Alajuelita

Some Facts

Districts

History

The first settlers arrived in 1650 and the first chapel was built of adobe in 1835. The present church was declared a national sanctuary in 1907. There are two versions as to the origin of the name. One is that it came from the name of the Alajuelita River which gots its name from the fact that the riverbed is covered in a stone called "laja" (shoal). The other version is that most of the first inhabitants came from Lajuela (modern Alajuela).

General Description

The canton is surrounded by mountains and urban sectors consisting of dwellings of very poor people. It is drained by the rivers Rojo Tiribí, Cañas, Quebrada Común, Río Limón, Quebradas Guacamayo, Chinchilla, Coche, Poás, Río Lapas, and Río Agres.

Interesting Sites

This canton offers a special attraction to visitors - the "Santuario de Esquipulas", Mount San Miguel where there is a large iron cross (26m high) built in 1933. Several drinks and dishes are typical of this canton. The drinks (lightly fermented) include chicha (made of corn, pineapple juice, and molasses).

Climate

Its average temperature is a pleasant 21 degrees Celcius.

Cantons of San José