022
– Taylor Ka.
Trustpilot Rating
Amazing Costa Rica Vacation
Harold built a wonderful 11 day trip for my friends and I in Costa Rica. Between the hotels (Arenal, Monteverde, and Man...
Mar 07, 2022
– Christoph.
Trustpilot Rating

Let's Dream Together

Share your bucketlist to get inspiration and local connections.

We care about the protection of your data. Read our Privacy Policy.

Costa Rica Vacations
  • Adventure
  • All-inclusive
  • Beach
  • Budget
  • Eco-tourism
  • Family
  • Group
  • Honeymoon
  • Luxury
  • Nature
  • Private
  • Rainforest
  • Romantic
Highlights
  • Top Destinations
  • Beaches
  • Rainforests
  • Cloudforest
  • Volcanoes
  • Waterfalls
  • Surfing
  • Leisure
  • Off the Beaten Path
  • Airports
Costa Rica Travel
  • Maps
  • Safety
  • Weather & Climate
  • Sustainability
  • Holiday Season
  • Currency
  • Driving & Car Rental
  • Getting Around
PLACES TO GO
  • Arenal Volcano & Hot Springs
  • Monteverde Cloudforests
  • Manuel Antonio Beach & Jungle
  • Tamarindo Beach
  • Santa Theresa & Malpais Beaches
  • Puerto Viejo Beach
  • Nosara Beach
  • Jaco Beach
  • Tortuguero Rainforest
  • Corcovado Rainforest
  • Rincon de la Vieja Volcano & Waterfall
  • Nicoya Peninsula
  • Guanacaste Beaches
  • Osa Peninsula
THINGS TO DO
  • Hot Springs
  • Zip Lines
  • Suspension Bridges
  • Horseback
  • Rappel
  • Wildlife
  • Hiking
  • Chocolate Farms
  • Whitewater Rafting
  • Coffee Farms
  • Butterfly Gardens
  • Surfing
  • Sport Fishing
  • Birdwatching
  • Scuba Diving
  • Catamaran Cruise
  • Indigenous Culture
  • Yoga
  • Wellness
  • Cave Exploration
Trustpilot 5 of 5 rated service
Trustpilot "Excellent"
Plan My Visit→+1 (888) 456-3212
MessengerContact AnywhereWhatsapp ContactCall USA: +1-888-456-3212

© 2023 Anywhere Inc. All rights reserved.Privacy Policy