SELF GUIDED TOUR
***SORRY FOR OUR SAFETY, OUR VILLAGE IS CLOSED TO VISITORS***
UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE WHEN THE PANDEMIC IS UNDER CONTROL.
Many people visit Boruca village daily on their own.
It is very eye-opening to see what conditions the Borucans live and work in, pure simplicity, some houses still are thatched roof and a dirt floor and others more modern with metal roof and tiled floor. The artists all work in the comfort of their home, working when the time appeals to them, not a 9 - 5 job.
Marina, who's house mentioned on the "home" and "location" page, next to the Musuem with the Sphere, has a small co-op gift shop offering both masks and woven products, this is generally visited by people walking around and with prior notice she can do a farm fresh lunch and demonstrations of making yarn from cotton grown on site, yarn dyeing from natural sources such as leaves growing in her garden, seeds and bark and weaving on a back strap loom.
Prior notice can be done either by phone calls or email, see that information at the bottom of the page.
Lunch is $10 a person, children under 5 no charge.
Demonstration by Marina $20 per group.
Demonstration of mask carving $20 per group, or the purchase of a mask from that particular artist.
Payment in colones or dollars is accepted, no credit cards.
BORUCA.......
The Borucan’s, are very proud to have survived the struggles between the native tribes and Spanish conquistadors in the 1500s with their village and sense of identity intact. While many indigenous tribes consider themselves to have been defeated by the Spanish, Boruca demonstrates that a tribe cannot be defeated if its culture is still alive today. Boruca is very much alive and fighting to preserve their identity.
DON ISMAEL
Don Ismael, one of the elders, was the only living person to have been declared a 'cultural patron of the country'. In the early 70's he revived mask carving, as it was a dying art. Don (an esteemed title similar to 'sir') Ismael devoted his life to keeping the cultural heritage of their ancestors alive and also developing a means to generate income for the community.
Boruca is built on faith in the wisdom of elders and the Borucan legends they tell, passed down for centuries. The identity of Boruca reflects a deep respect for the stories told, the nature that surrounds them, and the community they share. Thru their crafts, daily life in Boruca is focused on cultural preservation.
FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL:
SUSAN ATKINSON (ENGLISH)..011-506-8381 4369 (COSTA RICA)
OR.... MARINA LAZARO (SPANISH)..011-506-8704 8179 (BORUCA DE COSTA RICA)
BOTH NUMBERS ARE ON WHATSAPP +506