3 Secrets About Costa Rica in Rainy Season

Costa Rica enjoys just two seasons annually . The dry season lasts from mid-November through April, and the rainy season or popular called Green Season, lasts from May to mid-November. The dry months are certainly popular with tourists, because the amazing hot summer in all their most popular beaches, but the rainy season can be a great time to go—think beaches all to yourself, cooler temps, brilliant vegetation, and lower prices. This is the one the best time to travel and vist Costa Rica , specifically if you travel on low budget . Here some secrets that any Tico will share with you about Costa Rica in Rainy Season:

Everything is Green !

You’ve never truly experienced such vibrant and intense vegetation until you visit.  Guanacaste area best know because it hot sumnners and windy , quickly became green all over. The Central Valley and Pacific Coast become vividly verdant and vibrant. Daily rains trigger blooming red, yellow, purple, pink, orange and white flowers, which draw iridescent hummingbirds and colorful butterflies to the lush vegetation. Expect cooler temperatures during this season. You’ll even find vegetation growing in between concrete in the streets.

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Cheap hotels and Tours: Hotel from $30 per night  

Between the months of May and November Low Season begins, where about every tour and hotel reduce their rates. You’ll find a lot more specials and availability during this season! More hotel vacancies ,attractive package deals and extra nights for free. It’s also likely they’ll offer room upgrades and spa credits for little or nothing extra. Since rivers are high and everything is so green, river rafting and zip-line canopy tours are far more beautiful and adventure-filled during green season. ATV Tours through can mean crossing rivers and splashing through giant mud puddles; horseback riding usually entails catching sight of a breath taking rainbow and even more awe-inspiring waterfalls.

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Enjoy Party all around the Country!!

Rain will not keep us in home, we will make more party than ever. Here some amazing events happening this season :

-The Virgin of the Sea Fiesta ( La Vierge del Mar), Puntarenas, Saturday closest to July 16, commemorates the Virgen del Carmen who saved the fisherman who prayed to her from a storm in the 1920s. On this day fishing boats and yachts are decorated colourfully in Puntarenas.  Besides sailing and racing there is plenty of dancing, food and drinking on that day.


·Annexation of Guanacaste Day (July 25) marks the annexation of Guanacaste, formerly a province of Nicaragua, by Costa Rica.

·Independence Day (Sept. 15) kicks off on the 14th, when schoolchildren light homemade lanterns and parade through the streets (Desfile de Faroles).

·Maiz Fiesta (Oct. 13) in Upala celebrates the corn harvest and includes crowning a Corn Queen, a traditional boat race on the Canalete River and a corn parade, similar to the Rose Parade, everything is made entirely of corn husks, kernels and silks.

·Limón Carnival, an entire week in October, occurs during a lull in the green season. The carnival celebrations the area’s Afro-Caribbean cultural heritage with swirling colors, great food and plenty of music.

With the green season upon us in Costa Rica, now’s the perfect time to head down to take advantage of great deals in this tropical paradise. I can think of reasons to visit Costa Rica anytime of year, really; after all, each season has its advantages and Costa Rica is always beautiful. But, I have to admit, green season is extra special for me.

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Museum of Guanacaste

Looking for things to do in Liberia? Museo de Guanacaste is a great spot to hit when looking for what to do in Liberia. The Museum of Guanacaste, located in the City of Liberia, a building built between 1932-1940, was the seat of the Command, ancient police service and served as a prison for the city. The Law 8543 of the Assembly of the Republic of Costa Rica decrees the creation of the Museum of Guanacaste. In addition is declared in 1998, Historic Architectural Heritage of Costa Rica.

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A great little piece of history. Very educational. Not crowded. Easy to take your time and see everything. The jail cells are very interesting to the children also. This museum offers much more than just a jail.

Tour are not very long but very informative. Great place to visit. Would recommend anyone to come take a tour.

Right now is under renovation but many cultural activities are been hell to keep the Museum alive . So you can be informed in its official page for all activities coming soon

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Museum Information:

  • Museo De Guanacaste Address: Av 1, Liberia 50101, Costa Rica
  • Museo De Guanacaste Contact Number: +506-26657114
  • Museo De Guanacaste Timing: 08:00 am – 04:00 pm
  • Museo De Guanacaste Price: Free
  • Best time to visit Museo De Guanacaste(preferred time): 10:00 am – 03:00 pm
  • Time required to visit Museo De Guanacaste: 01:00 Hrs

Here some coming event in this Museum

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Juan Santamaría Day – April 11. Commemorates Costa Rica’s national hero

Juan Santamaría (August 29, 1831 – April 11, 1856), is officially recognized as the national hero of the Republic of Costa Rica. A national holiday in Costa Rica, Juan Santamaría Day, is held every April 11 to commemorate his death.

