family· wildlife· Highland· Family Friendly
Territorio de Zaguates
An inspiring animal sanctuary, spend the day surrounded by hundreds of happy, rescued dogs roaming freely across rolling green hills.
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Carrizal
An inspiring animal sanctuary, spend the day surrounded by hundreds of happy, rescued dogs roaming freely across rolling green hills.
Territorio de Zaguates is a groundbreaking sanctuary where roughly 1,500 rescued stray dogs roam freely across 150 hectares of verdant highland pastures in the mountains of Heredia. Unlike conventional shelters, this non-profit haven prioritizes the animals' wellbeing by eliminating cages and allowing dogs to live naturally in a sprawling, open environment. Visitors can walk the grounds, interact with the dogs, and witness firsthand how rescued animals thrive when given space and dignity. The misty cloud-forest setting and genuine animal welfare mission make this an emotionally rewarding and unique destination that challenges traditional notions of animal care.
Visit is only available via pre-registered public group hikes (caminatas) scheduled dynamically throughout the year, or private scheduled appointments for adoption/volunteering inquiries—walk-in day visits are not permitted. On organized hikes, you'll walk across mountain ridges surrounded by roughly 1,500 rescued dogs roaming freely across 150 hectares of highland pasture in a misty cloud-forest setting. The sanctuary eliminates traditional cages; dogs live naturally in open herds during the day and shelter in pavilions at night, offering a firsthand look at a radically different animal welfare model. Each dog has been given a custom 'unique breed' name based on veterinary assessment of physical traits, transforming the cultural stigma around mixed-breed rescues into playful artistic identities.
Best Time to Visit
Visit during the dry season (December–April) when mountain roads and grounds are most accessible and weather is clearest for hiking and photography.
What Changes Through The Year
Dry Season (Dec–Apr)
December–April offers the best conditions for hiking and vehicle access to the sanctuary, with clearer skies ideal for photography and lower mud on unpaved mountain roads.
Green Season (May–Nov)
May–November brings lush cloud-forest conditions and verdant pastures but increased rain and mud; public hikes may be cancelled or rescheduled depending on weather and volunteer availability.
Getting There
Located roughly 40 minutes north of downtown Alajuela city, nestled on the slopes of the Poás Volcano region in the Carrizal district of Alajuela Province. Access to the sanctuary requires navigation of unpaved volcanic gravel mountain switchbacks; high-clearance SUV or 4x4 vehicle strongly recommended.
What to Bring
Safety Considerations
Who This Is For
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Hidden Gems
Impossibly blue river deep in Tenorio Volcano
Hiking
A beautiful crater lake located inside Poás Volcano National Park
Family Friendly
Thermal pools in old-growth forest, best after the sun goes down
Hidden Gems
One of the calmest and most scenic beach
Hidden Gems
One of the wildest and most biodiverse destinations
Living traditions near this place
🪶 Indigenous Cultures
The last speakers of Maleku weave language into palm fiber
🏺 Slow Craft
The world's most ornate wheel, still painted by hand in the same workshops
🏔️ Mountain Foodways
The food that built the highlands
♨️ Thermal Culture
Volcanic heat meets river current in the most accessible thermal zone