Iglesia de San Rafael de Zarcero

Tip

Go in the morning before the mist rolls in, and step inside to see the painted interior; the topiary park is just below.

Be careful

Keep an eye on your belongings in busy town centres, and dress respectfully if you go inside a church.

Places nearby

• Restaurante El ParquecitoFood & CoffeeFamily-run, very cheap buffet right across from Zarcero's topiary park, opened in 2019 — a warm spot to eat local food when the mountain fog and drizzle roll in.
• Rancho de CeciFood & CoffeeRustic, wood-trimmed family restaurant on Route 141 in Laguna, just north of Zarcero, serving home-style Costa Rican food for over 50 years — recommended by locals.
• 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.
• Restaurante Típico Toro Amarillo (Yellow Bull)Sodas & Local FoodVillage restaurant on Route 708 in Bajos del Toro cooking on a wood-fired stove; travel writers rate its breakfast gallo pinto among the best they've had.
• Jardín Botánico Else KientzlerParks & WildlifeBotanical garden in Sarchí with winding trails among bamboo, palms, bromeliads and unusual trees, a plant nursery and a café, on Finca La Evita.
• El Silencio Lodge & SpaStaysCloud-forest eco-lodge in Bajos del Toro, between Juan Castro Blanco and Poás Volcano national parks, with private waterfalls and a spa.