Santamaría was born in the city of Alajuela. When U.S. filibuster William Walker overthrew the government of Nicaragua and attempted to conquer the other nations in Central America, including Costa Rica, in order to form a private slave-holding empire, Costa Rican president Juan Rafael Mora Porras called upon the general population to take up arms and march north to Nicaragua to fight against the foreign invader. Santamaría, a poor laborer and the illegitimate son of a single mother joined the army as a drummer boy. The troops nicknamed him “el erizo” (“the Porcupine”) on account of his bald head.

After routing a small contingent of Walker’s soldiers at Santa Rosa, Guanacaste, the Costa Rican troops continued marching north and reached the city of Rivas, Nicaragua, on April 8, 1856. The battle that ensued is known as the Second Battle of Rivas. Combat was fierce and the Costa Ricans were not able to drive Walker’s men out of a hostel near the town center from which they commanded an advantageous firing position.

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According to the traditional account, on April 11, General José María Cañas (Salvadoran) suggested that one of the soldiers advance towards the hostel with a torch and set it on fire. Some soldiers tried and failed, but finally Santamaría volunteered on the condition that, in the event of his death, someone would look after his mother. He then advanced and was mortally wounded by enemy fire. Before expiring he succeeded, however, in setting fire to the hostel, thus contributing decisively to the Costa Rican victory at Rivas.

This account is apparently supported by a petition for a state pension filed on November 1857 by Santamaría’s mother, as well as by government documents showing that the pension was granted. Various historians, however, have questioned whether the account is accurate, and if Santamaria died or not during that battle or another one. At any rate, towards the end of the 19th century, Costa Rican intellectuals and politicians seized on the war against Walker and on the figure of Juan Santamaría for nationalist purposes.

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The days leading up to the national holiday on April 11 are celebrated with parades, concerts, dances and marching bands throughout the country, but festivities are particularly centered around the city of Alajuela. Ticos celebrate in style eating traditional foods and enjoying the special events. If you should visit at this time you will come to understand the real significance of Juan Santamaria Day.

Resource:

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Juan Santamaría Day – April 11. Commemorates Costa Rica’s national hero

Juan Santamaría (August 29, 1831 – April 11, 1856), is officially recognized as the national hero of the Republic of Costa Rica. A national holiday in Costa Rica, Juan Santamaría Day, is held every April 11 to commemorate his death.
Santamaría was born in the city of Alajuela. When U.S. filibuster William Walker overthrew the government of Nicaragua and attempted to conquer the other nations in Central America, including Costa Rica, in order to form a private slave-holding empire, Costa Rican president Juan Rafael Mora Porras called upon the general population to take up arms and march north to Nicaragua to fight against the foreign invader.
Santamaría, a poor laborer and the illegitimate son of a single mother joined the army as a drummer boy. The troops nicknamed him “el erizo” (“the Porcupine”) on account of his bald head.After routing a small contingent of Walker’s soldiers at Santa Rosa, Guanacaste, the Costa Rican troops continued marching north and reached the city of Rivas, Nicaragua, on April 8, 1856. The battle that ensued is known as the Second Battle of Rivas. Combat was fierce and the Costa Ricans were not able to drive Walker’s men out of a hostel near the town center from which they commanded an advantageous firing position.Image result for juan santamaria

According to the traditional account, on April 11, General José María Cañas (Salvadoran) suggested that one of the soldiers advance towards the hostel with a torch and set it on fire. Some soldiers tried and failed, but finally Santamaría volunteered on the condition that, in the event of his death, someone would look after his mother. He then advanced and was mortally wounded by enemy fire. Before expiring he succeeded, however, in setting fire to the hostel, thus contributing decisively to the Costa Rican victory at Rivas.

This account is apparently supported by a petition for a state pension filed on November 1857 by Santamaría’s mother, as well as by government documents showing that the pension was granted. Various historians, however, have questioned whether the account is accurate, and if Santamaria died or not during that battle or another one. At any rate, towards the end of the 19th century, Costa Rican intellectuals and politicians seized on the war against Walker and on the figure of Juan Santamaría for nationalist purposes.

Image result for juan santamaria

The days leading up to the national holiday on April 11 are celebrated with parades, concerts, dances and marching bands throughout the country, but festivities are particularly centered around the city of Alajuela. Ticos celebrate in style eating traditional foods and enjoying the special events. If you should visit at this time you will come to understand the real significance of Juan Santamaria Day.

Resource:

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

August 2nd , Virgin of Los Angeles Day in Costa Rica.

This devotion particularly took place in the village called “Puebla de Pardos”, situated at the outskirts of the capital Cartago, a village ethnically formed by descendants of blacks and indigenous people.
The story of Our Lady of the Angels, dating back to the first half of the seventeenth century, in the year of 1635, when a native, indigenous and poor girl, who was called Juana Pereira, found the statue of Virgin Mary with Baby Jesus in her arms on a rock and brought her back to her home (Los Angeles , Cartago today).

