Costa Rica’s second-largest province, Alajuela, stretches from the outskirts of the capital San José in the south to the Nicaragua border in the north. Many travelers land here, at the Juan Santamaría International Airport in the city of Alajuela, but there are many more things to do in Alajuela. It’s a diverse province of volcanoes, forested national parks, and geothermal attractions. If your time in Costa Rica is limited, or if you want a full immersion in the country’s most stunning and accessible landscapes, make a beeline (or, should we say, a zipline?) to Alajuela.
Although the temperature in Alajuela Province is fairly constant year-round—expect average temperatures of around 73°F (23°C)—the amount of rain varies dramatically. The dry season, between December and March, is the most comfortable time to visit. It’s unlikely to rain much during this season, so you can enjoy outdoor activities without getting wet—plus, the views are better when the skies aren’t cloudy. The shoulder season months of November and April can be a bit wet, but prices are often cheaper than in the peak dry season.
Driving around Alajuela Province gives you the freedom to visit towns and natural attractions that aren’t serviced by public transport. Many people fly into Juan Santamaría International Airport, which is in Alajuela, making it easy to rent a car at the beginning of your trip. Confident, experienced drivers won’t find the conditions in Costa Rica too challenging. If you want to venture off the highways and into the mountainous backroads of Alajuela, renting a 4-wheel drive is a good idea.
While Alajuela contains some of Costa Rica’s most popular attractions—including Arenal Volcano and La Fortuna town—it’s not an overcrowded tourist destination, and there are plenty of places to get off the beaten track (quite literally). The Juan Castro Blanco National Park is near the Poás Volcano National Park but is much less visited and is especially attractive to birdwatchers. In northern Alajuela, next to the Nicaragua border, the Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge is an important wetland that’s off the main tourist circuit.
