The city, officially known as Ciudad Quesada, is located in the northern lowlands of Costa Rica, in a valley right at the base of the Cordillera Central (Central Mountain Range). It is in the province of Alejuela and the Canton of San Carlos. The city is, by far, the largest and most developed in the northern part of the country. It is home to between thirty and forty thousand people and has developed into a commercial center for agricultural and ranching enterprises.
Probably as a result, it is best known for its talabarterias, or saddleries, and string cheese. While the Spanish word for cheese is queso, the city is named after a poet, not the dairy product. Most international tourists in the area are just passing through and their way to Arenal, one of Costa Rica's most famous volcanoes. The city and surrounding area is actually more popular with Costa Rican tourists, who come to visit the hot springs and resorts that have sprung up around them.
San Carlos is 95km (about an hours drive) from the nation's capital, San Juan. It is located at the fork between two major highways and has buses going to and coming from just about everywhere in Costa Rica. You can actually see Arenal in the distance and the city in general appears to be more developed than I expected and a little more westernize than I had hoped. I'll post some pictures later.
Probably as a result, it is best known for its talabarterias, or saddleries, and string cheese. While the Spanish word for cheese is queso, the city is named after a poet, not the dairy product. Most international tourists in the area are just passing through and their way to Arenal, one of Costa Rica's most famous volcanoes. The city and surrounding area is actually more popular with Costa Rican tourists, who come to visit the hot springs and resorts that have sprung up around them.
San Carlos is 95km (about an hours drive) from the nation's capital, San Juan. It is located at the fork between two major highways and has buses going to and coming from just about everywhere in Costa Rica. You can actually see Arenal in the distance and the city in general appears to be more developed than I expected and a little more westernize than I had hoped. I'll post some pictures later.
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