Night View of Basilica de los Angeles, Cartago

The next day the statue disappeared from her home and was found back on the same rock. The girl took it home again and the same events were repeated. Finally, the girl got fearful and she took the statue to the priest. The priest locked the statue and it went missing again. When discussed around it was known that a basilica was supposed to be built on the rock but its location was changed due to countless storms and earthquakes there. This incident was then taken as a sign that their patron wished the basilica to be built on the rock no matter what the dangers were. Her wish was granted and ever since the church has stood on the rock at Cartago.

La Negrita

The people of the town named “ La Negrita”(Black Maddona)  , the sculpture is  black color  and the Catholic Church  decided to put the title of Our Lady of  Los Angeles, because  it was  found on  August 2nd , when the Franciscan Order venerates as its patron Saint Mary of the Angels. The sculpture high is 20 cm, it has mestizo features, round face, slanting eyes, small nose and mouth, and is made of different materials such as jade, volcanic rock and graphite.

The church has since been restored and constitutes a unique mix of architectural styles from Byzantine  to baroque, with a dash of Gothic. The interior is even more striking, with a colorful tile floor, intricately painted, faux-finish wood columns, and lots of stained glass. The current building dates back to 1939. At the basilica they wash themselves and drink the water from the rock on which the statue was found. Scientists have since found this water to be safe to drink even though no filtration or chemicals are used to purify the water.

Pilgrims arriving to the Basilica

The basilica is open all day long and it is not uncommon to find several people stopping in for a prayer. In addition people will bring small silver medals shaped like body parts, where the shape represents the body part the pilgrim is concerned about. They leave them in front of “La Negrita” in hope that they will be cured. After a time, these medals are collected and stored. A selection of some of them can be seen in the Museum.

This holiday –August 2nd–  it is the focus of an annual pilgrimage to celebrate the appearance of La Negrita,  Costa Rica’s patron saint. To the left as you face the altar is a room decorated with amulets given in dedication to the virgin for her intercession in everything from triumphs over disease to triumphs on the soccer field.

Source:

Escuela de historia UCR: http://www.escuelahistoria.fcs.ucr.ac.cr/index.php/asuntos-estudiantiles/vida-estudiantil/servicios-ucr/15-efemerides/36-efemeride-dia-de-la-virgen-de-los-angeles

http://www.santuarionacional.org/

Trejos, Alonso (1991). Geografía Ilustrada Costa Rica (in Spanish). San José, Costa Rica: Trejos Editores. p. 128.

Guanacaste Day!! July 25

The Annexation of Guanacaste Day, celebrated on July 25, commemorates the annexation of the province of Guanacaste from Nicaragua in 1824 and celebrates Costa Rica’s core value of democracy.

The real History:

The meaning of the name of the celebration Annexation of Guanacaste Day is self-explanatory. This celebration occurs and originated in Liberia, which is the capital of the Guanacaste province. For  the year of 1800 was a province that belong to Spain , and Cortes of Cadiz in Spain  created the Province of Nicaragua and Costa Rica, which in 1820 was divided into seven parts: Costa Rica, El Realejo, Granada, León, Nicaragua (Rivas), El Partido de Nicoya and Nueva Segovia.

Prior to 1824, Guanacaste region was named El Partido de Nicoya  ; however, in 1824 Guanacaste asked to be annexed to Costa Rica rather than remain part of strife-torn Nicaragua . At that time, Partido de Nicoya had three populations: Nicoya, indigenous town, seat of the government and the towns of Santa Cruz and Guanacaste (Liberia), where lived spaniards and mestizos. Geographically, Nicoya and Santa Cruz  had strong economic ties with Costa Rica and the rising port of Puntarenas, in Guanacaste (Liberia) had strong ties to Nicaragua (Rivas) (The region west of the river Tempisque, Bagaces villages and Canas, belonged to Costa Rica from the sixteenth century and were never part of the Partido de Nicoya).

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In early July 1824, while Nicaragua was plunged into civil war whose effects never reached to Nicoya, three towns of the Partido declined an invitation to them by the government of Costa Rica to join that state. However, Nicoya and Santa Cruz changed their minds, and July 25, 1824 decided to annex to Costa Rica, as recorded in the minutes of the City of Nicoya signed on that date by the political chief Junior Manuel Briceño and numerous neighbors.  Then in 1826 Liberia was added to Costa rica. The fact that Nicaragua was active in many civil wars at the time increased Guanacaste’s desire to be annexed to Costa Rica . The Central American Federation approved the annexation and thus Guanacaste became part of Costa Rica .

