CULTURAL

The province of Guanacaste is rich in culture, a great mix of indigenous and Spaniard traditions. All within a mosaic of diverse ecosystems worth exploring. Within the area you can find several types of primary forests, waterfalls, volcanoes, beaches, rivers with an exuberant flora and fauna biodiversity.

Guanacaste south is recognized for various elements such as its music, as the marimba, guitar, quijongo and typical dances are part of the local traditions; customs such as prayers, the "grito guanacasteco", festivals, processions, typical and popular dances, bombas and retahílas; traditional crafts, with more than 5000 year in pottery, as well as contemporary crafts and masquerades. The community of Guaitil and Matambú is famous for its artisans who meticulously work a ceramic in which the pre-Columbian motifs of the Chorotegas are renewed.
Likewise, we find the original village of Matambú, one of the indigenous territories of Costa Rica which is the only one of the Chorotega ethnic group in the country. It was founded in 1980. The district of Matambú in the canton of Hojancha is located within this indigenous territory. There are tours that offer visitors an experience that mixes adventure, gastronomy and handicrafts.
As for the Guanacaste gastronomy, whose central ingredient is corn which is used in recipes for tortillas, rosquillas, tanelas, chicheme among others. Also within the national and international gastronomic offer, a modern and versatile sea cuisine stands out, which takes advantage of the fresh ingredients available to create different and exquisite dishes. It is a gastronomy that has become international in its search for sensations and flavors.
From the sea we obtain some of the most nutritious and exquisite foods that nature has to offer. Its diversity lends itself generously to the treatment within the kitchen to make the most incredible, fine and delicious dishes, facilitating that the same product can be presented to the table in very different ways, both in appetizers, ceviches, cocktails and soups, as well as in main dishes.
and soups, as well as in main dishes such as fried fish, rice dishes with fish or seafood and salads.
The daily life of the people also includes agricultural economic activities such as cattle ranching, artisanal fishing, and agriculture, especially sugar cane cultivation and the use of the sugar cane mill. Corn, beans, coffee and rice are also grown. The so called typical towns are characterized by having sodas, cafeterias or restaurants, where you can taste the Guanacaste gastronomy: Nicoya stands out as the community of tradition in typical food and drinks.

Below you can find the monthly celebrations per region, if your trip happens to coincide with one we encourage to mingle with the locals to celebrate and discover the cultural side of Guanacaste.