La Casita and the surrounding area
Food scene
This place has a variety of nice restaurants with a nice outdoorsy ambiance.
I would recommend going by uber in the evening.
Less than 5 minutes from La Casita by car.
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El Patio
This place has a variety of nice restaurants with a nice outdoorsy ambiance.
I would recommend going by uber in the evening.
Less than 5 minutes from La Casita by car.
This place has a variety of food options including Italian and Mexican. There is also a cinema, pharmacy, barbers, and ATMs.
Only 5 minutes from La Casita by car.
108 Einheimische empfehlen
Plaza Real Alajuela
Avenida 10 Jesús Ocaña RojasThis place has a variety of food options including Italian and Mexican. There is also a cinema, pharmacy, barbers, and ATMs.
Only 5 minutes from La Casita by car.
This is one of my favorite restaurants in Costa Rica. It is typical Costa Rica cuisine where you can enjoy homemade cheese tortillas and an Aguadulce (a hot drink made from sugarcane). Set up on the Poas Volcano you will pass coffee plantations to get there. The restaurant is surrounded by lush Costa Rican gardens.
Closes at 4:30 PM in the afternoon.
Around 30-40 minutes from La Casita.
23 Einheimische empfehlen
Chubascos
Ruta Nacional 712This is one of my favorite restaurants in Costa Rica. It is typical Costa Rica cuisine where you can enjoy homemade cheese tortillas and an Aguadulce (a hot drink made from sugarcane). Set up on the Poas Volcano you will pass coffee plantations to get there. The restaurant is surrounded by lush Costa Rican gardens.
Closes at 4:30 PM in the afternoon.
Around 30-40 minutes from La Casita.
This place has a few restaurants. Good if you are looking for somewhere close to La Casita. Also has a clothing store. Also, it is very close to Walmart and City Mall.
Mango plaza is 2 minutes by car from La Casita.
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Mango Plaza
Radial Francisco J. OrlichThis place has a few restaurants. Good if you are looking for somewhere close to La Casita. Also has a clothing store. Also, it is very close to Walmart and City Mall.
Mango plaza is 2 minutes by car from La Casita.
Large Fruit and Veg market. It's open 7 days a week. It is a great place to experience Costa Rican culture by wandering around the market checking out and tasting the diverse variety of Costa Rican fruit while sipping on an Agua de Pipa (coconut water). I recommend coming here even if you do not need fruit or veg.
Plaza ferias is 10 minutes by car from La Casita.
9 Einheimische empfehlen
Plaza Ferias
Avenida Central Juan López del CorralLarge Fruit and Veg market. It's open 7 days a week. It is a great place to experience Costa Rican culture by wandering around the market checking out and tasting the diverse variety of Costa Rican fruit while sipping on an Agua de Pipa (coconut water). I recommend coming here even if you do not need fruit or veg.
Plaza ferias is 10 minutes by car from La Casita.
Mall
This place is a typical Mall with a good variety of clothing stores, jewelry, toys, ATMs, a food court, and a book shop.
The City Mall Alajuela is also literally 2-3 minutes from SJO airport.
Less than 5 minutes from La Casita by car.
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City Mall
MontserratThis place is a typical Mall with a good variety of clothing stores, jewelry, toys, ATMs, a food court, and a book shop.
The City Mall Alajuela is also literally 2-3 minutes from SJO airport.
Less than 5 minutes from La Casita by car.
Supermarket
Walmart is a great place to go if you need groceries, clothes, electronics, or anything else you might need for your trip around Costa Rica. Also, has a pharmacy inside.
Less than 3 minutes from La Casita. On the way to SJO airport.
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Walmart
Walmart is a great place to go if you need groceries, clothes, electronics, or anything else you might need for your trip around Costa Rica. Also, has a pharmacy inside.
Less than 3 minutes from La Casita. On the way to SJO airport.
Costa Rican Culture
The Parque Juan Santamaria of Alajuela (Juan Santamaría Park) is renowned for housing the sculpture that honors the national hero that was born in the City. He is famous for leading Costa Rica's army to defeat the invasion of William Walker in 1856.
This is more of a cultural attraction than visiting a park.
The Statue is 5-10 minutes from La Casita.
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Parque Juan Santamaria
Avenida 1The Parque Juan Santamaria of Alajuela (Juan Santamaría Park) is renowned for housing the sculpture that honors the national hero that was born in the City. He is famous for leading Costa Rica's army to defeat the invasion of William Walker in 1856.
This is more of a cultural attraction than visiting a park.
The Statue is 5-10 minutes from La Casita.
My favorite swimming pool
I love this place. If you fancy a swim after arriving in Costa Rica or your last dip before you depart there is no better place than Ojo de Agua. Made up of 4 swimming pools, one of them is for doing lengths and the others for recreation. The source of the freshwater is the Barva Volcano, which is pumped up from the ground feeding the swimming pools. Make sure you check out the source of water above the waterfall.
The place has parking, toilets and changing rooms.
Ojo de Agua is 15 minutes from La Casita.
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Balneario Ojo de Agua
I love this place. If you fancy a swim after arriving in Costa Rica or your last dip before you depart there is no better place than Ojo de Agua. Made up of 4 swimming pools, one of them is for doing lengths and the others for recreation. The source of the freshwater is the Barva Volcano, which is pumped up from the ground feeding the swimming pools. Make sure you check out the source of water above the waterfall.
The place has parking, toilets and changing rooms.
Ojo de Agua is 15 minutes from La Casita.
Football (soccer) stadium
If you would like to see a football(soccer) game. Go to watch La Liga play (Alajuela's team), one of the top 3 teams in Costa Rica. The place gets a great atmosphere from the football-loving ticos(name for Costa Ricans). Highly recommended.
If you do go see a game I'd recommend getting an uber as close as possible. When there is a game on the traffic gets bad. Then just follow the crowds heading to the game.
You can buy tickets at the gates before the game.
Around 15 minutes from La Casita depending on the traffic.
9 Einheimische empfehlen
Estadio Alejandro Morera Soto
Ruta Nacional Secundaria 125If you would like to see a football(soccer) game. Go to watch La Liga play (Alajuela's team), one of the top 3 teams in Costa Rica. The place gets a great atmosphere from the football-loving ticos(name for Costa Ricans). Highly recommended.
If you do go see a game I'd recommend getting an uber as close as possible. When there is a game on the traffic gets bad. Then just follow the crowds heading to the game.
You can buy tickets at the gates before the game.
Around 15 minutes from La Casita depending on the traffic.
Tipps für Reisende
Bräuche und Kultur
Driving
Driving in Costa Rica is an experience, but once you get the hang of it it's not too bad.
My advice, in general, is to drive defensively, a little slower than usual, as people stop erratically in places you wouldn't expect them to stop. Also, if you can, try to avoid driving at night. As in the local area, there are manhole covers missing which are difficult to see at night.