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This protected wild area has water sources of great importance for the northern zone, both for human consumption, the generation of hydroelectric energy and for industrial consumption. The rivers Platanar, Toro, Aguas Zarcas, Tres Amigos and La Vieja, among others, are born here. Protects primary forest areas within five life zones with important species of flora and fauna.



Located in the province of Alajuela, east of Ciudad Quesada, is the Juan Castro Blanco National Park. Surrounded by the districts of Aguas Zarcas, Venecia, Zapote, Laguna, Tapezco, Palmira, SarchíNorte, Toro Amarillo and Río Cuarto among others. It has an area of ​​14,258 hectares



Within this national park there are important geomorphological features such as calderas, active volcanic foci (Platanar Volcano), inactive volcanic foci (Cerro Viejo and Cerro Pelón). Also, quaternary volcanic cones, alluvial cones, and alluvial sedimentation forms.



The vegetation in the area is very diverse. Approximately 60% of the park is covered by primary forest interspersed with patches of regenerating forest.



These forests occur in five life zones according to the Holdridge classification: pre-montane rain forest transition to perhumid, montane rain forest under transition to very humid, very humid pre-montane forest transition to pluvial, lower montane rain forest and pre-montane rain forest.



Among the most outstanding species are the oak and the maybe. In the higher parts there is a stunted vegetation covered with a large number of epiphytic plants, characteristic of cold, windy and humid microclimates.



Among the fauna there are bird species such as the quetzal, the peacock bass, the black guan, the chachalaca; mammals such as the mountain goat, two species of monkeys, the armadillo, the tepescuinte, the tapir and several species of felines.

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