San Carlos Municipal Market (Ciudad Quesada)

Tip

Eat a casado at one of the counter sodas and buy tropical fruit by the kilo; bring small colones.

Be careful

Crowded passages: keep your bag in front and watch for pickpockets.

Places nearby

• La Vieja Adventures — Ciudad Esmeralda canyon (Río La Vieja)Tours & Adventure · from $40Guided wade-and-hike through a narrow, moss-walled canyon of the Río La Vieja above Ciudad Quesada, ending at the Zafiro waterfall and its turquoise pools.
• Termales del BosqueDay Passes & Hot SpringsLong-running hot-springs hotel in the forest outside Ciudad Quesada, with thermal pools by a river, an ecological trail and a spa; popular with Costa Rican families.
• Zoológico y Centro de Rescate La MarinaParks & WildlifeFamily-run, non-profit rescue center on a cattle ranch on Route 140, caring for around 80 native species — many confiscated pets — and known for breeding tapirs.
• Reserva Natural Montaña SagradaParks & WildlifeA 700-hectare community-funded reserve inside Juan Castro Blanco National Park, 9 km east of Sucre, protecting the springs that feed 200+ rural water systems.
• Bio Thermales Hot SpringsDay Passes & Hot Springs · from $2Low-key eco hot-springs park north of Aguas Zarcas: 15 free-form mineral pools, from steaming upper pools on a thermal creek to a cool spring pool with a slide, set in rainforest with picnic ranchos — a fraction of the price of the La Fortuna resorts.
• Termales La CascadaDay Passes & Hot SpringsLocal-style hot-springs complex on the thermal belt north of Aguas Zarcas: a dozen pools from warm to hot, plus covered ranchos with grills — a weekend favorite of Tico families, at an affordable price.