Top Day Trips from Alajuela: Volcanoes, Waterfalls, Coffee & Culture
Staying in Alajuela gives you a strategic base for seeing a surprising range of Costa Rica—without changing hotels every night. From Buena Vista Chic Hotel, you can plan classic adventures like volcanoes, waterfalls, coffee experiences, and cultural towns.
Here are some of the most popular day-trip ideas featured by the hotel:
1) Poás Volcano
One of Costa Rica’s most visited active volcanoes, Volcán Poás is a standout option because it’s located a short distance from the hotel—ideal if you want a big highlight without a long drive.
A favorite for nature lovers, La Paz Waterfall Gardens offers walking trails through lush rainforest scenery, with rivers, waterfalls, and wildlife exhibits (including an aviary, butterfly observatory, hummingbird garden, serpentarium, and more).
If you want to connect with Costa Rica’s coffee culture, you have strong options nearby:
Doka Coffee Tour, about 10 minutes from the hotel, for an informative visit with a major coffee producer/grower.
Hacienda Alsacia, an immersive visitor experience that includes a nursery, wet mill, drying patio, and roaster.
For art, scenery, and local culture, this guided half-day visit includes Grecia and Sarchí, two of Costa Rica’s most special towns.
Best part: after a full day out, you can return to a calm hilltop setting, enjoy the hotel’s restaurant, and wake up to breakfast before your next adventure.
