Costa Rica hotel Hacienda Guachipelin presents new rooms for Christmas

Just in time for Christmas, travelers to Rincon de la Vieja Volcano in Guanacaste, Costa Rica, can enjoy charming new guest rooms at award-winning eco-hotel Hacienda Guachipelin. At the base of the Rincon de la Vieja Volcano, Hotel Hacienda Guachipelin is one of the best places to stay in Guanacaste. The eco-tourism hotel is a working horse and cattle ranch and has a fantastic adventure park. They were awarded the TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence for 2014.

 

The spacious new Superior rooms have beautiful views. Ten new rooms are equipped with two queen beds or one king-size bed, Wi-Fi, TV, phone, safe box, fan and air-conditioning. Two of the rooms are specially equipped for disabled travelers.

“I love the typical authentic flavor of this traditional Costa Rican hacienda located at the active volcano and national park of Rincon de la Vieja,” commented Daniel Chavarria, founder of Enchanting Hotels Costa Rica.

Hotel Hacienda Guachipelin offers comfortable ranch-style rooms and suites with views of the volcano and the Hacienda. Wide and inviting verandas welcome you to relax and meet fellow travelers. A sumptuous breakfast buffet and entrance to the hotel’s natural volcanic hot springs are included for all guests at Hacienda Guachipelin.

The adventure park at Hacienda Guachipelin offers the best things to do in Guanacaste, Costa Rica, including horseback riding, hiking in the Rincon de la Vieja National Park, river tubing, natural hot springs and volcanic mud baths, waterfall rappelling, hikes to waterfalls, and the very unique Canyon Canopy Tour.



Article by Shannon Farley

Fantastic sea turtle tours at Lirio Lodge in Caribbean Costa Rica

Thousands of visitors come to Costa Rica each year with the hope of witnessing the extraordinary phenomenon of seeing sea turtles nest and lay their eggs. These ancient reptiles have been swimming Earth’s waters for at least 150 million years, mysteriously returning to the same beach where they were born.


Costa Rica’s Pacific Coast beaches receive mass arrivals of female turtles by the tens of thousands, and the Costa Rica Caribbean beaches have crucial world nesting sites. Of the seven species of sea turtles that exist on the planet, four of them nest on the beaches of the Costa Rica Caribbean Coast.

Tortuguero National Park and its neighboring beaches of the northern Caribbean Coast of Costa Rica are recognized as the Western Hemisphere’s most important nesting site for endangered Green Sea Turtles (Chelonia mydas); and are a major nesting site for the critically endangered Leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea), Hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata), and Loggerhead (Caretta caretta) sea turtles.


Between the Caribbean port city of Limon and the Tortuguero National Park is the Pacuare-Matina Forest Reserve. This even more remote area than Tortuguero is also an important nesting site for Leatherback, Green and Hawksbill sea turtles.

“It is like Tortuguero 20 years ago, before it was developed, with the same wetlands and lowland rainforest, lagoons, beaches, and turtles that come to nest,” noted Helberth Chavarria Madrigal, operations manager at Lirio Lodge, located next to the Pacuare-Matina Forest Reserve.

The Costa Rica eco-lodge specializes in nature tours and educational tourism. During turtle nesting season, which begins in March, Lirio Lodge offers turtle tours with their bilingual guides. The tour is at night when turtles typically come up on the beach, using the cover of darkness for protection from predators. The Costa Rica jungle lodge works with the local grassroots Association of the Pacuare Community that protects the turtles.



The advantage of visiting the Pacuare-Matina Forest Reserve over Tortuguero is that turtle nesting season begins a few months earlier. Since the only place to stay is at Lirio Lodge, the area also is far less transited than the 50,000 tourists who come annually to Tortuguero for turtle nesting and hatching season, from June to October.

“At Lirio Lodge, we have far less people going to see the turtles. In Tortuguero, you might have 400 persons or more in one night, from all of the different lodges, out on the beach trying to see turtles. In our area, people on the tour are only people staying at our lodge,” commented Lirio Lodge co-owner Leo Jones.

For information on vacation packages, contact Lirio Lodge.

Article by Shannon Farley

Bright ideas for Christmas plants from Costa Rica

To your holiday decorations this year, add some pretty Christmas plants for a living touch of good cheer. Surprisingly, many holiday plants are tropical in origin, which means that you care for them like a houseplant if you live in a cold climate.

