Crafts & Traditions
★★★ Carretas — The Colorful Ox Carts (UNESCO)
The painted ox carts (Carretas) are Costa Rica's most famous cultural symbol and have been a UNESCO World Heritage since 2005. Originally built in the 19th century as a means of transporting coffee, the painting of the carts evolved into an art form: each region had its own pattern, and farmers competed for the most beautiful cart.
Today, the Carretas are mainly decorative, but the tradition lives on: In Sarchí, the center of Carreta production (30 km northwest of San José), you can visit the workshops and watch as the carts are meticulously hand-painted. The Fábrica de Carretas Eloy Alfaro is the oldest workshop — in operation since 1923. In front of the place stands the largest Carreta in the world (Guinness Book). A miniature Carreta as a souvenir costs from 5,000 CRC — the most authentic keepsake from Costa Rica.
★★ Boruca Masks
The Boruca are one of the few remaining indigenous peoples of Costa Rica. Their most famous tradition is the Fiesta de los Diablitos (Festival of the Little Devils), celebrated every year from December 30 to January 2: a ritual battle between "Diablitos" (the Boruca, represented by hand-carved masks) and the "Toro" (the Spanish bull — symbol of the colonizers). In the end, the Diablitos always win — a symbolic reversal of history.
The hand-carved and brightly painted Boruca masks made from balsa wood are coveted collector's items and cost 20,000–100,000 CRC (35–170 USD) directly from the carver, depending on size and effort. In souvenir shops in San José, you pay three to five times as much. In the Boruca community (Province of Puntarenas, 4h southeast of San José), you can watch carvers at work and buy masks directly.
★ Cimarrona Music
The Cimarrona is a traditional brass band that plays at fiestas, bullfights (Tico bullfights are bloodless — the bull is not harmed!), and religious festivals. The music is loud, cheerful, and infectious. In the rural regions of Guanacaste and the Central Valley, you hear it especially around September 15 (Independence Day) and at the "Fiestas Cívicas" (folk festivals with bull runs, rodeo, and dance).
Contemporary Art Scene
San José's art scene is small but growing. The main points of interest:
- MADC (Museo de Arte y Diseño Contemporáneo): In the former liquor factory, it showcases contemporary art from all over Central America. Free entry!
- Museo de Arte Costarricense (MACC): In the former airport terminal in Parque La Sabana. The best collection of Costa Rican art from colonial times to today.
- Barrio Escalante: The creative hotspot: galleries, cafes, street art, and gastronomy in old mansions. Every first Thursday of the month, there is a "Gallery Walk" through the city's galleries.
- Street Art in San José: In recent years, artists have taken over the city's walls — especially in Barrio Amón, Barrio Escalante, and along Avenida Central. The murals tell stories of nature, indigenous culture, and Pura Vida.