Alajuela Province

Best things to do in Alajuela Province

Provincia Alajuela's Essential Wonders

Alajuela Province is defined by its diverse volcanic activity and tropical ecosystems. The region features the active Poás Volcano and the iconic conical Arenal Volcano, surrounded by solidified lava fields from the 1968 eruption. Geothermal activity manifest in natural hot springs and the mineral-rich, bright blue waters of Río Celeste. The landscape includes primary rainforests, cloud forest reserves, and significant waterfalls like the 90-meter Catarata Del Toro, set within an extinct volcanic crater.

Provincia Alajuela's Essential Wonders — Map

Alonso Jiménez Quesada / CC BY-SA 3.0

A

Juan Santamaría International Airport

Juan Santamaría International Airport is the primary airport serving San José, the capital of Costa Rica.

Eric T Gunther / CC BY-SA 3.0

B

Rio Fortuna Waterfall viewpoint

La Fortuna Waterfall is in central Costa Rica, in the Alajuela Province. In Spanish, it is known as Catarata Fortuna.

Yricordel / CC BY-SA 3.0

C

Arenal Volcano

Active andesitic stratovolcano that underwent a major eruption in 1968. It stands at 1,633 meters and is currently in a resting phase with visible geothermal activity.

D

Poás Volcano National Park

Poás Volcano National Park is a national park in Costa Rica that covers an area of approximately 65 square kilometres; the summit of Poás…

m.prinke / CC BY-SA 2.0

E

Hanging Bridges Arenal

A 3.2-kilometer trail system featuring 16 bridges, including six hanging bridges suspended above the rainforest canopy with views of the volcano.

Cephas / CC BY-SA 4.0

F

Reserva Monteverde

High-altitude cloud forest reserve protecting 10,500 hectares of biodiversity, including the resplendent quetzal and thousands of plant species.

MongeNajera / CC BY-SA 3.0

G

Park Entrance Rio Celeste

Access point for Tenorio Volcano National Park, where visitors register to hike the trails leading to the turquoise Rio Celeste and its waterfall.

H

Rain Forest Chocolate Tour

Guided educational experience demonstrating the traditional harvesting, fermenting, and drying processes of Costa Rican cacao.

I

Free Natural Hot Springs

Publicly accessible section of the Tabacón River where volcanic activity naturally heats the water to approximately 38°C.

Hans Hillewaert / CC BY-SA 3.0

J

Rincón de la Vieja National Park

Rincón de la Vieja is an active andesitic complex volcano in north-western Costa Rica, about 23 km from Liberia, in the province of…

Sygic Travel User / CC-BY-SA

K

Observation deck de Volcán Arenal

Elevated viewpoint located near the base of the volcano, offering panoramic views of the lava fields and the cone's western face.

L

Areal 1968 Volcano trails and MTB paths

Private trail network traversing the basaltic rock and solidified lava flows resulting from the 1968 eruption.

Fabiana Valera / CC-BY-SA

M

Catarata Río Celeste

A 30-meter waterfall where the water turns a distinct turquoise color due to the suspension of aluminosilicate minerals.

N

Volcán Tenorio

Part of the Guanacaste Mountain Range, this volcano features four peaks and two craters surrounded by primary cloud forest.

O

Catarata Del Toro

This 90-meter waterfall plunges into an ancient, extinct volcanic crater. The site features trails and a viewpoint overlooking basaltic rock formations.

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