Central Valley & Highlands - Costa Rica - page 229

locally grown organic produce whenever possible - making for tasty and feel-good gour-
met meals.

Entertainment
The perennial Costa Rican soccer champions, Alajuela's own La Liga, play at the Estadio
Morera Soto at the northeast end of town on Sunday during fútbol (soccer) season.
For beer and bocas , the relaxed 4th-floor terrace bar at Alajuela Backpackers Boutique
Hostel is the airiest spot in town. Otherwise, there's no shortage of dive bars and karaoke,
if that's more your style.

AWAY FROM SAN JOSÉ

For many visitors to Costa Rica, a night in San José is practically obligatory at the begin-
ning or end of every trip. But if you have a car, you can instead arrange to stay at one of
the following country inns. All lie within an hour's drive of the international airport - and
most have incredible mountain scenery.

Just outside Alajuela, Trapp Family Lodge , Tacacori Ecolodge and Xandari Resort Hotel &
Spa have verdant settings and are five to 15 minutes from the airport.
A 30-minute cruise along the Interamericana leads to Vista del Valle Plantation Inn .
The dreamy Finca Rosa Blanca is less than half an hour from the airport check-in.
Vista Atenas B&B , only 30 minutes west of the terminal, is perched so spectacularly high
above the valley, you'll think you're flying again.
To the north, Poás Volcano Lodge and Poás Lodge are about 45 minutes to one hour from
the airport.

Information

Citibank BANK
( GOOGLE MAP ; cnr Calle 2 & Av 6; 9am-5pm Mon-Fri, to noon Sat)
Near the bus terminals; has ATMs dispensing dollars and colones.

Hospital San Rafael HOSPITAL
( GOOGLE MAP ; 2436-1000; www.hospitalsanrafael.sa.cr ; Calle 4)