cultural manifestations in northern plains
The Northern Zone offers a variety of activities, most of which are related to nature and adventure.
Horseback Riding
Horseback riding is a favorite activity in the region. Visitors can enjoy rides in Tilaran, Fortuna, Bajo del Toro, Caño Negro, Puerto Viejo de Sarapiqui and other areas and several tours use it as a way of getting to different sites of interest.
Hiking
There is no limit to the variety of hikes available for observing the region’s natural attractions, including rivers, volcanoes, hot springs and waterfalls.
Boat Tours
Breathtaking scenery and enjoying nature can be seen on several rivers, including the Frío, San Carlos, Sarapiquí and Puerto Viejo.
Recreational Cycling
The region offers a variety of roads and adventure or leisure sites that allow touring on regular or mountain bikes. Interesting destinations include the La Fortuna waterfall, agricultural plantations, the Arenal Volcano and reservoir, and the trail between Fortuna and Monteverde.
Cuisine
Several towns maintaining very rural lifestyles offer cafes and restaurants, while others, such as Quesada City and Tilarán, feature municipal or city markets where traditional Costa Rican food may be sampled. Some lodging establishments also offer typical fare.
Spelunking
The outskirts of Venado are home to the largest and most accessible cavern system in the Northern Zone, enabling visitors to explore and learn about the stalactite and stalagmite formations as well as various other geological features.
Nature, Bird and Butterfly-Watching
The region’s natural wealth can be enjoyed in numerous public protected areas such as Arenal and Juan Castro Blanco National Parks and Caño Negro and Bosque Alegre Wildlife Refuges, as well as private protected sites such as the Danaus Botanical Garden, La Selva Biological Station, Selva Verde and the Tirimbina Preserve, to name just a few.
Nature Trail, Hanging Bridge And Treetop Adventures
Tourism and recreation outfitters in several communities—including Fortuna, La Virgen and Puerto Viejo de Sarapiquí—have developed facilities for enjoying adventure activities on hanging bridges, nature trails and in the forest canopy.
Photography
Photography is highly worthwhile here, thanks to a variety of scenic and cultural options and a wealth of flora and fauna, waterfalls, rivers and volcanoes, as well as picturesque ranches and farms, including sugarcane, coffee and pineapple plantations, dairies and more.
Rural Tourism Activities And Services
Rural tourism activities and services offered in the Northern Zone and their corresponding locations within the region are:
Heliconias Lodge, located in Bijagua de Upala, 3 kilometers from the National Bank. Activities: Butterfly garden, nature-trail hiking, hanging bridges in the canopy, visits to the sugar mill, visits to the Bijagua River waterfall or Danta Lagoon, bird-watching, visits to the Celeste River and its waterfalls.
La Catarata Lodge, located three kilometers from downtown Fortuna, San Carlos. Activities: Tours to the Fortuna waterfall, hot springs on the Tabacon River, Arenal Volcano National Park, the Venado caverns, horseback rides to Monteverde.
San Juan Lodge, located 46 kilometers from Aguas Zarcas in the community of La Gloria, allows visitors to enjoy communal life and natural riches. Activities: Guided tours through wet forest trails, bird-watching, visits to medicinal plantations, dairy tours.
Poco Sol Biological Station, located 12 kilometers west of Tigra de San Carlos. Activities: Tours on trails through primary and secondary forest, visits to the 3.8-hectare lake, waterfalls, hot springs and fumaroles.
Bosque Alegre Lodge and Wildlife Refuge, located six kilometers from Cariblanco de Sarapiqui. All-terrain vehicle required for the last stretch of gravel road. Activities: Hiking and nature-watching in tropical wet forest on the trail to the lakes, fishing and boat tours.
You can find these popular dishes and beverages in busy areas like markets in Liberia, Nicoya, and the famous Women’s Cooperative in Santa Cruz.
Colonial church in San Blas
This beautiful church is located in the center of the town of Nicoya and it is located on the same site where the first parish was established in Costa Rica in 1544. Inside is a small historical/religious museum. Next to the church is a beautiful city park, which serves as a meeting place. Patronage festivals are celebrated every year on December 15.
Santo Cristo de Esquipulas patronage festival
The Christ image in the town of Santa Cruz was brought from Guatemala in 1840. The celebration goes through different stages: During “La Vispera” (The Eve) on January 13, a statue representing the Christ of Esquipulas is carried from Arado to a house in the outskirts of Santa Cruz, where it is prepared for the next day, when the Christ image is carried through the streets and adorned with palm trees branches, malinche flowers, and colorful ticker tape.
January 15 is the Patron Saint Day, which is celebrated by a procession through Santa Cruz, made up of Promesano indigenous people, the Traditional National Queen and her court, the local priest and devotees. There is a mass held in the church in honor of the saint. On January 14 through the 18, there are traditional dances, Marimba and typical Guanacaste music, plays, poetry readings, “retahilas” (tirade) and “bombas” (traditional folkloric songs). Along with these events, local arts and crafts and souvenirs related to these Santa Cruz festivities are available for purchase.
Nuestra Señorita La Virgen de Guadalupe Festival ·La Yeguita·
The Virgen de Guadalupe festival is a series of celebrated events occurring between November 1, the “contadera de dias” (the Countdown), through December 12, La Virgen de Guadalupe Day.
This final day begins at dawn. At 9 a.m. a mass is held prior to a procession followed by the traditional “La Yeguita” dance. That evening, a ceremony is held for the new staff members of the Brotherhood the following year. This meeting is held in the local Brotherhood residence. When electing new members, the women, not the men, are the ones who vote.
Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz is the heart of national folklore, due to its keen interest in maintaining traditions and customs. There is a cozy and well-maintained park, and the city offers a variety of commercial and public services. There are a variety of natural tourist attractions including beautiful beaches like Ostional, Blanca (Flamingo), Tamarindo, and Grande.
Nicoya
According to studies, Nicoya is one of the oldest cities in the country and the heart of the Chorotega ethnic group. The layout of the city is well organized with parks, a catholic church, and various commercial sites, such as the local market where local food and beverages are sold. It is located 400 ft. above sea level and over the years has seen much urban development.
July 25th celebrations
On this date, the annexation of Nicoya from Nicaragua to Costa Rica in 1824 is celebrated. This day is a national holiday, but is more celebrated throughout Guanacaste, particularly in Nicoya and Liberia.
Arts and crafts from Guaitil and San Vicente
The locals from Guaitil de Santa Cruz and San Vicente de Nicoya (towns with more than 5,000 years of traditional ceramic work), create beautiful ceramics from clay with traditional techniques learned from the Chortega indigenous people who once lived in this area. Ornaments, jars, flower pots, vases, plates, ocarinas (a musical instrument), are just a small sampling of what they produce. This beautiful tradition is passed down from family to family, and even taught in the elementary school in Guaitil. Here, students learn the techniques to create beautiful pieces that are later purchased by visitors.