It's Central America's largest wildlife centre. We went on a tour given by Eduardo who was a lot of fun (and knowledgeable!). Without the tour we wouldn't have heard all the fascinating although sad stories as to how many animals have ended up at the center. We bought some postcards with beautiful photos, which it turns out were taken by Eduardo. We also had lunch there and found the food to be excellent. Go if you get the chance, you won't regret it.

A beautiful sanctuary doing very important work. Visitors help fund their hospital and mission. You will feel good for visiting and buying food and/or souvenirs during your visit. The grounds are beautiful. The staff are friendly and knowledgeable. Highly recommend!

The highlight of my kids trip. We hit this on the last day and were so happy to find security watching the cars until close since we had to travel with luggage before spending our night in SJ, but wanted to do something chill for the kids. This place is incredible, so much wildlife and feels like a rescue center not a zoo. Even though the animal sightings are amazing and several species are out in the open or wandering the park. We don’t use a guide but a guide pointed out a sloth moving across a rope for the kids. It was super rainy and stormy so my ponchos finally got put to good use and barely anyone was out, felt like we had the place to ourselves. Much of the animals were hiding from the rain and you could see them. Then they all came out after the rain and looking for dinner. We got to only spend maybe 3 hours here but we stayed until the last minute and ran around to circle the park close to twice. It was big! Would definitely recommend to families, couples, solo travelers. Such a treat. Tons of photo ops with all the animal statues too. We felt like we were in the jungle. Some covered areas in the snake center and some other spots was nice when lightning got strong.

There are no words — this was an absolutely incredible experience, and it was well worth spending the extra day in the San José area just to visit. We did the guided tour with our very large group, and Eduardo was amazing — funny, engaging, and clearly passionate about the animals, the park, and the educational mission of the rescue center. We had several young children with us, and it was magical for them to see ocelots, mountain lions, birds, snakes, and so many other animals up close. This is a must-visit destination when you’re in Costa Rica.

If you have a few hours to explore in the San Jose area, I highly recommend spending your time at Rescate Wildlife Rescue Center. This is not a zoo, but a rehabilitation center for injured animals. There is however an area for young children to interact with various domestic animals. My wife and I arrived at opening time. 9:00am and left at 2:00. We are both senior citizens, so that may account for some of the time, there are lots of benches to sit for a while and observe the animals. Most of the paved paths have some degree of incline (after all this is Costa Rica) We did not take the guided tour, felt like we probably could not keep up with the pace, but I’m sure from other reviews that we read that it’s worth spending the money to do so. Another reason we were there until 2:00 was the on-site restaurant Kivu, although they serve breakfast, we wanted to explore first and then have lunch. Huge menu of appetizers, main course, and some desserts. Cost for entry, lunch, and souvenirs, were all reasonable, when you consider that the profit from all of these income sources, is part of what allows Rescate to do what they do. PS food and service both were very good. All employees that we interacted with, were polite and courteous.

Great experience. Lots of animals to see and they are all rescues so you feel very good about encouraging them. Highly recommend if you are spending a day near San Jose.

Wonderful experience. We paid $30 US per person. But you get to see a wide variety of birds and animal and it is for good cause. Especially the birds, you get to see them up close.

Free entrance, you are not allowed to take photos inside the museum, I tagged along a tour group & went up to the rooftops . Open 9-5 I didn’t know about William Walker some 19th Century. US private citizen a self proclaimed ‘ President ‘ of some Central American territories… anyway he fell out with some US backers ..but still invaded Costa Rica , ….Costa Rica & several other coalitions defeated him in a battle Mr Walker surrendered at went home He returned to invade again…was captured by the Royal Navy ( British) they handed him over to Honduras , was court marshalled & that was the end of him Look him up … I’ve probably got some facts wrong 😉 Anyway that’s what the guide said , he also said most of the the rifle & cannons were English Worth a visit

A wonderful museum of history and art. Met some wonderful artists doing stitch art pictorials, they were fabulous. The cultural art on the second floor was stunning. The building as a former prison was very nice to visit but I wouldn’t want to be sent there as punishment.

