City or town
Things to see in Alajuela (Costa Rica): 11 places and when to go
Alajuela is a city in Costa Rica with around 388,000 inhabitants, and this site lists 11 places in and around it, mainly Nature (5), Wildlife (4), Temples (2). The best known are Poás Volcano, Poás Volcano National Park and San José Costa Rica Temple. The best time to come is December to March; also possible: April to August and November. In June there are 12 h 35 of daylight, and in December, 11 h 25. Here is what there is, when to go, how to get there and what else is nearby.
In a nutshell
- Where
- Costa Rica · 10.02, -84.23
- Population
- About 388,000
- Places
- 11 places on this site, in the town and around it.
- What people come for
- Nature (5) · Wildlife (4) · Temples (2) · Museums and art (2) · With kids (1) · History (1)
- Best time
- December to March.
- Also possible
- April to August and November.
- Nearest airport
- SJO San José (Alajuela), 3.7 km as the crow flies
- Highest point
- Poás Volcano, at 2,708 m.
What to see in Alajuela
The places in and around Alajuela, best known first, each with its own page: what it is, when to go and what is next to it. Distances are from the centre, as the crow flies.
- Poás VolcanoMountain in Costa Rica20 km
- Poás Volcano National ParkNational park in Costa Rica22 km
- San José Costa Rica TempleTemple of the Latter Day Saints6.2 km
- Juan Santamaría MuseumMuseum1.7 km
- Our Lady of Mercy ChurchChurch building in Grecia Canton, Costa Rica11 km
- Cerro Espíritu SantoVolcano21 km
- La Casa de La Morpho AzulWith kids · Wildlife11 km
- Monumento al Pacto del JocoteMonument1.7 km
- Museo FerroviarioMuseum15 km
- Parque Natural Urbano Lorne RossProtected area9.6 km
- Rancho Biriteca ( Territorio indigena Huetar )Protected area17 km
When to go to Alajuela
The best time to visit Alajuela is December to March; also possible: April to August and November. This comes from its own places: a month counts as the town's best time when it is the best time for half of what there is to see.
- JanBest time11:28
- FebBest time11:41
- MarBest time11:56
- AprPossible12:13
- MayPossible12:28
- JunPossible12:35
- JulPossible12:32
- AugPossible12:20
- SepBetter not12:03
- OctBetter not11:46
- NovPossible11:32
- DecBest time11:25
Best timePossibleBetter notHours of daylight
In June there are 12 h 35 of daylight, and in December, 11 h 25. In January, 11 of the 11 places are at their best.
When to go to Costa Rica in general, with its festivals and peak seasons, is in its country guide.
Getting to Alajuela
The nearest main airport is Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO, San José (Alajuela)), 3.7 km as the crow flies. How to get around Costa Rica (train, car, bus) is in its country guide, and what to sort out before you leave is in its checklist.
Where it is (opens in a new tab)Directions (opens in a new tab)
Other towns nearby
- Heredia, Costa Rica12 places12 km
- San José, Costa Rica39 places18 km
- Cartago, Costa Rica12 places37 km
- Quesada, San Carlos11 places42 km
- Guacimo6 places55 km
- Puntarenas8 places66 km
And all of Costa Rica, in its country guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is there to see in Alajuela?
The best known: Poás Volcano, Poás Volcano National Park, San José Costa Rica Temple, Juan Santamaría Museum, Our Lady of Mercy Church. In all, 11 places in the town and around it, all on your trip map from day one.
When is the best time to visit Alajuela?
December to March; also possible: April to August and November. In June there are 12 h 35 of daylight, and in December, 11 h 25.
How do you get to Alajuela?
The nearest main airport is Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO), 3.7 km away. From there, directions opens the route on the map.
How do I add it to my trip?
Create a trip with Alajuela as the destination and these 11 places are on your map, each with its category. The ones you like go into a day's plan with one tap, and Kokai reminds you when you pass nearby.
Keep reading
- Costa RicaBefore travelling to Costa Rica: 8 things worth sorting out, each with its deadline. No visa is needed for stays of up to 90 days: a valid passport is enough, plus, at i…
- Nature147 places for nature in Costa Rica, from Cocos Island to spots hardly anyone knows. Best time: December to March. Each with its own season by altitude and daylight.
- Where to travelPick what you fancy (mountains, beaches, museums…) and the months you have free, and Kokai tells you which countries to go to and what to see there.
Data from OpenStreetMap, licensed under the ODbL, from Wikidata, CC0, cities from Natural Earth and airports from OurAirports. Daylight hours are calculated from the latitude. More in credits.