Over the past few weeks, we have shared several updates about the temporary staircase connecting Plaza Rambla with Lantana. This route anticipates a permanent pedestrian connection that will eventually pass through two new public spaces: Paseo de los Arcos, closer to Lantana, and Plaza Cachimbo, a small plaza designed around the large tree that can already be seen rising beside the stairs.
In fact, this tree is precisely where Plaza Cachimbo gets its name.
Known locally as a Cachimbo or Cristóbal, this native tree is protected under Costa Rican regulations created to safeguard tree species at risk of extinction. For this reason, it has been carefully preserved since the earliest stages of development in Las Catalinas. Rather than treating the tree as an obstacle within the future connection, the design of Plaza Cachimbo gives it a central place, allowing the stairs and public space to form around it.
Cachimbo trees are native to the dry forests of Central America and can grow into impressive trees with broad crowns and strong branches. Beyond their beauty, mature native trees like this one provide valuable shade, help retain moisture in the soil, support wildlife by offering food and shelter, and contribute to the health and resilience of the surrounding dry forest ecosystem. The species is commonly found in Costa Rica’s dry forests and lowland areas near the coast, although it is now considered increasingly scarce.
After the recent rains, the tree’s canopy is looking especially green and lush, making it an increasingly striking presence along the route. Its scale and natural beauty already offer a glimpse of the character it will bring to Plaza Cachimbo as the surrounding public space continues to take shape.
Even with the temporary stairs still in place, we can already begin to imagine the beauty it will bring to this future plaza: providing shade, adding character to the walk toward Lantana, and allowing pedestrians to experience such a valuable native tree from up close and at a human scale.
Plaza Cachimbo will be more than a point along the way. It will be a small place to pause beneath the branches, appreciate the ecological value of this species, and see how the natural features already present on the land can become meaningful parts of Town.