The Else Kientzler Botanical Garden in Sarchi, Costa Rica, has several fun ideas for traditional and novel Christmas plants to decorate your home this holiday season. They recommend using decorative planters in different levels, along with hanging baskets, for Christmassy-colored plants. Or, create a small thematic “island garden” where you rotate plants that are in season. “We have a little garden at the entrance to our reception that right now is all Christmas plants,” noted Ovido Esquivel, director of the Else Kientzler Botanical Garden.  

 

Poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima): Native to Mexico and Central America, the poinsettia is perhaps the most recognizable Christmas plant. In English, it is named after the first U.S. minister to Mexico, Joel Roberts Poinsett, who introduced the plant into the USA in 1825. The colored leaves on the plant – red, white, pink and dark green – look like flowers, even though they are really leaves. While in full bloom, poinsettias like semi-cool, humid locations in bright, indirect light with plenty of moisture and adequate drainage; you don’t want to drown them or have them sit in water-filled saucers, which can produce root rot. If you live in a warmer climate, you can plant your poinsettia after Christmas in a sunny area and it will grow into a shrub or small tree.

 

Euphorbia Diamond Frost: This very pretty plant in the poinsettia family grows a cloud of tiny, delicate white flowers and small, rounded green leaves. “They are very beautiful to decorate the house with Christmas colors. They are easy to plant and maintain in baskets, planters and home gardens,” said Esquivel.

 

Torenia (torenia fournieri): Also called wishbone flower or bluewings, this beautiful flower comes in many shades of blue, rose, yellow, pink, purple or white; but most have purple blue flowers with a yellow throat. It is native to Africa and Asia and loves hot and humid weather; it grows well in semi-shade and can be put in a basket or a planter. The purple variety is good for Christmas color, noted Esquivel. He suggests planting Torenia with Euphorbia Diamond Frost for pretty Christmas colors.

 

GoGo Scarlet and GoGo Purple (Salvia): With bright scarlet red and bright purple flowers, these two varietals are another pretty possibility for your holiday garden. Plant them together in large stair-step planters for spectacular decoration.

 

 Mediterranean cypress tree (Cupressus sempervirens): The cypress tree is the traditional Christmas tree in Costa Rica. The evergreen conifer gives off a wonderful aroma, which fills the houses in Costa Rica from both trees and wreaths during the holidays.

All of these plants are growing in the Else Kientzler Botanical Garden in Costa Rica, and are grown for export by their business, Innovaplant. The beautiful Costa Rica botanical garden features more than 2,000 species of exotic tropical plants from around the globe. The gardens are open every day from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Guided walks are available in English, Spanish and German with advance reservations, or you can go on a self-guided tour.  

Article by Shannon Farley 

Christmas legend of La Yeguita in Nicoya, Costa Rica

What do a little black mare and the Virgin of Guadalupe have to do with Christmas traditions in Costa Rica?

One of the more interesting Christmastime festivals held in Costa Rica is the Festival of “La Yeguita” (the little mare) on December 12. Held annually on the Nicoya Peninsula of Costa Rica, the celebration combines traditional native beliefs and Roman Catholic customs.

According to the University of Costa Rica, the indigenous legend tells about two brothers caught in a machete-fight over a girl. People leaving the local church saw the fight and started praying to the Virgin of Guadalupe, the patron saint of Nicoya and the Americas, for a miracle. At that moment, a small black mare appeared, running between the fighting brothers to separate them and stop the conflict. The Festival of “La Yeguita” coincides with the Roman Catholic celebration of the Virgin of Guadalupe.



The celebration on Dec. 12, in the city of Nicoya on Costa Rica’s Nicoya Peninsula, features a procession with a man dressed as the “little mare” dancing with another man carrying a statue of the Virgin of Guadalupe to the music of flutes and drums. The procession leads to the Catholic Church for a mass, and afterward, there is food, concerts and general dancing.


Where to stay on the Nicoya Peninsula
 
Santa Teresa, Costa Rica on the southern Nicoya Peninsula is known as one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. It is a place with warm and clear Pacific Ocean, spectacular sunsets over the sea, and the home of Hotel Tropico Latino.

The Santa Teresa beachfront hotel specializes in Costa Rica surf holidays and yoga retreats in Santa Teresa, Costa Rica. They feature comfortable and charming accommodations, a beachfront spa, yoga classes and an award-winning restaurant.

