Alajuela travel guide
Alajuela, Costa Rica: where to stay, eat and play
The city right next to San José’s international airport (yes, the airport is actually in Alajuela), surrounded by coffee farms, waterfalls and Poás Volcano. The perfect first or last night in Costa Rica.
By Sarah & Thomas, calling Costa Rica home since 2016
Best Time
Dec to Apr
From the airport
About 10 min
Best Airport
SJO
Weather
Mild, rarely humid
Temperature and rain by month
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Average daytime highs and rainfall in Alajuela. Bars show relative rainfall. Sunrise and sunset are for the 15th of each month.
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Our take
Who Alajuela is for
You’re probably not going to stay in downtown Alajuela unless it’s your first or last night in Costa Rica. But the Central Valley around it is amazing: coffee farms, waterfalls, great views and Poás Volcano.
Flying into San José? We suggest staying in Alajuela, not San José. Many people think they need to book in San José, but the airport is actually in Alajuela, just 5 to 10 minutes from downtown, and hotels are usually cheaper.
How long to stay: A night or two is always nice, for getting to the airport easily and exploring the Central Valley.
Your airport night
Stay in Alajuela if…
You have an early flight or arrive late at night. People tend to think staying in San José is better. It isn’t: Alajuela is closer and cheaper.
Stay in San José if…
You want a city break with museums, the National Theater and lots of restaurants, and you don’t mind airport traffic.
Want views?
Stay in the hills above Alajuela at a place like Xandari or Pura Vida Hotel. You get Central Valley views and you’re still close to the airport.
Getting there
Getting to Alajuela
From the airport
Landing at SJO? Stay in Alajuela. The airport is actually in Alajuela, not San José. Downtown Alajuela is about ten minutes away, while San José can take an hour in rush-hour traffic.
Many hotels have a free or cheap airport shuttle, with a driver waiting for you with a sign. Official taxis are red or orange with a yellow or green triangle on the doors.
For more info:
Rental car
Any car is fine downtown. For the hills above Alajuela (Poás and the coffee farms), an SUV with good clearance is best, but you probably don’t need a 4×4. Adobe gives our readers 10% off.
Shuttles
Landing late? Spend the night in Alajuela and catch a shuttle in the morning. Book shuttles to the rest of the country with Bookaway, code SARAHMC5 for 5% off.
Where it is
Alajuela is both a province and its capital city. The province is huge and includes places like La Fortuna and Poás Volcano. This guide covers Alajuela city and the area around the airport, in the Central Valley next to San José.
Good to know: Automercado has the widest grocery selection if you’re picking up snacks for a road trip.
Weather
Alajuela weather and best time to visit
Dry season (Dec: Apr)
Almost no rain. December to February is cooler and windier, usually in the 70s °F, and it gets hotter from February on.
Rainy season (May: Nov)
Usually sunny until about 2 pm, then storms roll in for a few hours, sometimes with crazy lightning. Evenings are typically dry.
Feels like
Mild, rarely humid
Sunrise / Sunset
about 5:30 AM / about 5:30 PM
Rain usually starts
Around 2 pm
Our tip
Our tip: We love the climate here, since it doesn’t get too hot and humid like the beach towns. Visit Poás in the morning, before the fog rolls in.
Where to stay
Where to stay in Alajuela
Our top picks near the airport by budget
Pura Vida Hotel
High-end · Asian fusion · Airport shuttle
About 15 minutes from the airport, with an excellent Asian fusion restaurant and grounds that are so pretty. Free airport shuttle.
AC Hotel by Marriott Heredia Belén
High-end · Our #1 airport pick
Modern and clean, with a rooftop pool, a restaurant and a free airport shuttle. A great place to catch your breath after landing. Check prices →
Casa Garitas GuestHouse Pura Vida
Mid-range · Under 5 min to SJO
Clean rooms with A/C, a breakfast buffet and a free airport shuttle. We love this place because the staff are amazing. Check prices →
Alexander B&B
Budget · Breakfast included
Not fancy, but homey, comfortable and affordable, with an airport shuttle, continental breakfast and a nice terrace. Check prices →
Marriott Hacienda Belén
High-end · 5 min to airport · Pool
Less than 5 minutes from the airport, with a free shuttle, a pool, a restaurant and a gym. It’s beautiful!
Xandari Resort & Spa
Luxury · Spa · Trails
A spa village, yoga, pools and hot tubs, restaurants and 4 km of nature trails. Airport shuttle available.