Had some time to kill before our flight. Went to Alajuela and found the museum. The people who work there were really nice. We learned about the history of Costa Rica and saw some great art. All for free and with friendly people. The town of Alajuela is pretty cool too. We were the only Americans anywhere. We got some lunch at a Soda in the market and hung out in the park. Weather was perfect. It was interesting and everyone was very nice.

The museum opens at 9 am. Two floors of interesting exhibits tell about the history, traditions and life of Costa Rica. Many exhibits about the time of the struggle for independence. An interesting hall that shows this in drawings. Separately there are weapons and clothes of warriors. Models of the most important historical battles. On the second floor there are exhibitions of contemporary artists, a gallery of students. You can also go up to the roof and look at the city from above. I recommend it to get to know the country better. Admission is free

The people working there were very kind and obviously care a lot about the history. We practically had a private tour of the place due to a recent holiday. It's also free entry

I really enjoyed this museum! I am a history buff so I really enjoyed all the illustrations and histories of Central American states. I will say, if you don't know Costa Rican history, it may not fascinate you as much so read up before you come! The rooftop was amazing! Great views and you can take a photo with the flag! 🇨🇷

Wonderful little museum with some history about the military events in the 1800s, and lots of smaller exhibitions from local tourists. Entrance is free, there are some explanations in English.

Attended Mass here while on vacation. Mass time was accurately listed online. We parked street side. Beautiful church! I speak very little Spanish, but it was evident that the priest was very enthusiastic about his homily (I wish I could have understood everything that he said!) and the singing was beautiful.

Beautiful church and stunning grounds.

Stunning Architecture with Beautiful Murals

Lovely church with an active park setting

The architecture was stunning and the paintings inside were breathtaking. The exterior landscaping was also very nice.

This is a very beautiful cathedral which is located opposite a park.

All the doors were open, people flowing through freely, children playing near the altar, yet it felt very peaceful.

It was such a cool experience even though we didn’t get a chance to do the tour. The visual landscape of it all was breathtaking. The food and the drinks were superb. Just loved it we had this as a spot to visit on the day we landed but got to see it before we left the next day. So happy that we did it though the torrential downpour. It’s very hilly so just watch out getting there, lots of curves.

Starbucks Alsacia is Starbucks’ first and only coffee farm in Costa Rica, serving as its global hub for research, development, and innovation. This working farm features a visitor center, a coffee nursery, and a research facility, offering a “seed to cup” experience for visitors and training for Starbucks staff. Tours are available daily by reservation only through online booking, with sessions in Spanish and English at different times. Our expert guide, Daria, shared insights on coffee farming, harvesting, drying, and selecting premium beans, along with Starbucks’ efforts to support local farmers. The tour concludes with a coffee tasting. The site also hosts the most significant and unique Starbucks café in the country, providing a stunning view of the coffee farm, where you can buy coffee beans and enjoy a top-tier café experience—highly recommended when visiting Costa Rica!

This was the best tour ever !! I learned so much, loved our guide, she was super nice and knowledgeable. It was beyond my expectations, loved the experience a lot, I highly recommend ! We had drinks at the end of the tour and there’s a souvenir shop. Perfect place for a Starbucks fan 🤩

Place is Beautiful!! No doubt! Such a privileged view and location to set a coffee shop. Service was very good! They have a lot of more variety in the menu than other Starbucks, it is like a version Starbucks Reserve but better! in a coffee farm, more organic options and drinks! They do have coffee tours and tasting. I'm not a Starbucks person, I more inclinated to Real coffee places and roasters. But this place is way above than Starbucks standards.

Hacienda Alsacia is surprisingly interesting for a Starbucks-owned coffee farm. You can see the full process up close – how the beans are washed, dried, sorted, and prepared – and at the end of the tour you can taste the coffee grown right there. The views from the hillside are great, and the café has an open, relaxed farm atmosphere. If you like places like this, our channel is called Spotlight To Me.