Guanacastans take great pride in being a part of Costa Rica and claim that in 1824, they joined Costa Rica by choice. Demonstrating their pride Guanacastans possess the slogan, De la Patria por Nuestro Voluntad. This phrase means part of the country by our own choice in Spanish. The fact that Guanacastans emphasize that they became a part of Costa Rica by choice, shows that democracy is valued. Therefore, Guanacaste Day is celebrated because Costa Rica highly values democratic ideals.

The celebrations:

The performance aspects of the celebration of Guanacaste Day consist of parades, folk dances and the playing of musical instruments, and bullfights.The parades mainly involve the children of the province. In the week leading up to July 25, all the schools, primary and secondary, have parades to the park at the center of town. The fact that children of this province are introduced to this celebration at a very young age demonstrates that this celebration is highly valued by Costa Rican society.

A biggest Costa Rican fiesta called Expo Liberia is  highlighted by rodeos, fireworks, Cimarronas,folkloric dances and music, parades, cattle shows, bullfights, concerts,  firecrackers (bombetas) and more traditions. This year will be 11 days from July 20th to July 31st,  full of Local spirit, culture expression and music.

Everybody is open invited to enjoy this celebration, many people from all Guanacaste and Costa Rica are ready to wear theirs cowboy boost and dance whith Marimba music; traditional music typically played by an elderly quartet on an old xylophone, and watching costumed girls performing the Punto Guanacasteco, the region’s folkloric dance that has become the national dance, the highlights of the Dia de Guanacaste lie firmly in the region’s ranching background.

Riding  a horse in a parade  with the heat of noon will be a great experience. Each day of the Expo, the entertainment kicks off with a tope, a horse parade full of several criollo horses and sabaneros (Costa Rican’s cowboys) dressing their finest steeds, showing off high-stepping staccato footwork as they clippity-clop all the way through town holding a cool beer or local guaro to avoid the heat . Try to be sober, the heat will kill , don’t forget your Hat.

Costa Rica's traditional dance-clothing
Costa Rica’s traditional dance-clothing

One of my favorite traditions in the celebratios is the  Diana (live traditional music played at dawn in the streets) every day at 5:00 am.

Also You should not miss the traditional bullfigtins called Toros  a la Tica or Corridas. No Fighting but doesn’t mean that you will not be hurt. This activity  will take a place in the arenas of the Expo, and it is complety different from the blood sport you find in Mexico and Spain,there are no profressional toreros. All the bullfighters are “improvisados” (amateurs) who run into the bull ring to taunt the bull with their jeers, jests, hands, etc., and then run like hell to avoid being horned by the bull.

Some useful information

Annexation Celebrations Schedule 

Where to Stay: You can Stay in affordable hotel in Liberia which probably will be full and expensive or decide to go at the beach and enjoy the beautiful Playas del Coco with your friends or family in Fully Furniture Condo

Festival de la Tortilla, Corralillo Nicoya

The students and staff of Colegio Tecnico Profesional de Corralillo, Nicoya are ready to perform the eighth edition of ¨Tortilla¨ Festival 2017, with main purpose to highlight this amazing culinary tradition to make with hands the tortillas –A tortilla is daily bread – a flat, pancake-like disc made from masa harina Corn –, at the same time shown local customs, traditions and the real identity of “Being Guanacasteco”. 

Tortilla Festival 2017 will take a place in the Colegio Tecnico Profesional de Corralillo in Nicoya, it is scheduled to start on Saturday July 22 .  The big competition will be on July 25 with  participation of about 20 women from Nicoya who will test their skills to make tortillas “webbed air” (Palmeadas aire).

Wood-burning
Wood-burning “mud furnace”(Hornillas) where the Torillas will be Cook. Pic CTP Corralillo

The final Tortilla Festival 2017 is scheduled for July 25, a day before the commemoration of the 193rd anniversary of the Annexation of Nicoya to Costa Rica Free State.

The Tortilla Festival was declared of cultural interest (Ministry of Culture) and cantonal interest (Municipality of Nicoya).

Festival de la tortilla. Pic Periodico EL mensaje
Festival de la tortilla. Pic Periodico EL mensaje

Here is the schedule of the Event .

Be part of this culinary event and you will understand some of the reasons why Blue-Zoners live healthier, longer lives : Their diet, Inhabitants of Blue Zones tend to have diets high in nutrients and low in calories and to avoid heavily processed foods.

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So here you will find expert tortilla-shapers that will feed you with their amazing tortillas made in Corn. Juts to remark that Corn is a cancer fighter as well as a valuable source of vitamin C.

Also, if you are strong enought you can participate in  another interesting activity as a part of the festival . It called Rajada de Leña

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The Rajad de leña , it is a fun activity where men compete chopping logs with axes during a wood chopping competition. This competition will be held at the Palenque of  Colegio de Corralillo at 7 am on Saturday 22nd.

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