Sector Cacao is 4,000 hectares of rainforest in its lower altitudes around 500 m high on the western flank of Cacao Volcano and the lowest elevation cloud forest in the country on the peak of the volcano at 1650 m. The dormant Cacao Volcano is part of the Orosí-Cacao complex and is formed by the remnants of a volcanic depression that was breached to the southeast and is bordered by outcroppings measuring more than 200 m. 

Located on Cacao Volcano's slopes is the Cacao Biological Research Station (1,100 m) where researchers and visitors lodge and gain access to trails into the primary forest, the volcano's summit, and Mount Pedregal (1000 m), a lookout post used to detect forest fires in the Protected Wildland Area.

Sectors Program Management

The Cacao Biological Research Station is outfitted with a cafeteria, dormitories for thirty people, a lab, trails, water but no electricity, horses for transporting equipment, and a communication radio. The station is very rustic due to its difficult access and a desire to minimize its impact on the surroundings.

Parataxonomists frequent the station as well as Sectors Program staff who are responsible for the maintenance of the station facilities and internal trails used by researchers as well as patrolling the Protected Wildland Area. Sectors Program staff also collaborate with researchers helping with field work and facilitating their stay at the station. 

History

Cacao Sector was once part of the Orosí Forest Reserve which, as a forest reserve, protected the Cacao and Orosí volcanoes against logging. This area was also protected under the 1917 and 1955 laws establishing 2 km around the craters of Costa Rica's volcanoes as national parks. Despite these protections, the laws were not upheld and this area continued to be privately owned and gradually logged into the 80's.