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Things to do in Alajuela

Our most recommended things to do in Alajuela

San José: Arenal Volcano, Hot Springs, & Zip Lining w/ Meals

1. San José: Arenal Volcano, Hot Springs, & Zip Lining w/ Meals

Tour the best locations in Costa Rica and learn about local life and culture from those who live there. Visit a coffee plantation, zip line, and soak in the hot springs at the base of the Arenal Volcano. Take the scenic route to the Arenal Volcano and visit a coffee plantation along the way. Gain an insight into the world of Costa Rican coffee and taste one of the best coffees in the world. Arrive at the "La Paz" and "San Fernando" waterfalls and admire the exotic tropical birds of Costa Rica, including many species of hummingbirds and rare emerald toucanets. Take in the views at the San Fernando Waterfall observation point before heading to the "Iguana Bridge", where you will have the chance to spot iguanas, sloths, monkeys, and toucans. Stop for an authentic Costa Rican lunch in a restaurant located in "La Fortuna." Then, prepare for a zip-lining adventure in the local rainforest jungles with 9 canopy cables and a 50 meter (150 feet) rappel on the Arenal River. Learn about the culture while listening to a "Maleku" Indigenous tribe presentation from locals. Relax for a couple of hours in the Paradise Hot Springs at the base of Arenal Volcano, surrounded by tropical gardens followed by dinner.

San Jose: Irazú Volcano, Cartago City & Orosi Valley Tour

2. San Jose: Irazú Volcano, Cartago City & Orosi Valley Tour

Start with a pickup from your hotel and travel by minibus along the Panamerican Highway until you reach the base of the Irazú Volcano. Travel up the winding road through fertile farmlands where many types of fruit and vegetables are cultivated.  Enjoy spectacular panoramic views of the surrounding hills and valleys. At the summit of the volcano, on a clear day, marvel at the spectacular view of both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Next, descend to the city of Cartago and stop at the Virgin of the Angels Basilica. Discover this local pilgrimage site which has large vaulted ceilings and exquisite examples of stained glass windows.  Continue the tour through the Orosi Valley, an area of magnificent natural beauty. Visit one of the few remaining colonial churches in the region and stop for a tasty typical lunch at one of the local restaurants. Finally, be returned to your hotel to complete the tour.

Poás Volcano, Coffee Plantation & La Paz Waterfall Gardens

3. Poás Volcano, Coffee Plantation & La Paz Waterfall Gardens

Experience Costa Rica's nature and culture on this full-day tour from San José. Your first destination is the Doka Estate coffee plantation, where you'll learn all about the ancient techniques of producing some of the best coffee in Costa Rica and around the world. Experience the careful process involved in the cultivation, harvesting, and roasting of the Golden Bean before tasting the delectable product. After your coffee tour, continue to Poás Volcano National Park, where there is a noticeable change in temperature and beautiful scenery in a cloud forest. Climb up Poás Volcano, an active stratovolcano that most recently erupted in 2017. The crater of the volcano is over a mile across and 1,050 feet deep, making for breathtaking views. Hike on a trail to the beautiful Botos Lagoon as you learn about the different ecosystems in the park. Then, continue to La Paz Waterfall Gardens and enjoy a buffet lunch of traditional Costa Rican dishes. After lunch, explore the lush tropical rainforest. See the flowing white rivers, spectacular waterfalls, birds, butterflies, monkeys, and hummingbirds before returning to San José.

San Jose: Tortuguero Park Day Tour with Breakfast & Lunch

4. San Jose: Tortuguero Park Day Tour with Breakfast & Lunch

The day begins with pickup from your accommodation in San Jose, Heredia, or Alajuela at 6:00 AM. On your way to breakfast, drive past rolling coffee plantations and admire the mountains of Braulio Carrillo National Park. At around 7:15 AM, stop for a traditional Costa Rican breakfast to set you up for the day's adventure. Enjoy fresh fruit juice, coffee, eggs, and the popular gallo pinto (a typical Central American rice and bean dish.) After breakfast, visit a local banana plantation and learn about the process of growing and exporting fruit. At around 10:00 AM, leave the bus behind and hop onboard a boat as you cruise into the jungle of Tortuguero National Park. Surrounded by tropical rainforest, which covers over 29,000 hectares, soak up the magic of this luscious green landscape. As you sail along the jungle canals, see native green sea turtles, as well as other endangered animals such as sloths, monkeys, and manatees. There are also countless colorful butterflies, toucans, herons, crocodiles, and more. Learn about each of the animals and their habitat in the jungle, as well as about local conservation efforts to protect them. Once you’ve worked up a bit of an appetite, enjoy a hearty buffet lunch. After lunch, take a relaxing stroll through Tortuguero Village where you’ll discover local life and learn about the history of the town and its residents. At the end of an unforgettable day, get back on the bus at around 3:30 PM and begin the return journey back to San Jose.

