Alajuela Canton

Alajuela Canton is an administrative region in Costa Rica's Central Valley, spanning hilly terrain between two major volcanoes. The territory includes fourteen districts organized within the broader Alajuela Province.

The region became an official canton in 1848, receiving its present administrative structure through provincial decree. This establishment reflected broader governmental efforts to organize the province into separate district units.

Coffee farming shapes daily life across this region, where plantations dot the landscape and connect families to generations of agricultural tradition. These working lands form the social and economic center of many local communities.

This region sits conveniently on major transportation corridors, making it readily accessible from surrounding areas. The hilly terrain affects travel times between different parts of the canton.

The region is home to several significant coffee farms, including operations that have supplied beans to international markets for decades. These long-standing agricultural enterprises anchor the canton's economic identity.

Location: Alajuela Province

Capital city: Alajuela

Elevation above the sea: 942 m

Shares border with: Heredia Canton, Santa Bárbara Canton, Belén Canton, Santa Ana Canton, Mora Canton, Atenas Canton, Grecia Canton, Poás Canton, Sarchí Canton, Sarapiquí Canton, Flores Canton

Website: http://munialajuela.go.cr

GPS coordinates: 10.16500,-84.26639

Latest update: December 20, 2025 14:26