Zarcero Town Information

Zarcero is located north of Naranjo, in the province of Alajuela, 50kms away from Alajuela and 27kms away from Ciudad Quesada. It is a small agriculture city with a population of 4060. With an altitude of 1736, Zarcero is cool and green, surrounded with agriculture and farmland, and it is also characterized by pine trees, giving it a somewhat different look, not typical of a Costa Rican landscape. It has grown a good reputation in the practice of organic farming, and everybody brings back something from Zarcero, from its famous homemade white cheese to its delicious peach preserve, cream, organic fruits and vegetables.
The church of Zarcero resembles a Russian temple. Constructed in 1895, it is not at all what it seems at first sight! The marble on the outside is just paint and the brickwork inside too.
Most people however visit Zarcero for its amazing topiary garden in front of the church; in 1960, a gardener named Don Evangelisto Blanca started to trim the bushes in the most particular way. Everything was taking shape and soon, there was a cat, a set of elephants, a rabbit, some birds, a happy face, oxen and cart, a monkey on a motorcycle, the imagination of this man has no limit! According to Don Evangelisto, he is only following Gods instructions! This is not meant, however, to undermine his talent in any way at all; this man is an artist. I would surely have him as my private gardener!