Ciudad Quesada

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Ciudad Quesada is a city in the district of Quesada in the canton of San Carlos in the province of Alajuela in Costa Rica. It is the capital city of the canton.

The city lies at an elevation of 656 meters above sea level (1) at the foot of the Cordillera Central (Central Mountain Range) on the southern edge of the San Carlos Plain (Llanura de San Carlos), an expansive lowland that forms a major part of the Caribbean slope in northern Costa Rica. It is 78 kilometers northwest of the provincial capital city of Alajuela and 97 kilometers from the national capital city of San Jose.

The city, the largest by far in the northern part of the country, is the major commercial center for ranching and agricultural enterprises in the surrounding area. It is known for its workshops producing leather goods, particularly saddles.

There are several hot springs in the area, some of which have developed into resorts more popular with Costa Ricans than foreign tourists. Hospital Monte Sinaí is located at the north end of the city.

[edit] History

The small town of "Villa Quesada" was granted the title of "ciudad" (city) by a law of July 8, 1953.

[edit] Nearby Places of Interest

Zoológica La Marina: A private nonprofit zoo operated by the Alfaro family on five hectares of their cattle ranch. There are more than 450 species of animals and birds on display, most of which were confiscated by the government from illegal private ownership. The facility also maintains a successful breeding program of tapirs, an increasingly endangered species. (11 kilometers northeast of Ciudad Quesada on the road to Aguas Zarcas)