Alajuela Province, Province in central and northwestern Costa Rica
Alajuela Province extends from the mountain zones of the northwest down to the lowlands near the Nicaraguan border. The territory connects rainforest ridges with fertile farming valleys and settlements of different sizes.
Spanish settlers established communities on this land during the 18th century, displacing several indigenous groups who had lived there before. The region received its current status as an administrative unit in the first decades after Costa Rican independence in the early 1800s.
The region honors Juan Santamaría, a national hero from the 19th century, in its name. Many farms across the central valley produce coffee here, and visitors can watch workers during harvest season between November and February.
The international airport terminal sits in the provincial capital, about 12 miles (20 kilometers) west of San José. Roads through the territory lead to different national parks and towns, and travel time varies from two to four hours depending on your destination.
The two volcanic cones, Poás and Arenal, draw many travelers each year and shape the skyline across this landscape. Lake Arenal feeds turbines that supply a large share of the country's electricity.
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