admin
🪡 Artisan Traditions· jícara· calabash· Nicoya
Jícaras de Totumo, Nicoya
The gourd vessel that predates pottery in the region — still carved with achiote and charcoal pigments
The gourd vessel that predates pottery in the region — still carved with achiote and charcoal pigments
The jícara is the dried shell of the calabash gourd — Crescentia cujete — carved and painted as a drinking vessel, storage container, and ceremonial object. The Chorotega and Huetare peoples used jícaras before pottery existed in the region. The tradition of carving and painting them with natural pigments — red from achiote seeds, black from activated charcoal, white from dried clay — continues in several Nicoya households. The women who make them do not advertise the work. Jícaras appear at the weekend market in Nicoya, at the feria in Santa Cruz, and in homes where they have always been present. The craft is not extinct but it is quiet — there are perhaps twenty active practitioners in the entire peninsula.
Strongly tied to local practice
Deep cultural layering
Jícaras are carved and painted calabash gourds traditionally used as drinking vessels and ceremonial objects by Chorotega and Huetare peoples; you'll encounter them at the weekend market in Nicoya or the feria in Santa Cruz rather than in formal workshops, as makers do not advertise their work. The craft involves natural pigment preparation—red from achiote seeds, black from activated charcoal, white from dried clay—and only approximately twenty active practitioners work in the entire Nicoya peninsula, making direct encounters with makers rare and unscheduled.
Best Time to Visit
Visit weekday mornings (Tuesday–Thursday, 8am–11am) to see artisans actively working with natural pigments and painting jícaras in their workshops; weekends and afternoons draw casual tourists and reduce authentic interaction. December–April (dry season) offers the most consistent workshop activity, while May–November sees reduced tourism but some artisans maintain schedules—call ahead to confirm availability.
When to Experience
Jícaras appear at the weekend market in Nicoya and at the feria in Santa Cruz; specific days and times vary seasonally
What to Expect
Cultural Etiquette
Who This Is For
“Rather than seeking jícara makers directly, visit the weekend market in Nicoya or the feria in Santa Cruz where practitioners quietly sell their work alongside other vendors—this is where the tradition sustains itself naturally, and where you'll find authentic pieces still made with traditional natural pigments from achiote, charcoal, and clay.”
Nicoya
Share what this place felt like. Every perspective helps someone find their way here.
Locations in the same region where this tradition comes alive.
Waterfalls
The most accessible major waterfall in Costa Rica — and the most generous
Wildlife
Leatherback turtles nest here in darkness — the beach is theirs first
Swimming
A beach made entirely of crushed shells — no sand, only conchitas
Hiking
Active mud pots, fumaroles, and howler monkeys in a single morning hike
Hiking
Challenge yourself on this rewarding summit hike for spectacular 360° views across the Nicoya Peninsula and Pacific coastline.
Waterfalls
A spectacular waterfall that plunges into a brilliant turquoise pool. Surrounded by lush jungle and volcanic landscapes.
Other cultural experiences you might enjoy.
🪡 Artisan Traditions
One of the last surviving links to an Indigenous civilization that shaped much of Guanacaste's cultural identity
🪡 Artisan Traditions
A treasured cultural tradition, witness the artistry, skill, beautifully hand-painted ox carts, and the enduring bond between oxen and their handlers.
🌾 Seasonal Rituals
One of the most important Indigenous cultural traditions in Costa Rica
🌾 Seasonal Rituals
☕ Coffee & Cacao
One of the few places where visitors can see how scientific research, sustainability, and coffee production intersect.
🌾 Seasonal Rituals
Every year the roads to Cartago become a shared path traveled by people from every province, social background, and generation.