The Corner of the Old Woman
Rincón de la Vieja, Guanacaste, Costa Rica - 2016
My admiration for Costa Rica is endless. Let me explain why.
Everywhere you go in the country, there is potential to discover something new. The preservation of nature and wildlife is unbelievably valued, life is slow and relaxed, and the people are simple, sweet, and wonderful. It’s just an amazing place, so diverse, and so full of life and energy. Here are a few stories to show its diversity.
Tamarindo
Out of 27 countries that I’ve been to and countless towns, cities, and general locations, the small surf town of Tamarindo in Guanacaste still holds the title for The Greatest Sunset.
Tamarindo, Guanacaste, Costa Rica - 2016
Tamarindo is named after a delicious tropical fruit that’s often used to make a sweet juice. The town is a tourist hot-spot for people who come to pick up some surf vibes, party in the local bars, and congregate like herds of wild drunken animals to admire the stunning sunsets.
Tamarindo, Guanacaste, Costa Rica - 2016
There’s one main road into the town which passes all of the local spots like laid-back restaurants, souvenir shops, nightclubs, and hostels. You’ll see motorcycles and ATVs carrying surf boards, anxious to get out onto the beach to hit the waves.
Surfing lessons are available but be careful because if you stray too far, you might lose a leg, or worse. Wild crocodile territory is right around the corner, and the first week I got to Costa Rica, an American tourist got attacked and lost a leg.
Tamarindo, Guanacaste, Costa Rica - 2016
The Chorotega
Guaitil, Guanacaste, Costa Rica - 2017
Central America in general is famous for the indigenous people who still populate the area. Costa Rica isn’t known for its indigenous ways but there are still some groups or ancient traditions that exist. One of these groups is the Chorotega in Guanacaste, and while they are not well-known and sadly almost extinct, their art lives on.
In a little town called Guaitil, it’s possible to see and buy Chorotega art. It’s mostly pottery but very beautiful! It’s not a huge tourist attraction but it’s worth a visit for a very unique souvenir and of course, to support the local culture.
Guaitil, Guanacaste, Costa Rica - 2017
The pottery is decorated with illustrations of birds, plants, animals, and other things indigenous to the region. The culture will hit you hard and you’ll really feel like you stepped foot into a wild and simple lifestyle some centuries ago.
Rincón de la Vieja
The photo at the top of the page is one of my favorites, taken by another teacher I worked with. You can see a waterfall, but you can’t see that this was taken on a volcano!
The name of the volcano is really interesting, it’s called Rincón de la Vieja, and in Spanish that means “The Corner of The Old Woman” or “Old Woman’s Corner.” But why? The legend goes like this:
A woman fell in love with a man from an enemy tribe, and when her father found out, he threw the man into the volcano crater. The woman was upset, so she started to live on that volcano and gave birth to a child. To let the child be with his father, she threw him into the crater too. She continued living there and people started calling it “The Old Woman’s Corner.”
Rincón de la Vieja, Guanacaste, Costa Rica - 2016
Rincón de la Vieja is close to the city I lived in, so one day, another teacher and I decided to hitchhike there. The first person to stop for us was a man who spoke only Spanish so we used that opportunity to practice. The second car was the one that took us all the way, driven by an employee of the local national park.
The volcano is maybe not what you would expect. Most volcanoes I think of are intimidating with their vast empty landscapes, signs of past eruptions. However, this one is surrounded in lush, dense tropical rainforests, majestic rivers, and packed with exotic wildlife like monkeys moving through treetops or snakes chasing their prey.
One of the trails you can take leads to the giant waterfall at the top of this page. It was one of my absolute favorite landmarks in all of Costa Rica. Unfortunately, the crater at the top has been inaccessible for a while due to volcanic activity.
Check back soon for more Central American adventures, including the time Rincón de la Vieja erupted the same day I was on it!
Tamarindo, Guanacaste, Costa Rica - 2016
