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Zarcero Park and its cypress topiaries

Also known as: Parque Francisco Alvarado

Hand-clipped cypress arches and figures in front of the church of Zarcero, a mountain town on Route 141. A good stop if you travel between La Fortuna and San José.

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Clipped cypress arches forming a walkway in Zarcero's park, with houses and green hills behind.
Photo: Rodtico21, 2011 · CC BY-SA 3.0

What you can do for free

  • Walk and wanderWalk under the cypress arches up to the church and spot the figures.
  • Learn local historyLearn the story of Evangelista Blanco, the gardener who shaped them.
  • Relax and watch local lifeTake in the park from the church steps.
  • Traditions and eventsAt Christmas the figures are lit up; 30,000 lights were switched on in 2023. There is no announcement for 2026 yet.

Zarcero's park is famous for its cypress topiaries: arches forming a walkway up to the church, and clipped animals and characters such as an elephant, a dinosaur, small planes, boxers, an octopus and dancers, according to the Zarcero Municipality.

The municipality put Evangelista Blanco in charge of its gardens in 1964, and he shaped the figures for decades. He died in June 2023, and since then a group of volunteers has kept his legacy alive (Teletica, 2024).

At the far end stands the church of San Rafael Arcángel. You can see the façade freely from the park; inside there are religious paintings, stained glass and a mural by Misael Solís Alvarado, but we found no visiting hours. According to El Observador, the most striking view of the park is from the church steps.

Façade of Zarcero's church in grey and light blue, with two red-domed towers and a clock above the entrance.
Photo: Rodtico21, 2016 · CC BY-SA 4.0

How to get there

By car, via Ciudad Quesada and Route 141, the road that continues to Naranjo and San José. If you are heading to San José that way, it is on your route.

Permitted access

It is the town's central park. The Zarcero Municipality presents it as a place of interest, and today volunteers look after it.

What to bring

  • A jacket. The municipality reports an average temperature of 17 °C.

Precautions

What we don't know yet

  • Hours when the church is open to visitors.
  • Whether there will be Christmas lights in 2026, and from when.
  • Where to park and whether it costs anything.

Know something that would help verify it? Tell us

Sources

Every fact on this page comes from these sources. The date is when we checked them.

  1. Municipalidad de Zarcero – Parque de Zarcero Official

    Park in front of the church, its figures and the municipality's 1964 appointment of Evangelista Blanco.

    zarcero.go.cr · checked on

  2. Teletica – Zarcero se consolida como destino clave del turismo de cercanía National media

    The park as an open attraction and the church murals.

    teletica.com · published · checked on

  3. Municipalidad de Zarcero – Iglesia San Rafael Arcángel Official

    The church, its interior art and Misael Solís Alvarado's mural.

    zarcero.go.cr · checked on

  4. El Observador CR – Murió Evangelista Blanco, el papá de las figuras del parque de Zarcero National media

    Evangelista Blanco's death and the view from the church steps.

    observador.cr · published · checked on

  5. Teletica – Legado de Evangelista Blanco sigue vivo gracias a voluntarios de Zarcero National media

    Volunteers maintain the park.

    teletica.com · published · checked on

  6. El Observador CR – 30.000 luces iluminarán el parque de Zarcero National media

    The 2023 Christmas lights.

    observador.cr · published · checked on

  7. Municipalidad de Zarcero – Características del cantón Official

    The canton's climate.

    zarcero.go.cr · published · checked on

  8. Municipalidad de Zarcero – Tapezco Official

    Wind and fog along Route 141.

    zarcero.go.cr · checked on

  9. Visit Costa Rica (ICT) – Parque Nacional Juan Castro Blanco Official

    The San José–Naranjo–Zarcero–Ciudad Quesada road.

    visitcostarica.com · checked on

  10. San Carlos Digital – Colapso de alcantarilla obliga a cerrar paso en el centro de Ciudad Quesada Local media

    Route 141 closure in Ciudad Quesada.

    sancarlosdigital.com · published · checked on

  11. OpenStreetMap — Parque Francisco Alvarado Segura, Zarcero (vía 1185592409) Map

    Location of the park.

    openstreetmap.org · checked on

  12. Enrutador FOSSGIS/OSRM sobre datos de OpenStreetMap (routing.openstreetmap.de) Map

    Estimated driving distance from La Fortuna's central park.

    routing.openstreetmap.de · checked on