Page 21 - NORTHERN GUANACASTE TOURIST GUIDE

Cultural Heritage
The Guanacaste cattle ranch and its cultural universe
Hacienda El Viejo. Photo: Ma. Soledad Hernández
In the case of Guanacaste, the crossbreeding and appropriation of the bullfighting culture and the elements that surround it are part of centuries under a colonial logic in which cattle ranching emerged as the main economic activity of Costa Rica’s northern Pacific region, especially in Guanacaste. The settlement of the haciendas, or ranches, in the town of El Guanacaste (now called Liberia), enabled a very rich culture to emerge. This culture is intimately connected to the land, its biogeographic spaces, its varied natural resources, and, of course, the social groups that remade it over time.
The community learned skills in these daily work spaces: herding, riding, horseshoeing, making horsehair and tools, as well as the songs, music and dances in the guttural
afternoons of the pampas. All of these
are important aspects of the wisdom and worldview of Guanacaste.
Illustration: “Güicho” Pizarro
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The Zúñiga Clachar House
Esperanza Castrillo House
a obernación
Puente Real
L G
The emblematic tour includes:
4 of Liberia’s historic neighborhoods
1 Condega
2 La Victoria 3 Los Ángeles 4 Los Cerros
It crosses through part of Liberia’s invaluable architectural heritage
Puente Real
The Zúñiga Clachar House
La Gobernación
The Kiosk of Parque Mario Cañas The Ascensión Esquivel Ibarra School The Esperanza Castrillo House
The Liberian Barracks
La Barrera Bullpen at the Camilo Reyes Plaza de Toros
“...as we learn to think together, act together, to take care of what interests us, what has value to us, what holds esteem...”
(M. Hernández, personal communication, November 22, 2017).