Parque Juan Santamaría

Parque Juan Santamaría Review

Alajuela was the birthplace of Juan Santamaría, the national hero who lost his life in a battle against the mercenary army of U.S. adventurer William Walker when the latter invaded Costa Rica in 1856. The Parque Juan Santamaría has a statue of the young Santamaría. After a 2005 restoration, Juan should keep his youthful good looks for years to come—which, sadly, is more than can be said for the abandoned-looking, weedy concrete lot he stands on. The park gets a little dicey as the sun goes down; confine your visits to daylight hours.