Ciudad Quesada

Ciudad Quesada, or San Carlos, is a small little country town surrounded by lush, green radiant landscape, which is its main attraction. It is located in the San Carlos Canton, about 48 kms away from Naranjo and 95 kms away from San Jose, in the most fertile region of the country. Most people traveling to Arenal from San Jose will switch buses here or stop for a pit stop.

With a population of 137,499, untouched by tourism, this little town has seen little change over the years. It lies 650 meters above sea level and enjoys a pleasant climate throughout the year. The canton of San Carlos stretches all the way to the northern Nicaraguan border, and is the home of the Arenal Volcano.

To reach Ciudad Quesada, one travels through some of the most spectacular landscape of the country. A trip to Ciudad Quesada is a nice day out through the countryside, and while you are there, try to make a visit to the Zoologica La Marina, just 11 kms away from town. This non profit zoo is operated by the Alfaro family, right on their cattle ranch. You may see over 450 species of animals and birds while admiring the natural scenic beauty of the region. They also breed tapirs and run a program of breeding and protecting species that are under the threat of extinction; a real pleasant and interesting place to visit.