Casa María Aeropuerto
Mid-range · Near the airport
Close to the airport, with an airport shuttle and breakfast for about $7.
Also worth considering: Finca Rosa Blanca (pool, gardens, a bar and a restaurant; we haven’t made it here yet) and Alice y Juancito Boutique Hotel (budget, breakfast included, shared kitchen and a cute garden).
See 24 hotels near San José Airport →
Our pick
Rent a house or apartment
Great for families and groups, especially if you want Central Valley views.
A few we like: a downtown apartment (2 bedrooms, sleeps 4), Casa Cafetal (gated community in the hills, pool), Casa Cielo Grande (sleeps 11, private pool, 20 minutes to the airport) and Casa Cerro Verde (sleeps 15, with top-notch valley views).
For more options, we suggest VRBO. Browse Alajuela rentals on VRBO →
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Things to do
Things to do in Alajuela
Our favorite
Poás Volcano
An active volcano north of Alajuela with breathtaking views into the crater. Go in the morning before the fog rolls in, and pre-book tickets, since it sometimes closes due to volcanic activity.
Good to know
It gets cold at the top, so bring a layer. Check our Poás guide for the current status before you go.
Coffee
Coffee farm tours
Doka Estate and Hacienda Alsacia are just minutes apart, so you can do both. We prefer Doka to support a smaller business. Hacienda Alsacia is the only Starbucks coffee farm in the world you can visit, with an open-air café overlooking a waterfall.
Good to know
Coffee tours pair perfectly with a morning at Poás.
Downtown Alajuela
The city doesn’t need to be on your list, but it’s a handy, cheaper base just minutes from the airport. Stroll the central park (look for sloths in the mango trees), the cathedral and the Juan Santamaría Museum, about the national hero the airport is named after.
Barva Volcano hike
A non-active volcano in Braulio Carrillo National Park. The hike is nice and there’s hardly anybody there, but you need a 4×4, especially in the rainy season.
La Paz Waterfall Gardens
An impressive waterfall plus rescued animals and cultural exhibits. Heads up, the animals are kept in somewhat small cages, so skip it if that bothers you.
Rescate Wildlife Rescue Center
Formerly Zoo Ave. It rescues and rehabilitates over 3,000 animals a year, and it’s great for families. Plan 3 to 4 hours.
Catarata Bosque del Niño
A steep, strenuous woodsy hike with a waterfall at the end. It gets crazy buggy, so bring lots of bug spray.
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Where to eat
Where to eat in Alajuela
Pesqueira da Limonta
Seafood · Dinner
Totally unexpected amazingness. If you like seafood or fish, this is your spot. We suggest it for dinner.
El Chante Vegano
Vegan · Lunch
It doesn’t look like much from the outside, but get ready for super tasty vegan food. The perfect lunch spot.
La Calle
Food truck · Beer · Burgers
Great beers and good burgers (about $10) with outdoor seating. Not the cheapest, but a fun spot to chill.
Denny’s
Open 6 am to midnight · Airport night
Early flight or late arrival? Denny’s is open every day from 6 am to midnight for breakfast at any hour.
For coffee with a view, try the open-air café at Hacienda Alsacia.
Practical stuff
Good to know before you go
Good to know
Packing for Alajuela
Layers
The Central Valley is cooler than the coasts, and it can get cold near Poás. Bring a cardigan, windbreaker or flannel.
Rain jacket
A must in the rainy season. We use the North Face Venture jacket because it’s lightweight, durable and great at blocking rain.
Bug spray
Mosquitoes usually aren’t a problem here, but bring some for waterfall hikes.
Travel insurance
Always a good idea. It’s not just for injury, but for theft, trip interruptions, and lost luggage. We use Heymondo.
Good to know
Safety
Alajuela is mostly safe, but don’t walk around downtown late at night and limit the cash you carry. The most common crimes are petty thefts.
Good to know
Practical basics
Groceries
There are several grocery stores in town. We like Automercado, which has the widest selection.
Getting around
Getting around Alajuela
Most visitors use Alajuela for the airport or day trips. Downtown is walkable or easy by taxi. For the mountains you’ll want a rental car with good clearance, or tours that include transport.
Rental car
Best for Poás, the coffee farms and waterfalls. Adobe gives our readers 10% off.
Taxis and tours
Official taxis are red or orange with a yellow or green triangle. Many tours include hotel pickup.
FAQ
Alajuela FAQ: your questions
Is Alajuela, Costa Rica safe?
