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Lying in the stunningly beautiful Central Valley of Costa Rica in Alajuela province is the tiny city of San Ramon. The second largest district in the province, San Ramon lies an hour away northwest of the capital San Jose, and is easily accessible by road from Alajuela city. Set amidst a dramatic landscape of mountains, San Ramon is a close-knit place with strong community ties and has a slow relaxed pace of life.
You can reach San Ramon by flying into the Juan Santa Maria International Airport, San Jose, and then drive out directly to the city, or you can first drive to Alajuela and then go on to San Ramon. Either way, you will be treated to some lovely scenic views along the way. Also known as ‘the city of presidents and poets,’ many of Costa Rica’s great political and literary figures were born or have lived here, including former presidents Jose Figueres Ferrer and Rodrigi Carazo, as well as celebrated poets Lisimaco Chavarria Palma and Feliz Angel Salas Cabezas.
In the main square of the city, is an impressive church. North of the square, lies the city’s museum, the Museo de San Ramon, which features a re-creation of a traditional campesino home, and focuses on the part that this city played in Costa Rican history and culture.
While most of the people living in San Ramon are into farming and agriculture, plenty of them also have jobs in the capital San Jose, and travel daily back and forth to work. Coffee is a major product of the area. However, this city also has three cigar factories as well. Saturday morning is the prefect time to experience San Ramon, as there is a farmer’s market or feria del agricultor held with many people coming here to sell their vegetables, fruit and cattle. If you are in the city around the month of August, do try to stay for San Ramon Day, when the entire town comes alive with parades, music, and dancing.
A relaxing place, San Ramon offers tourists plenty of luxury and affordable accommodations and hotels, along with some excellent restaurants and bars. With plenty to do for nature lovers, there are a number of hiking trials and canopy tours of the surrounding area. Here, you will find a variety of animals and birds such as monkeys, hummingbirds, deer, coatis and sloths in the nearby tropical forest.
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