San José: Guided Volcano, Waterfall & Coffee Farm Day Trip

5. San José: Guided Volcano, Waterfall & Coffee Farm Day Trip

Visit the Poás Volcano, the picturesque La Paz outdoor waterfall, and a coffee farm on a day trip from San José, Costa Rica. A wonderful choice for coffee aficionados and nature lovers alike, this tour includes a hotel pickup and lunch at a local restaurant. Enjoy a convenient pickup directly from your accommodation in San Jose and make your way to your first stop for the day, the Poás Volcano. Travel in an air-conditioned van and admire coffee plantations as well as flower and strawberry farms along the way. Poás is one of Costa Rica's most active volcanoes and last erupted in April 2017. The volcano and the surrounding park were closed for close to 17 months and a safety perimeter of nearly 2.5 kilometers was established around the erupting crater. At the volcano, you'll have time to enjoy the impressive main crater with its sulfur fumaroles. Then, follow a trail to the Botos Lagoon, a crater lake located inside the Poás Volcano National Park. As you hike, learn about the different ecosystems in the park. After your trek, refuel with a delicious lunch of local fare at one of the restaurants in the area. Then, head out to your next destination, the La Paz Waterfall. Discover La Paz waterfall as you stroll along paved trails through cloud forests and rainforests. Make the most of excellent photo opportunities as you visit these falls and see them from different vantage points Then, head to your final stop for the day, the Hacienda coffee farm, the first and only Coffee farm. See the visitor center and learn what Coffee is doing to empower farmers, promote sustainable practices, and develop the next generation of coffee. At the end of your Costa Rica adventure, enjoy a convenient transfer back to your hotel in San José.

Alajuela: Coffee Plantation Guided Tour with Tasting

6. Alajuela: Coffee Plantation Guided Tour with Tasting

Discover the ins and outs of coffee on a guided tour of the Doka Estate Costa Rica Coffee Tour & Plantation in Alajuela. Explore the plantation, coffee mill, drying patios, and roasting room before ending your tour with a tasting in the shop. Take in the gardens after your tour on your own. Meet your guide and start your tour with a visit to the seedling station to discover the step-by-step process of seed germination through to the first crop. Learn about the history of the estate, its owners, the varieties of plants, the geography of the area, and traditional cultivation techniques. Then, move on to the coffee plantation and discover more about the Vargas family and crop production. Visit the oldest wet mill in Costa Rica to see its machinery, which dates back more than 120 years. Learn about each stage of the process (separation, peeling, fermentation, and drying). Take in the drying patios and roasting room and discover the secrets behind Doka's expertise by experiencing the aroma, texture, and taste of each of the Tres Generaciones coffees. After the tour, visit the shop for a coffee and chocolate tasting. You can also buy liquors, local souvenirs, and art. Before you leave, visit the butterfly garden, bonsai garden, hydroponic garden, and small lake under your own steam. If you get hungry, head to the restaurant for typical Costa Rican fare.

From San Jose: 3-Day Tortuguero National Park Excursion

7. From San Jose: 3-Day Tortuguero National Park Excursion

Explore the protected Tortuguero National Park in the Limón Province, reachable only by airplane or boat. Take in the wealth of biodiversity in its eleven different habitats, including rainforest, mangrove forests, swamps, beaches, and lagoons. Trip itinerary: Day 1: After an early morning hotel pickup, admire the biodiversity of a primary forest through the window as you drive past Braulio Carrillo National Park. Sample a delicious Costa Rican breakfast during the drive. Mid-morning, board a comfortable boat and travel along the Tortuguero Canals. Be enchanted by the surrounding paradise and its varied flora and fauna. Then, enjoy a refreshing cocktail and a delicious lunch at the hotel. After lunch, tour the canals and take incredible photos for the rest of the afternoon. Arrive at Pachira Lodge (or similar) for a delightful dinner and a restful night's sleep. Day 2: Discover the flavors of Costa Rica with breakfast at the Lodge. Then, hike along the Lodge's private trail and work up an appetite for lunch. After lunch at the Lodge, visit the Sea Turtle Museum, the beach, and the picturesque village of Tortuguero. In the evening, enjoy dinner at the Lodge again. Day 3: After breakfast at the Lodge, head back to San José, stopping for lunch at El Ceibo in Guápiles on the way. Arrive back in San José in the afternoon.

