Juan Castro Blanco National Park covers about 14,000 hectares of cloud forest on the slopes of the Cordillera Central, about 15 kilometres southeast of Ciudad Quesada. The terrain ranges from 700 to 2267 metres (Platanar Volcano) and supports primary cloud forest, páramo, and several rivers fed by the volcanic highlands. It is less visited than the bigger-name Costa Rican parks, which means the hiking trails feel genuinely remote.
The park is accessible by 4WD vehicle on dirt roads from Ciudad Quesada; enquire locally about current trail conditions and access points. The birding is excellent and includes resplendent quetzal sightings at appropriate elevations. The park has no developed visitor infrastructure, so come prepared with food, water, and navigation tools.