Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz was designated the national folklore city of Costa Rica in 1969 for the strength of its traditions: marimba music, the punto guanacasteco which is the national dance, the sabanero cattle culture of the plains, and the January fiestas around the patronal celebration of Santo Cristo de Esquipulas, which run for a week with bullfighting in the Costa Rican style where the bull is not killed, topes on horseback, marimba and food stalls. The town has the ruined tower of the old church, destroyed by earthquake and left standing beside the new one, and the Plaza de los Mangos. Guaitil, the pottery village working in the Chorotega tradition, is a few kilometres away.

What you actually see

• The January fiestas - the week of marimba, topes and Costa Rican bullfighting.
• The old church tower - the earthquake-ruined tower beside the new church.
• Marimba tradition - the music the town is designated for.
• Guaitil pottery - the Chorotega workshops nearby.

When to go

The January fiestas are the reason to time a visit; December to April otherwise for the dry season. Heat inland is severe in March and April. The town is quiet outside festival weeks.

Honest expectations

Outside the January fiestas there is little organised to see and the town is workaday. Costa Rican bullfighting involves the bull being taunted rather than killed, which some visitors still object to. Heat is heavy. Facilities are basic.

Nearby

Guaitil pottery village lies east; Nicoya is south.