Santa Cruz Traditions Tour
Discover the rich cultural heritage that makes Santa Cruz a folkloric treasure of Costa Rica.
Santa Cruz is a charming town in the Guanacaste province of Costa Rica, known for its rich cultural traditions and lively festivals.
Famous for its music, folklore, and craftsmanship, Santa Cruz preserves ancestral customs like mask-making and marimba playing, offering your guests an authentic and immersive Costa Rican experience.
Our newest elevated experience, The Santa Cruz Traditions Tour, offers a hands-on experience with the city’s music, crafts, and gastronomy, all set in a beautiful natural environment.
Guests will connect with local traditions through mask-making and crafting utensils from the native jícaro fruit.
Santa Cruz is famous for its payasos or masquerades, where vibrant, hand-crafted masks play a starring role in every local festivity.
The tour kicks off with a workshop on creating traditional “payasos” (clown) masks, a key element in Guanacaste’s festive celebrations. Each mask has its own symbolic meaning, and no religious or popular festivity is complete without them. Rooted in Spanish traditions, these colorful masks are a cultural icon in Costa Rica.
Your guests will not only learn about the process but will also get to create a mask and take photos with it, engaging in this lively tradition firsthand.
Crafting with Jícaro: Connecting to an Ancient Art
Jicaro Tree: Photo by Kurt Buzard
The jícaro tree has been part of Guanacaste’s daily life since pre-Columbian times.
The fruit of the jícaro tree, native to Central America, is still used today to create beautiful handmade items. In this workshop, a local artisan will guide your guests in transforming the fruit of the jícaro tree into a beautiful piece of art. They will leave with a handcrafted souvenir to remind them of their time in Santa Cruz.
The Marimba: Costa Rica’s “Piano of the Americas”
Before lunch, your guests will be introduced to the marimba—an instrument deeply rooted in Guanacaste’s musical heritage.
Santa Cruz is one of the few places where the art of marimba-making is still alive, and this experience allows your guests to witness that craftsmanship up close.
Our expert will walk your guests through the instrument’s creation, followed by a short lesson on how to play it. They will even get the chance to join a group performance and experience why the marimba holds such a special place in Costa Rican culture.
A Blue Zone Feast
Santa Cruz lies in one of the world’s five Blue Zones, regions where people frequently live beyond 100 years.
The secret? A balanced lifestyle, strong community bonds, and a nutrient-rich diet based on locally grown ingredients like corn, beans, and squash.
The meal begins with a lesson on tortilla-making—an integral part of the region’s diet—and continues with a feast of locally sourced dishes that respect centuries-old culinary practices.
Visit to a Coyolera
Photo by Periodico Mensaje
Left Photo by Spanish Schools in Costa Rica
If your guests visit falls between November and May, they are in luck!
They will have the chance to visit a local coyolera. Here, your guests will meet Canano, a local legend who harvests the coyol palm from the nearby mountains to create the region’s famous coyol drink. Learn the ancient methods of extracting sap, and enjoy a complimentary taste of this refreshing beverage—a true reflection of Guanacaste’s agricultural heritage.
Don’t miss out on this unique visit—plan your tour between November and May to experience the coyolera in full swing!
Ready for your Cultural Adventure?
Santa Cruz Traditions Tour is your guests’ opportunity to experience the region’s rich traditions firsthand. Whether you’re crafting a jícaro utensil, playing the marimba, or savoring the tastes of a Blue Zone diet, you’ll walk away with lasting memories and a deeper appreciation for Costa Rica’s rich heritage.
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