From San Jose: Coffee Plantation Day Trip with Coffee Sample

8. From San Jose: Coffee Plantation Day Trip with Coffee Sample

Our tour guide will pick up you at your hotel and bring you with comfortable and full equipment vehicle to our estate. Getting to our destination, we start the tour with a delicious iced coffee as a welcome drink and we going to walk through a coffee plantation, visiting different stations as the coffee nursery, wet mill, drying patios, roasting room and souvenir shop. Also, we will enjoy a coffee sample with different blends and roasts. After the tour you can discover by yourself the butterfly garden, the botanical garden and takes great pictures of the place. Just in case we also have a restaurant so you can enjoy typical food and the local flavor in addition.

Alajuela: 1-Way Transfer to La Fortuna or Arenal

9. Alajuela: 1-Way Transfer to La Fortuna or Arenal

Enjoy a safe and reliable private or shared transfer from Alajuela to your accommodation in Arenal or La Fortuna. Benefit from a 1-way door-to-door service with air-conditioning, Wi-Fi, and local drivers. Save yourself from having to carry heavy bags and navigate the public transportation system and take comfort in knowing that all vehicles are regularly maintained to high-quality standards. Make use of the Wi-Fi provided to share your adventure with loved ones. Your local driver will collect you from the door of your hotel and ensure your journey to La Fortuna is comfortable and air-conditioned. Keep hydrated with the bottled water provided. Shared shuttle routes operate daily with at least one stop along the way to stretch your legs, pose for photographs, use the facilities, and get food. Private transportation can be scheduled anytime you wish and from anywhere in Alajuela. The private option includes a 1-hour stop at the location of your choice for photos, lunch, or some sightseeing.

San Jose: Doka, Grecia & Sarchi Oxcart Factories and Stores

10. San Jose: Doka, Grecia & Sarchi Oxcart Factories and Stores

Dive into the art, architecture, history, and flavors of Costa Rica's countryside on this fun-filled day tour. Check out a coffee and sugar cane plantation with plenty of time for samples, make a stop at a butterfly museum, and get up-close looks at the creations of artisans in the town of Sarchi. Start your day at the Doka Estate, where you can follow the process of creating the perfect cup of coffee. See how beans are harvested and roasted, get tips on your tasting technique, and then wake up with a rich cup followed by a tasty lunch. In the afternoon, head to the charming town of Grecia to learn how its brick-red metal church was built using materials from Belgium in the late 19th-century. Nearby, pop into a butterfly museum for up-close looks at exotic species. Then, hop back in your shuttle to head to Sarchi. When you arrive, get an insider's look at artisan workshops that produce the colorful ox carts the town is famous for, and then return to San Jose with convenient drop-off back at your hotel.

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What people are saying about Alajuela

Overall rating

4.8 / 5

based on 223 reviews

Doka, Sarchi and Grecia were great tours! We learned a lot and were able to drive through the beautiful countryside! It was a great day seeing some of the less busy, tourist areas of Panama! Our guide was very knowledgeable too! Get ready to learn about Panamanian culture and get some great photos!

Best tour of my trip. Edgar was great guide, very accommodating, informative, and funny. Make sure to bring warm clothing - it can be literally freezing at volcano and very windy. Lunch was terrific at beautiful restaurant. Make sure to go explore the path in the garden below.

Great tour, best way to get to La Fortuna from San Jose as you stop off at several sites including coffee plantation, two waterfalls and zip lining. It was our first day and a great introduction to Costa Rica

Ronnie, our tour guide was funny, down to earth, and very knowledgeable. He took great care of his tourists and we could tell he enjoyed what he does. I will request him anytime I do this tour again.

Even though it was windy, it's quite an experience. Awesome views. I enjoyed walking in the crater. Then there was the trip own into Cartago. The views along the way are out of this world.