Alajuela (Spanish pronunciation: [alaˈxwela]) is the third largest city in Costa Rica. It is also the capital of Alajuela Province.
Because of its location in the Costa Rican Central Valley, Alajuela is nowadays part of the conurbation of the Great Metropolitan Area. The city is the birthplace of Juan Santamaría, the national hero of Costa Rica and the figure who gives the name to the country's main international airport, which is south of Alajuela downtown.