Every January, Santa Cruz becomes the cultural heart of Guanacaste as it hosts the Fiestas Típicas Nacionales, a tradition that has been celebrated for more than two centuries and is rooted in devotion to the Santo Cristo de Esquipulas, the city’s patron saint.
This year, the festivities took place this past weekend, from January 14 through January 18, and throughout those days, Santa Cruz was completely transformed. At 5 am, the diana once again made its way through the streets, with the sound of cimarrona music waking the town and signaling the start of long days filled with celebration, connection and tradition.
Over the weekend, the festivities spread across downtown Santa Cruz. On nearly every corner, cimarronas and marimba players filled the air with traditional rhythms, and people of all ages joined in to dance spontaneously, while the atmosphere was punctuated by joyful güipipías, the traditional Guanacastecan shout. This simple and natural gesture of dancing to traditional music is something that does not happen anywhere else in the country, turning these celebrations into a truly unique cultural experience.
Mascarades also move through the streets, their oversized masks and playful characters weaving through the crowd. Many people bring their own chairs and gather in small groups along the streets, sitting together for hours, enjoying the music, joining the dance, and taking time to talk with neighbors and friends. This way of coming together and dancing to traditional rythms is so unforced and genuine, is rarely seen elsewhere in Costa Rica and gives the festivities their distinctive sense of community and cultural importance.
The Bernabela Ramos Park was one of the liveliest gathering points, hosting cultural activities, national bands and musicians, food vendors, and families enjoying the atmosphere together. Children filled the park, and the space naturally became a hub for music, tradition, and everyday life.
As always, the fair area or campo ferial became the place where everyone eventually arrived. Mechanical rides were full of children, music played throughout the day and into the night, and food stalls offered classic fair flavors. Churros and caramel apples stood out among the sweets, while just outside the fairgrounds, small stands sold rosquillas, tanelas, and corn empanadas, traditional foods deeply tied to the region.
Just beyond the campo ferial stood the entablado, a temporary wooden structure built specially for this ocassion, where traditional Costa Rican-style bull riding takes place. Unlike other places in the world, the animals are not harmed, and the focus is on the riders’ skill, courage, and technique, accompanied by the lively response of the crowd.
Throughout these days, Santa Cruz welcomed visitors from every province in the country and from across Guanacaste. Families, locals and international visitors shared the same spaces, reflecting why these festivities remain one of the most anticipated annual events in the region.
More than a celebration, the Fiestas Típicas Nacionales are an expression of cultural memory and collective pride. This past weekend, Santa Cruz celebrated its history, its faith and its people in an atmosphere filled with joy, music and community, once again proving why these festivities continue to hold such a special place in Costa Rica’s cultural life.