Article by Shannon Farley

Three beaches in the Costa Rica Southern Caribbean you have to visit

Three of the prettiest beaches on the Southern Caribbean Coast of Costa Rica are Playa Cocles, Playa Chiquita and Punta Uva. That is if you like long stretches of gorgeous picture postcard Caribbean coastline with warm turquoise ocean and graceful tall palm trees. When you are on the beach on the Costa Rica Southern Caribbean Coast, all you see are sea, sand, sky, trees … and maybe the occasional other person or pretty tropical bird or monkey.

There are no high-rise mega-resorts or unending rows of condos like on many of Costa Rica’s Pacific beaches. Here, everything blends in harmony with the rainforest.

Playa Cocles begins 1.5 kilometers (just under a mile) south of Puerto Viejo Costa Rica , a funky beach town and “capital” of the Southern Caribbean region of Costa Rica. Its soft golden beach stretches 3 kilometers (1.8 miles) to Playa Chiquita. There are trails that hug the beach passing under giant trees, past bright tropical flowers, sea grapes and lots of greenery. Watch for monkeys, colorful tropical birds, sloths, green iguanas and crabs.

Playa Cocles is a top Caribbean Costa Rica beach for surfing and boogie boarding. For lovers of the underwater world, the Southern Caribbean has some of the best coral reefs and marine life in Costa Rica. Coral reef extends along the coast from the Cahuita National Park to the Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge. 

The picturesque beaches of Playa Chiquita and Punta Uva, just past Playa Cocles to the south, are also excellent for snorkeling.

La Sula Sea Lounge of Hotel Le Caméléon is one of the best places to relax on Playa Cocles. Lounge on a day-bed by the sea. Sip a refreshing tropical drink from the bar and have a light snack, before grabbing a siesta in one of the hammocks under a palm tree.

The upscale Costa Rica boutique hotel at Playa Cocles features ultra-chic rooms and beautiful tropical architecture in lush jungle gardens; the elegant Le Numu Restaurant & Bar is one of the area’s top restaurants.

Getting to the Southern Caribbean of Costa Rica and Playa Cocles is now easier than ever with a new 30-minute flight by Nature Air between San Jose and Limon. Hotel Le Caméléon is offering a three-night vacation package until Mar. 27, 2015 that includes round-trip flights on Nature Air, accommodation, some meals, VIP access to the La Sula Sea Lounge, and a tour to the Jaguar Rescue Center.
 Article by Shannon Farley

Holiday Art Fair brings Christmas cheer to Nosara Costa Rica

Looking to shop for unique Christmas gifts this year? Combine Christmas shopping with a holiday in Costa Rica and go to the Holiday Art Fair in Playa Guiones by Nosara on Sunday, Dec. 14, 2014.

More than 35 talented international and national artists will be selling handmade art and products at the third annual Holiday Art Fair hosted by the Nosara Artisans from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Pacifico Azul Restaurant in Playa Guiones.

Artists make everything by hand, such as handmade bikinis and beachwear, unique pottery, glass art, fabric art, jewelry, painting, photography, carved wood art, furniture and lamps. Much of the artwork comes from natural materials found in Nosara and its beaches.

Local Nosara community organizations will be at the art fair to educate and fundraise for their important causes, and kids can have their faces painted while benefiting a Nosara summer children’s art camp.

Nosara Artisans was founded in October 2012 to give local artists a place to sell their wares during the holiday and summer season. It is a non-profit collective open to everyone living in the community. More Nosara Artisan art fairs will be held during the Costa Rica summer season at the same place and time on January 18, February 8, March 15, and April 4.

Visit Nosara, Costa Rica
 
The vibrant beach area of Nosara, Costa Rica is remotely located on the Nicoya Peninsula in Guanacaste. The fun, eclectic community encompasses the town of Nosara and the beaches of Playa Guiones and Playa Pelada.

Playa Guiones is renowned for some of the best surfing in Costa Rica and is recommended as a best place to go in 2014. It is also home to the famous Nosara Yoga Institute. There are many fun adventure and nature tours in Nosara.

Featuring exotic Bali-style architecture with fountains, ponds and swimming pools, L'acqua Viva Resort & Spa is a top Nosara hotel and the best place to stay at Playa Guiones. The Costa Rica luxury hotel is offering special rates through Dec. 15, 2014.
 
Getting to Nosara: Take a domestic flight from either the San Jose International Airport or the Liberia International Airport to Nosara; it is a 10-minute drive to Playa Guiones. Otherwise, it is a 4.5 hour drive from San Jose and 2.5 hours from Liberia.