Alajuela is mostly safe, but petty theft sometimes happens. Keep an eye on your belongings, don’t carry large amounts of cash and don’t flaunt expensive things.
What is Alajuela known for?
Being next to the main international airport, and its spot in the Central Valley surrounded by coffee farms, great views and Poás Volcano.
Is San José Airport in San José or Alajuela?
Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) is called the San José airport, but it’s actually in Alajuela. That’s why we suggest staying in Alajuela for your first or last night, not San José.
What are the best hotels near San José Airport?
Our top picks are AC Hotel by Marriott Heredia Belén (high-end), Casa Garitas GuestHouse Pura Vida (mid-range) and Alexander B&B (budget). All have airport shuttles. See our 24 hotels near San José Airport for more.
Should I stay in Alajuela or San José near the airport?
Alajuela. If you have an early flight or arrive late, downtown Alajuela is only 5 to 10 minutes from the airport and usually cheaper than San José.
How far is Alajuela from the airport?
About 10 minutes to downtown, though rush-hour traffic can make it longer.
What is there to do in Alajuela?
Poás Volcano, coffee farm tours at Doka Estate and Hacienda Alsacia, La Paz Waterfall Gardens, the Rescate Wildlife Rescue Center and waterfall hikes.
Is Poás Volcano open?
Usually, but it sometimes closes due to activity. Pre-book tickets and check our Poás guide before you go.
When is the best time to visit Alajuela?
The dry season (December to April) has almost no rain. In the rainy season, mornings are usually sunny with storms after about 2 pm.
Should I stay in Alajuela?
A night or two is always nice for getting to the airport easily and exploring the Central Valley.
Every guide
All our Alajuela guides
Keep exploring
More towns in Central Valley
Planning more of the region? See our full Central Valley guide.
Hello Sarah and Thomas,
On 1st reading about Costa Rica, we were wondering how to get around in the country and were pretty discouraged by what we read about car rentals, but finding your site changed our thinking.
Your site is really interesting and very well done.
Thanks for your efforts to improve our trip!
Stuart and Annie
Hi! We will be staying in Alajuela the first part of September. (7-14th) There will be 13 of us – adults and kids (teenagers), arriving and leaving from the airport, but only 12 of us sight-seeing, etc during the week. One of the adults is participating in a week long massage therapy training at Pura Vida Spa nearby, so won’t be going with us on our daily excursions. We plan to go to La Paz gardens and Poas volcano (if it’s open then) and we’d like to do a coffee plantation tour – probably Doka – and at least some of us would like to do a zip line. My main concern is transportation. To go to any of those locations, would one of those large (12-15 person) vans be ok on the roads? We would prefer to be able to all ride together. The expense of 2 rentals is a lot, but a couple of SUV’s may be easier to handle! Or would we be better off just getting a couple of Uber cars when we want to go somewhere?
Thanks so much for your help!
Hi Leigh! We partner with Adobe and they have a 12 passenger van, but it is a bit tight. That is actually with 3 people sitting in the front seat of the car (with seatbelts for everyone of course). However, you won’t have luggage with you for day trips so you can definitely make it work. We have actually driven that thing all over the country including in Monteverde (where the roads are unpaved and horrible) and it was great! So you’ll have no problem with it on the roads around Alajuela. I just looked at prices for that week and yea, doing the big van is definitely your best option. Also, another suggestion, if you have a day or two at the beginning or end of your trip when you won’t need the vehicle you can always keep the van for a shorter time. Adobe has an office near the airport but they will drop off or pick up the van for free within 12 miles of that office if you need. Here’s the link to the discount if you need it. https://www.costaricavibes.com/renting-a-car-in-costa-rica/
Also, we just finally visited La Paz last weekend. We should have a post about that coming out in the next few weeks. I’ll send it to you if you want some tips for that.
And it will take about 1.5 hours but if you want to make a day trip to the Pacific coast, it is definitely doable.
Let me know if you need more tips. 🙂
Fantastic! Good to know the van is do-able for where we want to go 🙂 I guess if needed, we could load up who and what luggage we can fit into the van at the airport and the rest of the crew could get an Uber to the rental house.
I will definitely look for your blog on La Paz! One thing I would like to know for all of our excursions (except maybe the volcano) is whether we should reserve and purchase tickets before we leave the states, or just purchase tickets when we we arrive at the various sites.
Thanks so much for the info and quick reply. We are all so excited about our upcoming adventure!