San Carlos, Mexico

Perched on the northern slopes of the Cordillera Central, 650m above sea level, SAN CARLOS (also known as Ciudad Quesada, or simply Quesada) has a decidedly rural atmosphere. Fresh produce overflows from market stalls onto the streets, and campesinos with weathered faces hang out in the main square in front of the church. There's little to actually do: locals only come into town to have a drink on Friday night or to sell their wares at the Saturday market, and most tourists base themselves at La Fortuna or one of the luxurious resorts nearby. Still, it's well worth visiting just to stroll about and observe a prosperous agricultural hub at work. You get a real feel for what drives Costa Rica's economy: much of the nation's milk, beef, citrus fruit and rice comes from the large-scale agricultural holdings in these parts.