Costa Rica for
Indigenous Crafts
From pots and masks to textiles and jewelry, Costa Rica’s millennia-old tradition of handmade crafts is in the midst of an artisan renaissance. Whether you’re looking to pick up a bargain or learn from the masters, Costa Rica’s craft scene offers something for everyone.
t Boruca diablitos, in handcarved masks
¡Fiesta Time!
Costa Rica’s traditional crafts are celebrated in festivals, some of which go back hundreds of years. The hand-painted máscaras (masks) of the Rey and Boruca peoples, hand-carved from locally sourced balsa wood, are central to the Fiesta de los Diablitos (Festival of the Little Devils), held in February and December each year. Immerse yourself in the festivities in tiny Curré, east of Palmar: cheer on the diablitos (Boruca Indians) and boo the toro (Spanish troops), as they battle for glory. Then watch a master woodworker make one of the ceremonial “devil” faces at their workshop. Return in October for the Día de las Culturas, which brings together indigenous groups from around the country to celebrate their artistic heritage.
Hands-On Experience
Ancestral narratives are integral to many of Costa Rica’s indigenous cultures, and finished products are often infused with mythological symbolism. Create your own necklace using traditional techniques during a sit-down session at the Sarapiquí Rainforest Lodge, while listening to ancestral stories told by Malekú storytellers. Nearby, try your hand at painting the rainbow on intricately carved Malekú jícaras (hollowed gourds) at Pueblo Malekú (www.indigenasmalekus.com). If northern Sarapiquí is too far to travel, opt for magicking clay into three-legged cow vases at the Oven Store’s classes in the town of Guaitíl in Guanacaste.
Learn from the Experts
Costa Rica’s artisans possess immense skill and patience, perfecting age-old techniques as they hone their craft. Many are keen to demonstrate their skill to visitors and answer questions about their craft. Meet traditional weavers, historically women, at the Reserva Indígena Boruca and watch as they create intricate patterns using a handmade backstrap loom. Alternatively, head south to the Panamanian border learn how Ngäbe fabric is dyed, using natural dyes, through Pavones Ecotours (www.pavonesecotours.com), then pick between bolts of vividly printed fabric.
DISCOVER Costa Rica Your Way
Fair-trade Shops
Galería Namú
San’s José’s premier gallery of indigenous Costa Rican crafts.
Dantica Gallery
Indigenous-made items from around Latin America, in Jacó.
Chietón Morén
An early Fair Trade adopter, in San José, representing 25 indigenous groups.
Oven Store
Locally crafted ceramics by Chorotega artisans in Guaitíl.
Taller Familiar de Artesanías Independente Boruca
A Boruca co-operative selling balsa masks and more.