Handmade Heritage: A Day of Masks, Clay, and Corn in the Blue Zone
This is a day grounded in conversation, craft, and context—designed to give your guests a clear understanding of Guanacaste’s identity through the people who preserve it.
Your journey begins between 7:30 and 8:00 am. Your guide meets you at your hotel to introduce the living traditions of Guanacaste.
Wisdom of the Blue Zone: A Visit with Don Claudio
Your first stop is the home of Don Claudio Canales. At 93 years old, Don Claudio is a beloved local figure. In his shaded backyard, he shares stories of life in the “Blue Zone.” You will learn how longevity, simplicity, and community define his daily life. This intimate visit offers a rare look into the resilience and joy of Guanacaste’s elders.
The Folkloric Town of Santa Cruz
Next, explore Santa Cruz, Costa Rica’s official city of folklore. Walk through the central park and visit the Church of Santo Cristo de Esquipulas. Your guide shares the legends and cultural roots of this historic sanctuary. This gentle 30-minute walk reveals the identity of the region.
The Art of the Mask
As you drive past the last wooden haciendas of Santa Cruz, your guide has a surprise waiting. Visit a local workshop to see the magic of the Mascaradas. Artisans will show you how they shape and paint these vibrant masks to bring them to life. (30 minutes)
La Casona: A Century of History
Travel to Santa Bárbara to visit La Casona, a 100-year-old wooden home. Sip a fresh fruit drink as you learn the history of the marimba. You can even try playing alongside the musicians.
Inside, the owner guides you through rooms filled with family treasures and antiques that reveal life from generations ago.
Interactive Workshops
Guaitil Ceramics Workshop
A local artisan introduces you to the ancient Chorotega ceramic tradition. She demonstrates each step—from gathering clay in the mountains to shaping, polishing, and firing the final piece. This session lasts about 45 minutes.
Tortilla-Making Experience
Learn to prepare tortillas palmeadas. Grind the corn, knead the dough, and pat out your own tortilla by hand.
A Traditional Guanacaste Lunch
Your handmade tortilla becomes the base of a tayuya, a traditional meal once carried into the fields by sabaneros.
Fill it with gallina achotada, local cheese, seasonal picadillos, beans, and salad. Enjoy your meal as marimba music plays in the background.
The full La Casona experience lasts about two hours.
At the end of the day, you return to your hotel with a clearer sense of Guanacaste’s culture—through its people, food, music, and craft.
Craft an Experience Your Guests Will Remember
This is the Guanacaste many visitors never see—personal, participatory, and rooted in community.
Let’s design this experience for Your Guests.
Contact Maria Isabel to begin crafting their cultural journey in Guanacaste.