Article by Shannon Farley

Mountain biking in Costa Rica on new cycling trips

Mountain bikers, take note. Now there are Costa Rica vacations dedicated solely to mountain biking. If you are a mountain biking enthusiast looking for a training trip or a fun and challenging cycling vacation, now Cycling Trails Costa Rica has partnered with Horizontes Nature Tours to offer exceptional Costa Rica Cycling Tours.

Known for its beautiful beaches and rainforests, Costa Rica, has also gained fame around the world for mountain biking and endurance sports competitions. Started by highly experienced international competitive mountain bikers from Costa Rica, Cycling Trails’ staff includes race directors and adventure and cycling racers; guides also are certified in first aid and rescue.

“We cater to adventurous bikers seeking new challenges, true interaction with the local culture, and some of the world’s most amazing locations for cycling,” states Cycling Trails’ information. “Nature is our playground in every exclusive expedition we have created for you.”

Mountain bikers can chose from two itineraries with set departures in 2015. Groups range from six to 14 persons.

The eight-day Costa Rica vacation package Land of Eternal Sunshine takes participants to the rugged terrain around the Rincon de la Vieja Volcano – site of the unique 100-mile mountain bike race Rincón de la Vieja Challenge held every August – and to the rolling coastal foothills and beaches of Guanacaste. Riders will pedal from 20 to 91 kilometers a day, visiting a different location each day. Cycling Trails trips are scheduled for Feb. 6-13, 2015 and May 8-15, 2015.

The Land of Volcanoes itinerary is even more challenging, riding the mountainous terrain of one of the most impressive volcanic regions of the world. Participants will visit the renowned Monteverde Cloud Forest, the Arenal Volcano and three more active and dormant volcanoes, pedaling from 30 to 60 kilometers a day in different locations. There are trips available for April 7-13, 2015 and Aug. 7-13, 2015.
 
The distinguished Horizontes Nature Tours travel agency in Costa Rica has 30 years of experience in Costa Rica travel, offering the finest Costa Rica vacation packages and Costa Rica tours.

Article by Shannon Farley

Fascinating Christmas Celebrations in Central America

Some of the most elaborate traditional Christmas celebrations take place in the seven countries of Central America. Read on for more about each country’s unique festivity.

Christmas Celebrations in Central America
 


Panama

The Panama City Christmas Parade is the big festivity here. Decorated floats, marching bands and dancers in traditional costumes parade through Panama City to the beach where there is a tree lighting ceremony. At nightfall, there is also a parade of boats decorated with Christmas lights. On Christmas Eve at midnight, Panamanians shoot off fabulous fireworks. Traditional foods include chicken tamales and rice with chicken.



Costa Rica

In Costa Rica, roads, shops and houses are beautifully decorated at least a month before Christmas. Lavish dinners accompany Christmas Eve celebrations, traditionally with roasted pork leg and tamales. In Costa Rica it's not Santa Claus who brings the Christmas gifts; they are instead brought by Baby Jesus on the night before Christmas called “La Noche Buena” (the Good Night).

Nicaragua

The Feast of the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary, called “La Purísima”, starts off the Christmas season in Nicaragua. On Dec. 8, young people go caroling from house to house in celebration of the Immaculate Conception, and there are processions with statues of the Virgin Mary.



El Salvador

Christmas in El Salvador focuses on family. Most families go to midnight mass together and then return home to begin an all-night party with a large dinner, serving roasted turkey, rice and chicken, and potato salad. As they wait for the arrival of Santa Claus, children play with sparklers, and fireworks are set off.



Guatemala
 
In Guatemala, Christmas blends the Mayan culture with Roman Catholicism. Antigua, Guatemala, one of the oldest and most beautiful colonial cities in Central America, stages impressive traditional Catholic Christmas processions and festivals. In the nearby Mayan market town of Chichicastenango, vividly costumed indigenous dancers act out plays and musicals that blend modern Christianity with ancient Mayan beliefs. Most churches and public areas display Nativity scenes, and everyone always goes to Midnight Mass on Dec. 24, known as “La Misa del Gallo,” or the “Mass of the Rooster”.



Honduras
 
People in Honduras also go to midnight mass on Christmas Eve, followed by a special dinner with tamales, roasted pork, chicken with rice, and torrejas – bread fried with honey and cinnamon – for dessert with eggnog. Las Posadas is a common tradition in Honduras, held from Dec. 16 to 24 when participants reenact the journey Mary and Joseph took to Bethlehem searching for a place to stay. The ritual involves statues of saints traveling to different designated homes each night as a way to symbolize the historic journey.



