Alajuela
About 300 thousand people.
Alajuela is Costa Rica's second-biggest city and sits right next to the main airport. It is warm, sunny, and known as the City of Mangoes because of the mango trees in its central park.
Relax under the mango trees in the central park, visit the museum honoring national hero Juan Santamaria, and take a short trip to see the smoking Poas Volcano nearby.
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Nature
Just outside the city, the Poas Volcano has one of the biggest craters in the world, with a bubbling green lake inside.
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History
Alajuela is the hometown of Juan Santamaria, a brave young drummer boy who became a national hero for helping defend Costa Rica.