The place is amazing - beautiful views that you won't be able to see anywhere in the world, great coffee and delicious yoghurt with granola. The staff is super friendly as well

One of the most unique Starbucks locations in the world. Take a chance and ask for a specialty coffee made on non traditional methods, they’ll explain the process and how it affects the final flavors. Here you can go on tours and the terrace has views towards a waterfall. 10/10.

I love this part. It’s actually right across the street from the cathedral, which is gorgeous. And the museum is right next-door also. Definitely you will want do when you’re in Costa Rica.

Cool little town park we went to before eating dinner. Small and not room to play around but the statues were pretty neat and we liked the murals as well. If you are here then stop by for some photos and head on for dinner.

Beautiful little park well maintained by the municipality. It's hard not to fall in love with this province. The park is surrounded by several stores and there is a private parking near by as well.

Great atmosphere and great place to take your kid's

Small park, with some canons and a statue of Juan Santamaria. We had a local tico show us around and gave us the history of Juan. The park could be a very nice place except for the large amount of trash left on the ground.

A small but nice park. The city should restore the murals. I watched a dance troupe practicing.

Small shady bit in the center of town. What's not to like. And quite a few little bakeries and coffee shops around too.

Great mall. Great food. My wife and I stayed at the Hilton nearby so we could catch an early flight out. This mall was an unexpected treat. Great end to an awesome trip. 🇨🇷

Big! Clean! Safe! All spaces occupied....

Visiting from Ohio USA. Pleasantly surprised. This is a large Mall with many different shops and food choices. Clean ,safe, friendly, but not cheap. Be prepared to spend some money

Another big mall with lots of stores and also small stations selling toys, plants, candies, pastry, jewelry and more. Very clean and stores are well organized and attractively showcased. However…, in the ladies restroom there were some small roaches coming from behind the mirror and walking around the wash basin. I love gardening and in Sol Naciente, I found seeds. They have a decent variety of seeds at affordable prices. I bought 4 packets, and at the counter I received one for free. The variety pf gardening products like pots and tools is good. They also have (educational) toys, school supplies, thick socks and more. All at affordable prices but not at the low end. With regard to food, we are vegans and it is a bit difficult to find a balanced meal in the mall, so we ended up buying a medium veggie pizza without the cheese at Domino’s. for 9,900 colones (+/- $20), which tasted nice. Overall pleasant experience at this mall.

Very big mall similiar to what you would find in North America with every store imaginable. There is an extensive food court on the upper level as well as sit down dining options. We were looking for an ATM and found a whole slew of banks on the top floor. If you are looking to exchange currency you can do so here at BAC Credomatic ( lines can be fairly lengthy at times though). Overall a nice way to spend a few hours if you are in the area.

It's pretty good it has a lot of things and places to shop

Big mall. Lots of stores and souvenir shops. 3-4 floors in this mall. A lot to look at and explore the second time around.

A strange little statue in a strange unused Park.

(Translated by Google) I loved the monument... (Original) Me encantó el monumento...

(Translated by Google) In the heart of Alajuela (Original) En el corazón de Alajuela

The surprise of the trip. An amazing and beautiful place with wild scenery — cloud forest inside the jungle and a huge, stunning lake within a volcano. You couldn’t ask for more. There are hardly any tourists in the area. Highly recommended.

We stopped here on our drive from Arenal to San Jose and really loved it! We followed our google directions and ended up entering the wrong way. I would seek out the proper directions to get to the trails as they were not well marked. The walk was about an hour down to the one lake we visited. We saw monkey and other wildlife on our hike down. It was a really breathtaking lake. And this was my adventurous husband’s favorite hike. Zero tourists. Really only a few locals. Pure wildlife. Not touristy at all.

Amazing place. Beautiful views of the lake. And the restaurant on the top has great food. We stopped on a day when they had an event. Great day

Good places in the area for lodging, walking, nice rivers for swimming and ride horses.

Great and beautiful place, perhaps with more restaurants and better access could be even better.

