drives· Oxcart· History· Photography
Sarchí
Oxcart painting workshops operating since 1903 — geometric patterns that identify each workshop
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Sarchí
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Oxcart painting workshops operating since 1903 — geometric patterns that identify each workshop
“Quieter on weekday mornings”
Sarchí is a craftwork town in the Alajuela highlands whose economic identity is the painted oxcart — a tradition that began when the ox-drawn carts used to haul coffee from the highlands to the Pacific ports were decorated by their owners with geometric patterns and floral designs. By the early 20th century the painting had become so elaborate and workshop-specific that the pattern on a cart identified its owner's canton of origin. The tradition was declared UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2005. The Fábrica de Carretas Eloy Alfaro, operating since 1903, is still in production — visitors can watch the stages of assembly and painting in a workshop that functions exactly as it did when it opened. The patterns are concentric rings of geometric figures in primary colours applied by hand with brushes that the painters have used for decades. The town has also developed a broader craft market around the core workshop tradition, with furniture, woodwork, and leatherwork supplementing the carts.
Visit the Fábrica de Carretas Eloy Alfaro, operating continuously since 1903, to watch artisans assemble and hand-paint oxcarts using the same techniques and brushes from decades past. Observe the UNESCO-recognized tradition of geometric and floral pattern painting applied in concentric rings with primary colours, where each workshop's distinctive style historically identified the cart owner's canton of origin. Explore the town's expanded craft market beyond oxcarts, which now includes furniture, woodwork, and leatherwork produced by local artisans.
What to Bring
Who This Is For
“Visit the Fábrica de Carretas Eloy Alfaro early in the morning (before 10 AM) to observe the painters while they work with natural daylight—the afternoon light changes how the hand-painted geometric patterns appear, and morning visits offer better photography of the intricate brush work. The workshop operates on traditional schedules and can have variable hours, so confirming availability ahead of your visit is recommended.”
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