Upala is the capital city of the canton of Upala in the province of Alajuela in Costa Rica. It is also the name of the distrito (district) that includes the city. The district of Upala covers an area of 245.62 km² (1), and has a population of 13,518 (2).

The city lies at an elevation of 48 meters above sea level (1) in the northwest corner of the San Carlos Plain (Llanura de San Carlos) in northern Costa Rica, 76 kilometers southeast of La Cruz, 124 kilometers northwest of Ciudad Quesada, 195 kilometers from the provincial capital city of Alajuela, and 214 kilometers from the national capital city of San José.

Upala is a supply center for cattle ranchers and rice growers in the area. A hospital, bank, medical clinic, pharmacy and gas station are here. There is a busy commercial marketplace in the town center where vendors sell fruits, vegetables and a wide array of other home-grown products. Several small restaurants share the market area, and there are other restaurants and a few places to stay in the town.