Todoóo super caroooo

Great place to hike, Picnics, take pictures, AWD or 4x4 recommended.

Good stadium, it would be better if the vendors accepted credit cards

Always great place to visit, its safe and the energy of the crowd is amazing!!!

First time at a football soccer game. Enjoyed the game. LDA are champions in woman's soccer.

Beautiful Stadium easy access to and from the City of Alajuela and surroundings. The pit is immaculate the stands and seats are comfortable most importantly it is a very family oriented place where you can enjoy and relax watching a game if you're with your children The name suits the place perfectly known as The Cathedral of soccer in Costa Rica La Catedral del futbol Costaricense

Enjoying going to the games here. Parking is tricky until you find a good person to watch your vehicle. We park next to the church of la agonia. Don Carlos will take great care of your car.

The sun stands are built to be used as stands in between, but they are used all in a row, which makes it very uncomfortable to enjoy a game or activity. It is the worst stadium in Costa Rica. Under the stands there are various food sales. I do not recommend it

For Alajuelense fans, this is the best place on Earth. We've enjoyed, we've suffered, we've cried joy tires and felt the world falling apart as well in this place. The stadium itself is nice, not like the National Stadium but it looks good enough.

Easy to find In the map. Loads of parking available. Nice shops and some restaurants on site

Nice variety of shops and restaurants. Stopped in at the Mexican restaurant and it was great. The sushi restaurant is good too. If you go to the lower level there is a great little place that sells gelato.

The Taj Majal Indian restaurant is SO good!!! I've eaten at a lot of Indian places & this is one of the better ones. The atmosphere is gorgeous & cozy, service was fabulous, & the food divine! Our favorite is the aloo gobi but the paneer tikka masala is a close 2nd!

Very well maintained and secure shopping center with with incredible dining options, and fun a activities for the whole family, the gym was very impressive!

Nice place to take a stroll with your doggo. Kids running around and playing in the park. Church bells ring in the distance, parrots screech in the trees (in a good way) and Ticos are genuinely nice people. Awesome place to sit walk or even run.

You'll find a little of everything here, great place to pass the time, has a really nice outdoor area for seating, and there are several restaurants outdoors. It has a nice playground which my kiddo enjoys. You can spend a nice afternoon here with family or friends.

Is a nice place to go.

I attended the "Festival Folclórico, "Frutos de Nuestra Tierra" here in June 2022. One comment: the lighting was absolutely horrible. Poor kids ... they gave a great performance, but we couldn't see it. Only one spot had appropriate ighting, where I took these photos.

First time visiting Alajuela Costa Rica. This theatre is a classical building right downtown across from a town square. Beautiful architecture in a great location. Worth a quick visit if you’re in the area and wanting to take some nice photos.

Small public Theatre at the main downtown Alajuela. It is an old building that has been remodeled for artistic and cultural activities. It has no parking. All activities are totally free.

It's beatiful and well kept. It is a good space for culture and relax.

Nice, kind of historical place...but the equipment access is mayor problem!!!👎

Great place to attend free events

great acoustics comfortable seating

(Translated by Google) It is a quiet place but it is only open at night, mostly for Conservatory students, but during the day the service is non-existent between the hours of 1pm and 4pm, there is no one there the times I have arrived (Original) Es un lugar tranquilo pero sólo está abierto de noche, más que todo para lo estudiantes del Conservatorio, pero de día el servicio es inexistente entre las horas 1pm y 4pm no hay nadie las veces que he llegado

(Translated by Google) Very welcoming, excellent for studying, very good initiative (Original) Muy acogedor, excelente para estudiar, muy buena iniciativa

(Translated by Google) Small but comfortable theater, good acoustics (Original) Teatro pequeño pero cómodo, buena acústica

(Translated by Google) Beautiful place to enjoy art (Original) Hermoso lugar para disfrutar del arte

(Translated by Google) Very good proposal! (Original) Muy buena propuesta!

(Translated by Google) Excellent shows (Original) Excelentes espectáculos