Juan Castro Blanco National Park National Park

Juan Castro Blanco National Park is a protected area in Alajuela Province, Costa Rica that conserves montane and cloud-forest ecosystems and the headwaters of multiple rivers. It is notable for protecting high-elevation forest and important freshwater catchments.

The park offers trails, birdwatching and opportunities to see montane forest habitats and waterfalls. Recreational use is primarily low-impact activities such as hiking and wildlife observation rather than large-scale tourism.

The area was set aside as a protected park to conserve forest cover and water resources and to maintain habitat for native mountain species. Management focuses on habitat protection and watershed conservation.

The park sits in the central mountain range of Costa Rica within Alajuela Province, north of the Central Valley. It occupies highland terrain that feeds river systems serving nearby lowland communities.

• Watershed protection: Protects montane and cloud-forest watersheds that supply downstream communities and agriculture in northern Costa Rica.

The park is reached from towns in Alajuela Province; the nearest major centers are Ciudad Quesada and San Ramón. Local roads into the park can be rough; private vehicles or organized tours with drivers experienced in mountain roads are recommended.

• Hire a guide from local ranger stations to find the park's waterfalls and more hidden trails.
• Layers are essential: higher elevations are significantly cooler than surrounding lowlands.
• Look for frog and birdwatching opportunities at dawn along forest streams.