Upala Canton, Administrative canton in Alajuela Province, Costa Rica
Upala Canton is an administrative region in Alajuela Province composed of eight districts spread across the landscape, each with its own center and surrounding areas. These communities are linked by a network of roads that form the backbone of local travel and commerce.
The territory became an independent administrative canton in 1970, separating from the larger region and establishing its own governmental structure. This change allowed the area to develop local governance and manage its own affairs.
The region's identity is shaped by farming practices, particularly rice growing and cattle raising, which remain central to how people live and work in the communities here.
Visitors can travel between the districts on well-maintained roads that connect the entire region, making local transportation straightforward. The dry season offers better road conditions for getting around and exploring the different communities.
The southern edge is marked by four volcanoes—Rincón de la Vieja, Santa María, Miravalles, and Tenorio—that create a natural geological boundary. These volcanic peaks shape the landscape and remind visitors of the natural forces that have molded the region over time.
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Arenal Volcano
59.2 km
Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve
70.6 km
Rincón de la Vieja Volcano
36.1 km
Lake Arenal
41.5 km
Arenal Volcano National Park
59.1 km
Hacienda Santa Rosa
65.9 km
Tenorio Volcano National Park
25.8 km
Solentiname Archipelago National Monument
33.7 km
La laguna fortificada de aooot raiti bocay
68.7 km
Volcán Tenorio
25.5 km
Orosí Volcano
50.8 km
Chato Volcan
61.9 km
Palo Verde National Park
65.2 km
Rincón de la Vieja National Park
34.8 km
Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge
27.4 km
La Fortuna Waterfall
62.8 km
Guanacaste National Park
34.8 km
Arenal Hanging Bridges
59.4 km
Area de Conservación Guanacaste World Heritage Site
66.2 km
Tabacón Hot Springs
55.6 km
Selvatura Park
66.2 km
Refugio de Vida Silvestre Los Guatuzos
15.6 km
Curi Cancha Wildlife Refuge
69.8 km
Miravalles National Park
22.4 km
Río Orosí
44.5 km
Agua y Paz Biosphere Reserve
33.1 km
Butterfly Conservatory
60 km
Llanos de Cortés Waterfall
52 km
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