Hampton by Hilton San Jose Airport

Neighboring Grecia, a few kilometers away is the quaint little town of Sarchi, known throughout Costa Rica for its beautiful and intricate arts and crafts and souvenirs. Lying some 30 km northwest of Alajuela city, in Alajuela province, the town of Sarchi is perhaps most widely recognized for its colorful and decorative oxcarts that have been made here for over a century.

The National Theatre of Costa Rica (Spanish: Teatro Nacional de Costa Rica) is the national theatre of Costa Rica; a theatre located in the central section of San José, Costa Rica. Construction began in 1891, and it opened to the public on October 21, 1897 with a performance of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe's Faust. The National Theatre is the maximum representation of economical stability of the nation, in a period of time when coffee exports were a round success. The use of the theatre is limited to high quality performances, undergoing a very selective process prior to admission for performing. The building is considered the finest historical building in the capital and is known for its exquisite interior with lavish furnishings

Located on the highway General Canas 5 minutes from the hotel. Includes three levels with movie theaters and large food court. Department stores include Alyss, Blooms and Brand Fashion. Open everyday from 9:00 am to 8:00 pm.

Volcan Poas is one of the most visited volcanoes in Costa Rica, because of its proximity to San Jose and because of the luxuriant forest that surrounds the two craters. The park measures 5600 hectares, and this basaltic volcano stands at an altitude of 2708 meters (8,200 feet) above sea level. One of the craters measures 1.5 kilometers in diameter (0.9 miles) and is 300 meters deep (900 feet). At the bottom of this prehistoric-looking hole, there is a medium sized lagoon, that spews boiling sulphurous gases. The other crater is the one mentioned above, called Botos Lagoon, which unlike the other lake, contains cold water that connects to the Rio Angel, and later to the large Rio Sarapiqui. The volcano has had a long history of eruptions, going back as much as 11 million years ! On January 25, 1910, the volcano spewed out 640,000 tons of ash, and in the period of 1952-1954, it bombarded nearby areas with ash and rocks. Since then, the Poas has maintained a low profile, but as recently as 1989, the park was closed because of dangerous sulphurous gas emissions. Its geyser-like eruptions of muddy water and steam, have given it the reputation as the world’s largest geyser The Volcan Poas National Park is one of the most visited protected areas in the country. The ride there is scenic and pleasant, and since it’s only 47 kilometers away from San Jose, many local and foreign visitors flock to the park, especially on weekends. The La Paz waterfall, which is only twenty minutes away from the park, is the most photographed waterfall in all of Costa Rica. Visitors to the park won’t want to miss out on it.

Located near the airport in Alajuela, this somewhat run down two-level mall includes a small food court, shops and a movie theater.

The national museum or Museo Nacional is located in an old fort, which was marked by bullet holes during the 1948 Civil War. The archaeological room offers several Indian artifacts made of stone and clay, like pottery. The colonial room presents facts about the conquest and also some examples of religious art brought by the Spaniards. Another section of the Museum is dedicated to current exhibits.

The San Jose International Airport or as it is known, the Juan Santamaria International Airport is the first and oldest airport in Costa Rica. It was named after the brave drummer boy Juan Santamaria, who died in the Battle of Rivas in 1856 defending his country against the invading forces of American invader William Walker. The primary airport in Costa Rica, the San Jose International Airport sits just outside of Downtown San Jose, about a 20 minute drive away from most major hotels and accommodations in the San Jose area. With most US and international carriers landing here, this airport also serves as a domestic flight terminal for those wishing to travel within the country itself. Some of the major international airlines that land here include American, United, KLM, Delta, Taca, British Airways, Continental, Cubana, Mexicana, Iberia and American West.

Alajuela city is known as Costa Rica seond city. It has a rich colonial history and it is a welcoming nice and clean city. The soaring whitewashed cathedral is a testament to the city’s past as a colonial administrative center for nearby coffee plantations. Alajuela city is an easy to walk city, with fairly good signs.