Parque Juan Santamaria
Parque Juan Santamaria
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A park dedicated to the national hero who lost his life during the 1856 invasion of Costa Rica by William Walker.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
4.0
129 reviews
Excellent
42
Very good
39
Average
40
Poor
8
Terrible
0
Landog
La Center, WA638 contributions
Jan 2024 • Couples
Small park, with some canons and a statue of Juan Santamaria. We had a local tico show us around and gave us the history of Juan. The park could be a very nice place except for the large amount of trash left on the ground.
Written 13 January 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jimmy G
294 contributions
Jun 2016 • Family
We stop here on our way to Poas Volcano and La Paz Waterfall Gardens. It gives me the opportunity to teach my students about how Juan Santamaría and the Ticos stood up to William Walker.
Written 1 June 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
cdub333
St. Pete Beach, FL292 contributions
Feb 2018 • Couples
An inspiring statue of Juan Santamaría is of course the centerpiece of this pleasant park, not far from the old cathedral.
Juan Santamaría was part of a rag-tag campesino army trying to repel Tennessee pro-slavery advocate William Walker (who had already invaded Nicaragua and was moving down the coast). A doctor-turned-adventurer, Walker hoped to lead a mercenary conquest of Central America and make the whole region pro-slavery.
Santamaría (of Alajuela) was a drummer boy in the Costa Rican forces. He volunteered to set fire to a wood fort where Walker’s “army” was holed up. He lit it up, but was shot to death. Walker’s forces retreated north after a 14-minute fight.
Santamaría is depicted gripping a torch, charging into possible death. Below the statue are two small cannons on an elevated stage (with a dangerous drop-off; I almost plunged off). Colorful noisy parrots fly around the trees and old buildings by the park. A shoeshine guy is doing a brisk business, lovers stroll, old men read newspapers.
There are several nice parks in this area of Alajuela, but this is the only one celebrating the boy hero. Could he have known an international airport would be named in his honor?
Juan Santamaría was part of a rag-tag campesino army trying to repel Tennessee pro-slavery advocate William Walker (who had already invaded Nicaragua and was moving down the coast). A doctor-turned-adventurer, Walker hoped to lead a mercenary conquest of Central America and make the whole region pro-slavery.
Santamaría (of Alajuela) was a drummer boy in the Costa Rican forces. He volunteered to set fire to a wood fort where Walker’s “army” was holed up. He lit it up, but was shot to death. Walker’s forces retreated north after a 14-minute fight.
Santamaría is depicted gripping a torch, charging into possible death. Below the statue are two small cannons on an elevated stage (with a dangerous drop-off; I almost plunged off). Colorful noisy parrots fly around the trees and old buildings by the park. A shoeshine guy is doing a brisk business, lovers stroll, old men read newspapers.
There are several nice parks in this area of Alajuela, but this is the only one celebrating the boy hero. Could he have known an international airport would be named in his honor?
Written 20 February 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
awagner2287
59 contributions
Jan 2016 • Couples
Our hotel was within walking distance to the park, we used the park for our daily exercise, it is a safe place to recreate.
Written 15 February 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kascha N
Santa Teresa, Costa Rica34 contributions
Dec 2015 • Couples
Our taxi driver took the time to show us this little park which pays tribute to a young drummer to staved off an invasion by some crazy American a long time ago. It is a nice little city park, safe and open for walking. Really not much there- but a statue.
Written 26 January 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lindsay L
Grande Prairie, Canada272 contributions
Jan 2016 • Solo
On a Sunday morning I could hear drumming coming from down the street of my hostel. When I went to investigate there was a group of drummers practicing songs and routines. They were very entertaining to watch as they throw and spin their drums in the air while playing. There is wide open space here so it makes me think the space is used often for things like this. It would be worth checking out just to see if there's anything going on.
Written 17 January 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
DonS29
Toronto, Canada106 contributions
Dec 2015
It was just the park but Cartagena that surprised us. It was very safe and the old city was great, worth the visit!
Written 5 January 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Honisoiquimalypense
Derby, UK1 306 contributions
Apr 2015 • Couples
If you visit the nearby Alajuela Cathedral, it is worth strolling past this small plaza with its statue of Juan Santa Maria. He was and still is a national hero who died in 1856 whilst setting to fire to a hostel that contained enemies of Costa Rica (the infamous William Walkers troops) who were on its roof and in a somewhat impregnible situation. The local troops tried and failed to burn them out but Santa Maria succeeded but was mortally wounded. The hostel was burned down and Walkers Troops killed. The statue shows Santa Maria carrying his gun and the burning torch as he went to burn the hostel down. On each side of the statue is a small cannon.
Written 9 May 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
crafterincr
Heredia, Costa Rica208 contributions
Apr 2014 • Couples
Nothing to see, really. It is one of the places that they hold ceremonies. during the various holidays.
Written 3 April 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Alajelacentro2007
Alajuela, Costa Rica7 contributions
Nov 2012
Nothing on this treeless paved square block except a statue of National hero Juan Santa Maria and a comfortable bus stop. Lots of skateboarders though..
Written 29 November 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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