Alajuela is one of the most extensive and varied provinces of the country, with altitudes that vary from the 2,704 at the Poás Volcano to  92 meters at sea level; in relatively short  distances, there are drastic changes in the flora and the fauna.  Within its 9,752 square kilometers, Alajuela offers the visitor  splendid scenes of mountain ranges Central, Tilarán and Guanacaste. It has a moderate climate with a temperature of 23 to 26 degrees Celsius, being the corner of Athens denominated "the better climate of  the world." In addition, the panorama of the fertile  plains of San Carlos cannot go unnoticed. Between the  corners of the Province of Alajuela lies  San Ramon. Alajuela is known as the "Ciudad of Handles."  It occupies first place in the national production of coffee and cane sugar. It produces in addition grain  basics (rice, beans, maize), fruits, tubers and  vegetables. In addition, there is a custom among its inhabitants  to nickname others, or to give a symbol to  each person or to each family.

History

During the pre-Columbian era, Costa Rica was inhabited in the south by huetares  and in the North partly by the guatusos natives, tices and catapas. In 1574,  the indigenous establishment of Santa Catherine was established, which  today is the corner of San Mateo. In 1777, many families lived  in great poverty, and they wanted to attend the religious events in the old parish of Villa (Heredia), but the distances and misery prevented them from attending. Bishop Esteban Tristán visited the locality, and approved and  consecrated a small oratorio. On the 12th of October of 1782, the Lajuela constructed the oratorio in a district that was equal distance  for all the neighbors of the region, between the rivers that today are  called Ciruelas and Alajuela. The church of the town was erected in  1790. By initiative of the Deputy of Costa Rica Florencio of  the Villagra Castle, Cortes granted the title from Villa to  Alajuela in 1813, although the following year, the law was annulled by King Fernando VII. In 1820, Cortes again  granted that title to him, which was observed until 1824, the year in which  the Congress Constituting granted the one to him of a city. The city of  Alajuela was the capital from 1834 to 1835, in fulfillment of the Law of  the Ambulance. The origins of the Alajuela name vary much according to  the interpreter, but the most common version dates from the  beginning of the small town of Guadalupe surrounded by two rivers,  in which the stones were something well-known like lajas, so somebody  suggested the name Lajuela to him. Over time, the name has changed until arriving at what is today known as Alajuela.

Attractive

A diversity of animals and plants that are protected abound in two  national parks (Volcano Poás and Juan I Castrate Target), a national  reserve of wild fauna (Black Sewer), five protective zones and several  forest reserves. The Museum Juan Santamaría exhibits locally produced crafts. A room of the museum revives the  history of the battle of Santa Rosa, when the Costa Rican troops  defeated the filibusteros in 1856. Also, in the colorful  cities of San Ramon, Zarcero and Sarchí, one can acquire Costa  Rican crafts and admire the wood works of the craftsmen and their famous painted carts. Sarchí, seat of the Costa Rican  crafts, where the wood summons up life, offers to the tourists a  great variety of \"souvenirs\" elaborated with precious local wood.  It is a place full of life, birthplace of the policromada  cart, symbol of the Costa Rican folklore. In Sarchí, one gets used to  making an annual parade of carts with a great unfolding of colorful  and pleasing memories. There are two active  volcanoes, the Volcano Sandy ground in the city of San  Carlos, and Poás Volcano, whose crater is of a kilometer in diameter  and 314 meters deep. The Poás is one of few active and accessible  volcanoes. It is 2,704 meters at sea level, in the  Central Volcanic Mountain range, and is located 37 kilometers to  the north of Alajuela by the route Alajuela-San Pedro de Poás. At the heart of the crater, it is  possible to observe active fumaroles and  small eruptions similar to geysers. This park protects the east area of the  rivers that comprise the hydrographic river basins of the north.  Around the volcano, in the area of the park, a vast wooded forest is  populated with a great number of birds and small mammals. The place is located 35 kilometers of San José, and offers sanitary service,  an information center, a footpath, area of excursion, merenderos  (picnic) area and exhibition room. Visitors experience a  splendid route by the tropical forest, and may view numerous species of ferns abundant in the trees. Some of the most famous celebrations of  the province of Alajuela are the cattle exhibition in the month of  April and the festival of the handles that are made in the month of  June.

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