Belize
 
Having been colonized by the British, Belize is mainly a Christian nation, so you will see Christmas traditions like Christmas trees, decorated homes and midnight mass celebrations. However, indigenous and West African cultures also influenced local traditions like the Garifuna Wanaragua celebration, which happens on Christmas Day in towns like Dangriga where the West African culture is strong. Wanaragua is a masked Christmas procession where locals dress up in costumes meant to mimic the dress of their original European captors.

Travel to Central America with Central America Experience, a Costa Rica-based travel agency specializing vacation packages to Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Panama, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras and Belize.

Article by Shannon Farley

Combine Costa Rica adventure tours with transfers for fun travel days

 
Transportation in Costa Rica, unless you’ve booked a Costa Rica vacation package that includes transfers, can sometimes be complicated and expensive. Now there is a Costa Rica transportation solution that also makes your travel days fun.

Desafio Adventure Company offers Adventure Connections that take care of your transportation between vacation destinations in Costa Rica and add in an action-packed activity on your way. The Costa Rica adventure tours company picks you up and drives you to where you need to go, for instance from San Jose to Arenal, while stopping along the way to go whitewater rafting or mountain biking or on a canopy zip-line tour. Combine a day of touring with traveling to make the most of your Costa Rica vacation, and get discounts on the services provided. Desafio vehicles are reliable, safe, comfortable, and equipped with air-conditioning and free Wi-Fi.



Desafio Adventure Company also provides airport shuttles, private transfers and shared-ride transfers.

Here are Adventure Connections selections by destination origin. See the Desafio Adventure Company website for full information.

FROM SAN JOSE
 
Destinations include the La Fortuna / Arenal Volcano area. Adventure activities include a coffee tour and visit to Poas Volcano, whitewater rafting, and canopy zip-line tour.



FROM LA FORTUNA / ARENAL VOLCANO
 
Destinations include San Jose, Monteverde, Manuel Antonio, Puerto Viejo in Sarapiqui, Samara Beach and Guanacaste. Adventure activities include whitewater rafting, canopy zip-line tour, canyoning, river float trip, horseback riding, mountain biking, a coffee and chocolate tour, crocodile tour, and visiting the Rio Celeste National Park.



FROM MONTEVERDE
 
Destinations include La Fortuna/Arenal Volcano, Manuel Antonio, Samara Beach, Tamarindo Beach and Guanacaste. Adventure activities include horseback riding, whitewater rafting, river float trip, a coffee and chocolate tour, a dolphin watching and snorkeling tour, stand-up paddling, surf lessons, kayaking and snorkeling tour, a turtle observation tour and crocodile tour.



 FROM GUANACASTE
 
Destinations include Liberia, Samara Beach, La Fortuna/Arenal Volcano, and Monteverde. Adventure activities include whitewater rafting, river float trip, and visiting the Rio Celeste National Park.



FROM MANUEL ANTONIO
 
Destinations include La Fortuna/Arenal Volcano and Monteverde. Adventure activities include whitewater rafting and a crocodile tour.



Article by Shannon Farley

See fabulous Santa Teresa Costa Rica sunsets from Pranamar Villas’ beachfront bar

Sunsets in Santa Teresa, Costa Rica are some of the most spectacular I’ve seen, especially if it is low tide. When the Pacific Ocean recedes from the long coastline of this stretch of the Nicoya Peninsula – Playa Carmen, Playa Santa Teresa and Playa Hermosa – the setting sun reflects its fiery colors in millions of little tide pools in the exposed reef and turns the white sand rosy pink.

The best place to be on the beach in Santa Teresa and watch the sunset, while you enjoy a refreshing cold drink, is at the new Sunset Tiki Bar at Pranamar Oceanfront Villas & Yoga Retreat.
Every night of the week at Pranamar Villas’ new sunset bar they are serving ice cold beers, sangria, fresh tropical fruit smoothies, special cocktails and delicious appetizers – called “bocas” in Costa Rica.

 It is the best time of day to be on the beach with your favorite cold drink, hanging out with your favorite people and meeting new friends. You’re on vacation!

