The small country pueblo of Sarchi, located less than one hour from the capital city of San Jose, is the country's most famous Artisan, Crafts & Souvenir Town. Popular with both Costa Ricans and tourists alike, excursions to Sarchi often coincide with tours to the neighboring Poas and Barva volcanoes, both agriculturally fertile areas rich with black volcanic earth.

On any given day it is not unusual to see numerous tour buses passing by the pretty town church, which sits just across from the small, quaint village square. Painted in a delightful light blue, the church's exterior is decorated in small colorful illustrations, all of which resemble the designs so colorfully depicted on the oxcarts themselves.

A pleasant day trip from the capital city, tourists are drawn to Sarchi for a number of reasons. Upon entering Sarchi, just minutes from the neighboring town of Grecia, countless souvenir and furniture stores begin emerging along both sides of the road, each offering handmade artifacts including oxcarts, elaborately painted bowls and trays, natural wood serving utensils, tables, jewelry boxes and mask carvings. Elegantly worked furniture ranging from rocking chairs, tables, bedroom sets, dressers and chests are also common sightings, all of which reflect the local culture and natural surroundings.

Many Costa Ricans make a point of visiting Sarchí to buy home furnishings from the numerous furniture makers. Handmade, the traditional oxcart, or carreta, is the country's most famous type of craft. Ordinarily admired for its decorative qualities, the oxcart plays a very important part in the cultural history of Costa Rica.

In the middle of the 19th century, when coffee was first being cultivated in the surrounding countryside, oxcarts provided the only method in which to transport the hand picked beans over the mountains and to the coast. Arduous and timely were these trips; a good, reliable, well-built oxcart could mean the difference between a successful transit and financial ruin. In many cases, oxcarts were a family's only means of transportation, and at times even served as a status symbol. Thus, the tradition of painting and decorating the carts commenced in the early part of this century.

Originally each region of Costa Rica had its own particular design, enabling one to identify from which part of the country the driver lived simply by observing the pattern on the wheels. As highways, trucks and trains have displaced the carreta as the main means of transporting goods, its significance has changed and it is now a symbol of Costa Rican country life. Featured prominently in parades as well as in both religious and secular celebrations, the brightly painted and painstakingly detailed designs now cover every inch of the cart.

Sight Seeing in Sarchi

1. Jardin de Guaria (orchid farm)-- $2 per person
2. Joaquin Chaverri Fabrica de Carretas, Muebles y Souvenirs (Sarchi)
3. Souvenirs y Muebleria El Sueno (Sarchi)
4. Coopearsa Mercado de Artesina (Sarchi)
5. Borados Exclusivos (Sarchi)
6. Artesanias Curime (Sarchi)
7. Venancio Cordero (near San Ramon)-- chainsaw sculptures
8. Restaurante Las Carretas (Sarchi)-- Costa Rican food, moderate prices
9. El Parque Bar y Restaurante (Palmares)-- Costa Rican food, moderate prices
10. Butterfly and Orchid Garden of San Ramon-- $6 per person
11. Zoo Ave (La Garita)--exotic birds and other wildlife; $9 per person
12. El Rio Souvenirs (Sarchi)-- souvenirs
13. El Rancho Sarchiseño (Sarchi Sur)-- souvenirs
14. Taller Eloy Alfaro (Sarchi Norte)-- authentic, traditional oxcart factory

How to Get There:

Take the main road (auto pista), towards the international airport, however, stay to the right following the sign for San Ramon. Continue on this road for approximately 15-20 minutes until you see a sign for Sarchi, 16 km.

Exit here and proceed along this road, which twists and turns through the beautiful countryside blanketed with sugar cane and coffee plantations. As you come up over a hill, you will see a large red church ahead on the left side. You have now entered the town of Grecia.

Approximately 3 blocks prior to the church, just after a bus depot on the left side, make a left turn; there is no sign here pointing you to Sarchi. Continue straight for approximately 5 blocks as you descend down a road which comes to an intersection.

At the intersection make a left. In about 3 miles (4.8 km), you will begin to see some of the artifact stores so representative of Sarchi.

When returning to Grecia from Sarchi there is no sign at the turn-off for your ascent up the hill, make a right. When you get to the top, turn left at the sign and make your first right; there is a small park on the far right corner. Continue straight through town with the church on the left side.

At the following intersection, red blinking light, go right for the auto pista and return the way you came, or left for Alajuela. If you turn left continue for about 5 blocks until you reach the intersection, and then turn right.

Stay on this road all the way to Alajuela. There are several signs helping you stay on track. Once in Alajuela, follow the signs for San Jose, which will lead you to the auto pista near the airport.