Page 40 - CARIBE TOURIST GUIDE

Rural Tourism
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Bribri
With nearly 17,000 inhabitants, it is the largest town in the four territories of the Talamanca mountain range: the Talamanca and Cocles or Keköldi territories on the Caribbean side, in the canton of Talamanca, and Salitre and Cabagra in the canton of Buenos Aires on the Pacific side.
The reserve of the Bribri people is particularly important because of the activities carried out there: The indigenous people make it possible for visitors to learn about their culture, with a green iguana farm, workshops for native handicrafts such as wooden bows and arrows, handbags, nets, hammocks, baskets, etc. The trails in the reserve allow visitors to take in its rich flora and fauna, with two towers for birdwatching. This latter activity is particularly sought after during the bird of prey migrations between North and South America in the months of January and February and then again in October and November.
The Bribri people have customs and traditions similar to those of the Cabécar people, such as social organization in matrilineal clans, aboriginal medical specialists (“awa” in their language), and a closeness in their languages, cosmology and other traditions. This community traces descent through the maternal line; more than 35 clans have been recorded, and their customs state that they cannot marry members of the same clan.
They build their own native houses, the typical conical houses of Talamanca. They believe in their own god (Sibö) and perform burials around the house while rites are carried out by funeral singers called Tsukurs or Isogros, along with the BikakLa, a kind of master of ceremonies. They also make instruments for hunting and fishing and make instruments such as the güiro, the sabak (drum), the maraca and the use of the dúk (snail).
Keköldi
Located near Puerto Viejo, this reserve is particularly important because of the activities carried on there.
The indigenous people that inhabit this reserve offer various services of interest to tourists.
A total of 17 species of birds of prey have been observed, including eagles, hawks and falcons. During the peak of the migration, thousands of birds can be seen on a single day, a spectacular phenomenon.
Finally, the beautiful Cocles River waterfall is located within the reserve, and can be visited with the help of local guides.
Ictinia mississippienssis Phto: Pablo Camacho
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