Alajuela
One of the best things about vacationing in Costa Rica is the fact that you're always within driving distance of an amazing vacation destination. Since Costa Rica is such a small nation, you're literally just a short Costa Rica car hire drive away from dozens of unique cities, parks, and attractions. Take the town of Alajuela, for example. Located just 1.9 miles from the Juan Santamaria International Airport, and 12 miles northwest of San Jose, Alajuela provides travelers with a great base for sightseeing in the Central Valley.
A brief history of the area
As the town's name would suggest, Alajuela was founded as a religious center. Back in 1782, a church was constructed in the town to serve the region's practicing Catholic population. Originally named La Lajuela, Alajuela was the capital of Costa Rica from 1834 to 1835. Also known as Villa Hermosa (the beautiful village), Alajuela is best known as the hometown of Juan Santamaria. This brave drummer boy became a national hero during the battle of Hacienda Santa Rosa. As the legend goes, Santamaria sacrificed his own life in order to preserve the independence of the country. Costa Rica car hire travelers can honor Santamaria every April 11th, on Juan Santamaria Day.
Big city amenities, small town charm
Although Alajuela is the second largest city in Costa Rica, it definitely doesn't strike Costa Rica car hire visitors as a major metropolis. In fact, the area is known for maintaining a provincial atmosphere and hosting lively festivals. Modern amenities are easily accessible in Alajuela. Costa Rica car hire travelers will find a movie theater, mall, Internet cafes, and plenty of local shopping. You'll find all the frills and features of a modern city in Alajuela, but at a much slower pace. Alajuela is also much easier to navigate than San Jose, making it a natural choice for Costa Rica car hire travelers.
Your gateway to Costa Rica
Most Costa Rica car hire visitors to Alajuela are often unaware that the country's international airport isn't actually located in the capital of San Jose. Juan Santamaria International Airport is just five minutes from the center of the town, set amongst a number of great hotels. These hotels accommodate a wide variety of budgets, and include everything from hostels to boutique hotels. These hotels, plus Alajuela's central location, make the town the perfect starting point for many Costa Rica car hire vacations. Popular excursions from the area including trips to the nearby butterfly farm, visits to the Poas Volcano National Park, and coffee tours to Doka Estate.
Live like a local
If you're feeling adventurous, the staff at Avanti highly recommend venturing to the outskirts of Alajuela in order to visit one of the many farms and coffee plantations in the area. AS the capital of Alajuela Province, the town acts as a principal trade center for a wide variety of merchandise, including sugar, coffee, and cattle. Locals are known for being friendly and helpful, so don't be afraid to stop and say hello. Costa Rica car hire travelers can also spend hours people watching at the large central park, where they'll enjoy granizados, shaved ice topped with sweet syrup, fruit, and condensed milk. Another local pastime has to be the Saturday morning farmers market. This market is one of the largest in the country and features everything from flowers and fresh produce to handicrafts and local music. Travelers can sample even more Costa Rican fare at the central market, which is known for its amazing selection of food vendors.
There's plenty to see and discover in the city of Alajuela, so what are you waiting for? Pack up your Costa Rica car hire and embark on a tour of this exciting locale today!