Alajuela (älähwā'lä), the provincial capital city of the province, is located northwest of San José and has about 220,000 inhabitants.  Alajuela’s climate is warmer than many other areas in the Central Valley.  It is the birthplace of Juan Santamaria, a national hero and for whom the international airport is named (the airport is 3 km south of the city center). The Cordillera Mountain range passes through the province and is dotted with spectacular volcanoes and magnificent natural beauty.  

Arenal Volcano, located within Alajuela province and the most well-known of Costa Rica’s active volcanoes, offers hot baths, scenic waterfalls and horseback riding trails through lush greenery.  Nearby Lake Arenal, the largest inland body of water in Costa Rica (48 square miles), provides excellent fishing, windsurfing and boating opportunities.  (Arenal Volcano is often referred to as being in the Northern Region, along with the town of Nuevo Arenal.)

Another important volcano in Alajuela province is Poás.  Visits to Poás Volcano (37 km. north of Alajuela) and nearby La Paz Waterfall make a pleasant day trip. Poás Volcano is a large crater filled with bubbling, green, sulfurous liquid.  On a clear day you can see the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea from this vantage point. Nearby, La Paz Waterfall plunges nearly 1400 meters (4500 feet) down the outside of Poás Volcano in less than eight km. (5 miles), creating a dramatic waterfall, observable and accessible from the road.

Popular towns in Alajuela Province are Atenas, Grecia, La Guácima, Fraijanes, La Garita, Sarchi, Zarcero, San Ramón and La Fortuna.