Location: Alajuela
Top Things to do in Alajuela
What to do and see in Alajuela, Province of Alajuela: The Best Historical & Heritage Tours
Alajuela (Spanish pronunciation: [alaˈxwela]) is the second-largest city in Costa Rica after the capital, San José. It is also the capital of Alajuela Province.
Restaurants in Alajuela
1. Sarchi Oxcarts & Souvenirs Shopping Experience. VIP Private Tour
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1 reviews
A national symbol of Costa Rica, the oxcart plays a key role in the country’s history, as they were used to transport coffee beans & other goods to nearby and faraway markets and ports. Starting in 1840’s most of the rural roads were very rough making the ox cart the sole means of transportation for families even though the trips could take weeks at times. Highly ornate, these oxcarts are elegantly craved and are usually hand-painted with bright colors. The painting of the ox cart is a Costa Rican tradition that has been passed down from generation to generation. Today most of the ox carts in Costa Rica are used as ornate decoration as well as symbols of Costa Rica in celebrations and parades. The largest and oldest oxcart factory is also found in Sarchi. The Joaquin Chaverri Oxcart Factory was built in 1902, and is considered to be the birthplace of oxcart handicrafts in Costa Rica.
Inclusions: Lunch, Bottled water, Coffee and/or Tea, Air-conditioned vehicle, Private transportation
Exclusions:
Reviewed By vivian_CR14
It was an amazing experience, I went with my parents and they loved the tour It consists of a wagon that goes through the Tarcolitos river, with the birds singing, and diferent trees and plants. The customer service is great, and the walk thru Santa Lucía's village is an unforgettable experience.
2. Explore the Central Market's History and Food with a Local Expert by Carpe Chepe
Overall Ratings
4.8 based on 23 reviews
We believe San José Costa Rica is a beautiful, fun and interesting city. We believe we can improve our city through sustainable tourism. We’re the first tourism company to specialize in sharing San Jose, the way locals live it. We’re a local business, improving the local economy while creating unforgettable experiences in or home town. The markets, all over the world are a colorful way to experience the culture of each country and mingle with the local crowd. On this tour we will tell you the history behind the 139 years of existence of our Central Market, and the first markets in our capital as we share with you its secrets, taste the best of its food (coffee, tropical fruits, traditional dishes, ice cream and more) and meet the people that make it unique. Small groups (10ppl max.) ensure a personalized service. You can book this tour at 10am or 3pm for your convenience.
Inclusions: Food tasting, Local guide, Hotel pickup and drop-off (if option selected), Snacks, Coffee and/or Tea
Exclusions: Food and drinks, unless specified, Hotel pickup and drop-off (if option not selected)
Reviewed By LisetteHelena
We joined the pub crawl mid February with visiting friends from Argentina, the United States, Italy and The Philippines. It was a great way to spend time together, have our guests see some of San José, and learn more about Costa Rica from locals. We had previously joined Carpe Chepe for the free city tour, and since we had a good time then, we decided to sign up for this pub crawl. We were not disappointed. All of our friends enjoyed themselves and we got to discover some new places ourselves as well. We visited different bars and didn't have to wait in line at any of the these places. This was really nice because some of the bars had lots of people lined up outside waiting for their turn to go inside. The guides were very friendly, bilingual, and made sure everyone enjoyed their night out. They seemed to be having a good time themselves as well and they kinda just felt like part of our group! It sometimes took a while to get drinks, but other than that we had zero complaints. We would definitely sign up for this pub crawl again in the future, or try one of the other tours that Carpe Chepe offers. If you're looking for a fun night out, this is it!
3. Half-Day San Jose City Tour
Overall Ratings
2.8 based on 6 reviews
This tour immerses you in the rich Costa Rican culture and history by allowing you to experiencing the beautiful museums and historical sites of San José. It begins with an initial orientation and drive through the beautiful Sabana Park.
Inclusions: Transport by air-conditioned minivan, Driver/guide
Exclusions: Gratuities, Food and drink
4. Volcan Irazu - Sanatorio Duran & Cartago Day Trip
Costa Rica is one of the Central American countries with the most volcanoes, among them is the highest in the country, at 3234 meters above sea level, the Irazú Volcano, only an hour and a half from San Jose, you can visit with us this beautiful and great volcano, where we tour the Irazú Volcano National Park. During our tour, we started the climb to the crater of the volcano for about an hour and a half, with a trip full of beautiful landscapes where you can see the city of Cartago and San José complemented by the beautiful agricultural farms of the area. To take the lunch in a typical restaurant in the area, which is going to be curious for its amounts of memories that flood the walls of the thousands of visitors who have eaten in this place, and your visit here will not be theexception for you to leave your memory of the visit.
Inclusions: Lunch, Tour Guide, Transportation from Hotels in San José, Tour operate with a minimum of 2 travellers
Exclusions: Gratuities, Souvenir photos, Alcoholic Beverages
Reviewed By 926RonS
The place didn't disappoint. The numerous waterfalls and trail was great experience. Definitely worth-visiting.
5. 8 Days - San Jose All in One
Experience the main natural attractions of Costa Rica from the highlands of the central valley, visiting impressive volcanoes, coffee growing areas and the Pacific coast returning to the comfort of your Hotel in the City of San Jose.
Inclusions: Lunch, Breakfast, Lunch, Breakfast, Breakfast, Dinner, Lunch, Breakfast, Breakfast, Dinner, Lunch, Lunch, Lunch, Breakfast, Breakfast, Air-conditioned vehicle, Bilingual naturalist guide , 7 nights accommodation , All Fees and Taxes
Exclusions: Gratitudes , Personal expenses such as laundry service or international phone calls, International flights
Reviewed By meator3
I was in Costa Rica in January, now I have traveled to Colombia. I have waited several months but I cannot shake how HORRIBLE this tour was. We were supposed to have a tour bus but was instead packed into a sedan. At some point the tour guide was alluding to us going to a nicer restaurant and having us pay for his lunch because the office "did not send the money over" for the included meal. I have been on many tours before and many after but this one was easily the worst. Our tour guide was out taking pictures of his own on every site instead of actually guiding us. What took the cake was when we thought we were going to see a coffee plantation but instead he pulls over on the side of the road to a ditch to show us mounds of dirt that supposedly were growing coffee and he said he couldn't take us to an actual plantation because "The Nicaraguans are harder working and the Costa Rican youth are always on their phones now so it won't be worth it". We paid 100+ dollars EACH for a glorified taxi ride across the country. 0/10 don't recommend
