San Pedro

About San Pedro:

San Pedro is the fourth of Sarchí’s five districts, split off from Sarchí Sur by law in 1964. It sits on the slope above the canton’s two towns at around 1,170 metres, some 200 metres higher than Sarchí Norte, and takes in San Pedro centre, Alto Castro, Concha, Pueblo Seco, Talolinga and San José de Trojas. Route 708 leaves Sarchí Sur and runs straight up through the district on its way to Bajos del Toro, while Route 118, the Grecia–Sarchí–Naranjo road, also crosses it. An hourly bus climbs from Sarchí through Alto Castro and San Pedro to Las Trojas, and a second line links Grecia with San Pedro and La Luisa.

Tomato is what Trojas is known for across the country. Growers here aim for heavy fruit and big yields per plant, a small irrigation system serves the village, and a local producers’ association turns part of the harvest into tomato-based sauces sold in supermarkets nationally. Every year the community hosts the Feria Nacional del Tomate, which ends in a messy afternoon battle fought with rejected fruit. Coffee built the canton’s economy, and farms in the district have been adding tomato, sweet pepper, avocado and citrus; meanwhile an ageing generation of coffee growers has been selling farms to buyers with other plans.

The ground is volcanic soil on a steady incline, and many lots look west over the valley and the surrounding mountains. In the dry season strong wind sweeps the exposed spots around Trojas, San Pedro centre and Calle Concha, so check how a roof is fixed, how a greenhouse is anchored and how sheltered a hilltop lot really is before you commit. Higher up, the same road keeps climbing toward Alto Palomo before dropping into the waterfall country of Bajos del Toro. Daily errands, banks and the municipal offices are a short drive down in Sarchí Norte.

The district has grown from about 1,250 people in 1973 to 3,408 at the 2011 census, and it has kept growing since. Homes are spread out rather than bunched together, with farmland between the villages. Buyers tend to be families from Sarchí and Grecia looking for a lot to build on, people after a weekend quinta on the way to the cloud forest, and some of the foreign buyers who have been discovering Sarchí in recent years. Lots and farmland come up more often than finished homes.

Houses in San Pedro:

Houses here are detached and sit on their own land, often with a garden or a strip of ground behind them. Older family homes sit along the main roads, while newer builds go up on parcels split from farms. A typical house for sale in San Pedro de Sarchí has two or three bedrooms. Before you fall for the view, walk the access road in the rain and look at how the plot drains.

Land and Lots in San Pedro:

Land is the main event. Roadside lots of around 600 m² sit beside parcels of 1,200 to 1,600 m² and plots of 4,000 to 5,000 m² in Trojas, many with open views of the mountains. The better ones come with water and electricity at the boundary, a registered right of way and a residential land-use certificate already issued, so ask for all three in writing. Steeper parcels cost more to build on, so budget for retaining walls and drainage when you compare lots for sale in Sarchí.

Farms and Quintas in San Pedro:

Working farmland and country retreats both turn up in the district. Around San José de Trojas there are farm parcels of close to a hectare, and elsewhere on the slope you can find quintas of a few hectares with a main house. Volcanic soil and the irrigation in Trojas are the reason so much of this land is still planted. If a farm is watered under irrigation, confirm whether the connection goes with the sale.

FAQ:

• How far is San Pedro from Sarchí and the Central Valley?

  The district starts just above Sarchí Sur and runs uphill along Route 708, so San Pedro centre is a few minutes’ drive from the canton’s shops and services. Sarchí itself is about 30 km from the city of Alajuela by way of Grecia. Buses run hourly between Sarchí and Las Trojas, and another line connects San Pedro with Grecia.

• What should I check before buying a lot cut from a farm in San Pedro?

  Many parcels here were carved out of coffee and tomato farms and are reached by a private right of way, so start with that: the servidumbre must be registered and shown on the cadastral plan. Pull the title and plan from the Registro Nacional (Registro Inmobiliario), ask the Municipalidad de Sarchí for a land-use certificate, and get a written water availability letter before you sign.

• Is San Pedro a windy place to build?

  Parts of it are. Exposed areas around Trojas, San Pedro centre and Calle Concha take strong wind in the dry season. It does not stop anyone building, but it affects roof design, window orientation and where on the lot you place the house.

• When is the tomato fair in Trojas?

  The Feria Nacional del Tomate is held in San José de Trojas early in the year; the 2026 edition ran from 9 to 11 January. Expect food stalls, local produce and the tomato war at the sports field, and plan for busier roads that weekend.

• Is San Pedro a practical base for visiting Bajos del Toro?

  Yes, it sits right on the way. The most direct road from Sarchí to Catarata del Toro climbs through San Pedro and Trojas, and the full drive from Sarchí takes about an hour. The final descent into Bajos del Toro is very steep, so take it slowly.