Your Guide to Sarchí: The Wonderful Artsy Destination in Costa Rica

You know you’ve arrived in a special place as soon as you step into the streets of the small town of Sarchí, in Costa Rica. Bright-coloured paintings of intricate geometric patterns and birds and flowers are everywhere: on the street signs, on the utility poles, in murals, and in parks.

The art permeating through the streets gives this town, up in the mountains of the Central Valley, a distinctive look and the title of the cradle of arts and crafts in Costa Rica.

You can even see a precious piece of wood-crafting that earned an entry in the Guinness World Record.

To check out a source of inspiration for all that colour splash and nature motifs don’t skip a visit to the botanical garden. You may be moved to start your own craftsmanship.

This is a great day trip from San José or from Grecia.

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These are the best things to do in Sarchí, Costa Rica.

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Visit the Eloy Alfaro Oxcart Factory (Fábrica de Carretas Eloy Alfaro)

Not your run-of-the-mill souvenir shop. This shop/workshop is 100% worth your time. 

Not only can you find all sorts of gorgeous pieces (all handmade, no tacky plastic stuff here), but you can see artists at work: painting and doing woodwork the old-fashioned way. 

To power their tools they use the same hydraulic plant used by the coffee farm that operated on the property.

Plus the site is so pretty! Even the garbage containers are pretty. You can see murals all around, painted furniture, and decorated ox carts in the garden and around the premises. 

Even if you’re not planning to buy anything, come and enjoy seeing the amazing work of local artists.

It’s on Calle 1, three blocks northwest of the Sarchí Park.

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See the World’s Largest Oxcart in Sarchí Park

In the centre of Sarchí Park sits a landmark of Costa Rica: the Monument of the Ox Cart (El Monumento a la Carreta). A massive orangy-red cart with the distinction of being registered in the Guinness World Record Books in 2006 as the largest oxcart in the world (5x the normal size), measuring 14 metres and weighing two tons.

To top it up, in 2008 it was inscribed on UNESCO’s list of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The art piece is beautifully decorated with an intricate design paying homage to the early 20th-century tradition of beautifying the carts that rolled through the mountains of Costa Rica delivering coffee to the Pacific Coast at a time when there were no paved roads. 

The carts were also the means of transportation for the family and a way to show off how much money you had. The cooler your cart looked the more ooohs and aaaahs you drew from the crowd.

The oxcarts aren’t used nearly as much as before (they’re still popular in parades and festivities), but they’re part of the cultural heritage of Costa Rica and a jewel of craftsmanship.

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Stop by Sarchi’s Catholic Church (Parroquia Santiago Apóstol)

You almost want to bite it. The church looks like a giant green mint gingerbread cookie decorated with little figurines and swirls in colourful icing.

In such an artsy town, the church, located across from Sarchí Park, could not be left out.

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Check Out the Handicrafts Market (Mercado de Artesanías)

For more handicrafts awesomeness visit the market (Cooperativa de Artesanías y Muebles de Sarchí COOPERSA).

You’ll find fantastic artsy stuff here. I know most times these places are tourist traps, but this isn’t the case. The store has beautiful creations and it’s great to see what local artists excel at.

It’s on Avenida Central (the main road [118] that goes through town) and Calle 4, four blocks west of Sarchí Park. 

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Get Inspired at the Else Kientzler Botanical Garden

This is exactly how I imagined a botanical garden in Costa Rica: a mix of manicured grounds with neat and tidy flower beds, and mini-jungles where you feel you’re crossing into the wild.

You can experience this contrast as you go from the orderly construct of the hedges forming the labyrinth to the untamed greenery in the forest path.

Or as you walk through monumental palm trees and oversized elephant ears bouquets painting a green palette around the lake to the explosion of bright colours and alien shapes dominating the tropical garden featuring species from around the world.

And because it’s Costa Rica, water has a starring role: follow the river path and meander through rivers and creeks, or sit next to calming ponds looking at birds of paradise (and real birds) after crossing the dry path filled with succulents.

The pet-friendly garden sits on what used to be a farm with greenhouses to cultivate ornamental plants. It occupies seven hectares, with great views of the mountains and a perfect environment for birdwatching.

You can also find picnic areas and a children’s playground.

The Else Kientzler Botanical Garden is located 800 metres north of the Eliezer Perez Stadium (which is 1.5 blocks north of the Eloy Alfaro Oxcart Factory). It’s a 20-minute walk uphill on a gentle slope.

General admission: 3,500 colones; Open every day: 8AM-4PM

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How to Get to Sarchí by Bus from San José

From San José TUAN Bus Terminal on Calle 18 (between Av. 5 and 7)  take the bus that goes towards Sarchí. You must remain on the bus until you reach Sarchí Norte and get off in front of Sarchí Park. From there, you can walk everywhere.

How to Get to Sarchí by Bus From Grecia

Go to Grecia’s TUAN bus station and hop on the Sarchí Norte bus. It’s a short ride (about 15 minutes).

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Visit Sarchí and learn more about the arts and crafts of Costa Rica, about a century-old tradition, or relax by submerging yourself in nature and watching art take over the city.

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