The beautiful Bali-style beachfront hotel in Santa Teresa now has the only beachfront bar in the area of Playa Hermosa. Starting at the beginning of December, Pranamar Villas opened up their beach garden and set out comfy chairs and chaise lounges to enjoy the famous fiery sunsets over the Pacific Ocean at Santa Teresa – named by Forbes Magazine as “one of the most beautiful beaches in the world.”
 
Bocas, or appetizers, will vary nightly with creative Mexican, Mediterranean and Asian dishes, and special fresh sushi rolls. The Buddha Eyes Restaurant at Pranamar Villas gets its fish fresh from local fisherman daily, so you know the sushi will be top-notch. Check Pranamar Villas’ Facebook page for information on live music nights.

After you enjoy the sunset, stay for dinner at Buddha Eyes Restaurant where they serve creative healthy cuisine from the chef team of Rodrigo Soriano of Argentina, Claudio “Cicco” Mazzone from Italy and Jesus Zabala from Venezuela. The elegant open-air restaurant overlooks the lagoon-style pool at the Costa Rica beach resort. The Buddha Eyes Restaurant is open to the public for breakfast, lunch and dinner daily.

Pranamar Oceanfront Villas in Costa Rica specializes in yoga and yoga retreats, and Costa Rica surf holidays at Santa Teresa.

Article by Shannon Farley

Celebrate New Year’s uniquely Fiesta de los Diablitos in Costa Rica

In southern Costa Rica, the end of the year is celebrated very uniquely at the country’s biggest indigenous cultural event, the “ Fiesta de los Diablitos Costa Rica ” The four-day annual “Festival of Little Devils” takes place over the New Year’s holiday from Dec. 30 to Jan. 2 in the village of the Boruca community on the tribe’s indigenous reservation in the Talamanca Mountains.
The Fiesta de los Diablitos celebrates the Borucas’ historic victory over the Spanish conquistadors. Through their language, legends, dance and crafts, the people of Boruca keep their rich ancestral traditions alive. The Borucas are well-known for their colorful, hand-carved masks made from lightweight balsa wood, which play an important part in this annual pageant.
“This is the largest festival that we have. This festival is our identity. We are reconnected to our ancestors, our culture and our traditions,” explained Santos Leiva, a master mask maker in Boruca. “In this festival, no one is sad. Everyone is happy and celebrating.”
During the festival, village men dress up as warriors and ancestral spirits using traditional balsa wood masks and elaborate costumes made from cloth sacks and banana leaves. One man takes the role of a mock bull, representing the Spanish intruders. Women of the community have an important yet less visible role making food and drink to sustain the participants and visitors.
The event begins ceremoniously at midnight on Dec. 30 when the male warriors – dressed in special devil face masks decorated with natural paint from plants – walk from house to house in the village preparing for battle with the “Spanish”, represented by the bull. The warriors drink chicha – a beverage made naturally from fermented corn – and shout battle cries, while accompanied by drum music. “This is the spiritual moment that the warriors are uniting with their ancestral warrior spirits,” said Leiva. “It lasts all night until about 6:00 a.m.”
The Spanish conqueror, in the figure of a bull, arrives during the day on Dec. 31. All day on the 31^st and 1^st of January, the warriors engage in mock battles with the bull. They dress in specific warrior masks or animal masks, such as jaguars, toucans, macaws, monkeys and other animals of the rainforest, Leiva explained. In the evenings, there are celebrations and dances.
January 2 is the day of courage, the last stand of the battle. On this day, the village elders appear, shouting special cries of courage and wearing masks with feathers and animal figures. The community gathers in a sacred place in the center of the village for the final battle. “Only on this day will female warriors appear. History says that women did not participate directly in the fighting, but were assisting the warriors with natural medicine,” noted Leiva. “The dying or injured warriors drink chicha and return to life.”
Just as in history, at the end of the festival, the bull representing the Spanish conquistadors is “killed” and the costume is burned on a large bonfire in the middle of the village with great celebration over the Borucas’ victory.
A fantastic collection of images from the Fiesta de los Diablitos can be found on this Facebook page by travel writer and photographer, James Kaiser.
Attending the Fiesta de los Diablitos in Boruca is an easy day trip from Portasol Rainforest & Ocean View Living. The Costa Rica sustainable community, located between Manuel Antonio National Park and Dominical, has vacation rentals available in rainforest bungalows and Costa Rica luxury vacation homes. The indigenous village of Boruca is a little over 90 minutes away. Portasol also offers Costa Rica property for sale and yoga retreats and events.
Article by Shannon Farley &