In the north-central section of Costa Rica, sharing a border with Nicaragua, its neighbor to the north, we find Alajuela municipality in Alajuela province. As far as coffee goes, this subregion belongs to the Central Valley region and is first in the nation for coffee production. Three key volcanoes dominate these southern highlands. Volcanic soil, temperate climate, and terrain rich with rivers and clouds contain all the elements that make for great-tasting coffee.
The Huetar (Guetar) people occupied the Alajuela area long before the country became known as Costa Rica, in the time when powerful chiefs ruled, and artists carved their likenesses and histories into the rocks. Ancient architecture, pottery, tools, and works of art from the Pre-Columbian age are scattered throughout these misty mountains.