San Jose
San Jose is the capital city of the Republic of Costa Rica and also head of the canton and the province of the same name. Located in the center of the country, specifically on the plateau called intervocálica Central Valley. San Jose is the most important country political, economic and social center as well as the main hub for transportation and telecommunications.

Alajuela
Alajuela, a city located in the center of Costa Rica, on the slopes of the Poas Volcano (2,704 m altitude) and located near the city of San Jose. In the area in which it is located, mainly sugar and coffee is produced. The city plays an important role as a center of marketing and distribution for both products. It is also a commercial and industrial center, and also has various cultural institutions such as the Museum Juan Santamaria.
It is the second most populous city. Alajuela is near the Juan Santamaria International Airport, the most important of Costa Rica and is the hometown of the national hero, Juan Santamaria. In the Central Valley, it is a leading commercial center for the sugar and livestock industries as well as being a summer resort. It was the capital of Costa Rica for a short time in the 1830s.

Cartago
The city of Cartago, former capital of Costa Rica and home to the first permanent international court of world history, the Court of Carthage, is located in the central region of Costa Rica. Geographically it is located at an altitude of 1,435 m above sea level, on the slopes of the Irazu volcano, 24 kilometers east of the capital city, San Jose.
The raising of livestock and the production of coffee are its main industries. Cartago was founded in 1563. It was the political center of Costa Rica until shortly after independence was won from Spain in 1821 and remains a conservative stronghold. It was destroyed by an eruption (1723) of Irazu volcano and was severely damaged by earthquakes in 1822, 1841, and 1910. Cartago’s principal church is the scene of pilgrimages.