Town of Nicoya in Guanacaste
The colonial church of Nicoya
Nicoya is the major town of the peninsula and the cultural center of the province of Guanacaste. It was Costa Rica's first colonial city and boasts the oldest church in Costa Rica.
Inside of the Nicoya church
The Parroquia San Blas was founded in 1644 and houses today a small museum with ancient
religious artifacts. The citizens of Nicoya cherish their little gem which has recently undergone a complete renovation.
In front of the church is the lovely and well tended central park of Nicoya. It is shaded by huge old trees and is a favorite
place for meeting and relaxing in the middle of the commercial center.
The name of the town is of indian origin. Nicoya was the chief of the Chorotega indians at the time when the Spanish conquistadores arrived in Costa Rica. The indigenous heritage is still palpable in the traditions and tales of the area.
Nicoya center
People from the whole surrounding area, including the beach villages of Samara and Nosara come to Nicoya on a regular basis to do their shopping or to deal with their legal and banking needs. The town also hosts the court, and the biggest hospital of the Nicoya Peninsula. Despite its importance, Nicoya is still a small and pleasant town. Only few buildings have more than one floor thus giving view to the verdant hills which surround the town.
Fruits are abundant in Costa Rica
A recent study states that the Nicoya area ranks among the four regions in the
world where people have the highest life expectancies. The reasons might be the strong family ties, faith and healthy
life style of the residents.
See » Fiestas, Ceremonies and Traditions in Nicoya
Nicoya offers a good selection of reasonably priced hotels and serves as a good base for exploring the natural highlights of the area.
Tours and Activities nearby:
The Barra Honda National Park is 22 km east of the town of Nicoya. You can go on a guided tour descending 60 m down an intricate cave replete with stalactites, columns and other intriguing formations.
From the Tempisque Bridge or from Puerto Humo, 25 km from Nicoya, you can make boat tours on the Rio Tempisque passing by colonies of water birds and crocodiles. The area belongs to the Palo Verde National Park, which hosts one of Central Americas largest concentration of aquatic birds.
In Rosario, 6 kms from Puerto Humo you can visit the Tempisque Safari Wildlife Refuge where you can see monkeys, birds, snakes, wildcats and other animals.
In the charming little village of Guaitil you can watch how traditional Chorotega pottery is being crafted, and maybe bring home a piece of original artwork from there.
Nicoya mountains near Hojancha
South of Nicoya, in the mountains near the village of Hojancha you can make eco-tours through the forest of the Monte Alto Nature Reserve with its huge array of orchids.
From Hojancha there is a scenic alternative route to Samara. It leads through the hilly Guanacaste countryside to Punta Islita, Carrillo and Samara. The road is little traveled and only few people live in this area.