Nicoya

Nicoya is a small little town in Guanacaste, in The Nicoya Peninsula. The name of Nicoya is of Indian origin. Nicoya was the chief of the Chorotega Indians at the time when the Spanish conquistadores invaded the country. The indigenous heritage is still present and can be found in the traditions and tales of the area.

It has a great friendly atmosphere, and it is really worth to stop and spend some time in this little colonial town, the very first of Costa Rica. Its church is one of the oldest of the country. They say their church IS the eldest, but this remains to be proven. However, it is really lovely, it was founded it 1644 and is called the Paroquia of San Blas. It is now a museum displaying religious artifacts. It goes without saying that the inhabitants of Nicoya are very proud of their little church. It is in front of a Parque Central where locals like to meet; it is well-shaded thanks to some huge beautiful trees.

Another place worth a visit is the Casa de la Cultural, which exhibits local artesian work. The town itself has also kept its colonial air while being typical of Guanacaste, complete with horses and cowboys. Nicoya is not a tourist town. It doesn’t have fancy restaurants or 5 star hotels, but there are plenty of reasonably priced charming small hotels and typical little restaurants to choose from.

Nicoya is where people pass through as they are on their way to the beautiful beaches of Guanacaste and the nearby national parks. It is however really charming and gives a good feel of what a typical Guanacaste town is like. It is simply pleasant to stroll down its streets, and visit its shops.

All the people living in the surrounded area, whether in the countryside or at beach, come to Nicoya for business, banking, shopping etc…it has now a very good modern hospital, and even a small university.

While in Nicoya and its surroundings, be sure to buy some traditional Chorotega pottery, which is on sale everywhere, even sometimes on the side of the roads. No matter what the style of your home is, they seem to be at home everywhere. If you have some spare time, try the Nature Reserve of Barra Honda. It has the most impressive cave system and it is only 22 km away East of Nicoya. A few kilometers further, you will find Puerto Humo, on the Rio Tempisque, a bird watcher’s paradise. It is possible to go on a tour by boat along the mangroves. Further down, you have Palo Verde National Park. Samara beach is about 45 minutes away from Nicoya, and Nosara is over one hour’s drive.