San Vicente de Quesada (highland village below Platanar)

Before you go

Road

Paved all the way

Checked

2026-10

Tip

Go up early before the clouds build, and ask in the village about the farm trails to the waterfalls — most are on private land and run by families.

Be careful

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

Getting there

Paved to the top of the village since 2024, so any car can make it.

Places nearby

• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.