Alajuela is Costa Rica´s second largest city in Costa Rica and is 20km (12.4 miles) northwest of the capital San Jose in the Central Valley. It is the capital of the providence with the same name. Alajuela is nicknamed the City of the Mangoes. This city has an important place in Costa Rica’s history, as it was an active supporter of independence from Spain. Known as Villahermosa and La Lajuela, Alajuela was even capital of Costa Rica for a brief period.

However, this city’s biggest claim to fame is that it is the hometown of the country’s national hero Juan Santamaria, a drummer boy, who sacrificed his life to save his country during the battle of the Hacienda Santa Rosa, in 1856, against the forces of William Walker who was attempting to take control of several Central American countries. Santamaría torched the hut where Walker and his army of Nicaraguan slaves were hiding so that they would come out and fight. He succeeded in the effort but died in the process. Costa Rican's all over the country now pay homage to him and you will find many things named after him in Alajuela.

In the center of the city is a huge impressive red dome church that is a few minutes away from the Parque Central or Central Park. This park is lush and green, and is the ideal place to hang out and mingle with the locals, who often come here in the afternoons. West of the park is Alajuela’s central market, which takes up an entire city block and is a great place to shop. Another tourist attraction in this city is the Juan Santamaria Cultural Historical Museum which is near Central Park. This museum houses many historical maps, artifacts and portraits from the battle of 1856.

The main exports of the region are coffee, sugar-cane, corn, beans, tobacco, citrus fruits, strawberries, tubers like cassava, flowers and ornamental plants. Other commercial activities include poultry farming, beekeeping, pig farming and the dairy industry. More recently, Alajuela has seen important investment in free zone parks and heavy industry companies.

The Juan Santamaria International Airport (airport code SJO), San Jose's biggest International Airport lies just a few miles away from Alajuela city. With over 4 million passengers annually, Juan Santamaría is the 2nd busiest airport in Central America. The airport has a Main Terminal serving international passengers while the Sansa Terminal, named for Sansa Airlines, handles domestic flights. Over 15 airlines serve the airport including non-stop routes from the USA and Canada. The airport has a VIP Lounge for business/first class passengers, but available to anyone for a fee.

A goodtime to visit Alajuela is in April when the entire town celebrates Juan Santamaria Day with a huge parade and carnival in the city. Also, every year in July, there is a Mango Festival held with concerts, fairs, food stalls and parades. To sample authentic Costa Rican cuisine, visit the Mercado Municipal or any of the local restaurants in the city. Don´t be surprised if you experience an earthquake because the area often experiences earthquakes. The 2009 magnitude 6.1 earthquake was the strongest to hit the area, causing several landslides.

With easy access and plenty of bus routes, getting in and out of Alajuela is not a problem. If you wish to stay in Alajuela, there are plenty of hotels and accommodations to suit every budget. There are lots of small bars frequented by locals and nightclubs that often feature go-go dancers and lots of regaeton and salsa. A visitor may want to see a soccer game, especially if Alajuela´s soccer team “Liga” is playing their rival “Saprissa.”

Just 15 minutes west of Alajuela is the tiny suburb of La Garita, where you can find Zoo Ave which has over 100 species of birds. Zoo Ave covers 142 acres (57 ha) and is home to the endangered quetzal, toucans, cranes, monkeys, crocodiles and much more. There is even a rescue and breeding center on the grounds which breeds and releases more native species than any other zoo in Latin America. All the animals at Zoo Ave were former pets, or injured or confiscated wildlife. They are now healthy and living in a beautiful jungle environment, and are released to the wild whenever possible.

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 walk carelessly through butterfly habitats, secured by netting that allow these gorgeous creatures to dance overhead.

Alajuela is a great place to learn about Costa Rica´s history and experience local life in Costa Rica.