Page 45 - NORTHERN PLAINS TOURIST GUIDE

Volcanoes, lowlands and rural tourism
live a unique experience is there if you decide to immerse yourself in the local culture.
Tourists can also choose from a wide variety of activities. For example, horseback riding, hiking on trails or roads, quad biking, boat rides, flora and fauna observation, visits to rivers, waterfalls and lagoons, as well as national parks, protected areas and volcanoes.
This is experiential tourism, an experience to be told, to invite others to come and experience the projects in the communities. Americans, Europeans, and Canadians are the most adventurous about the communities, although there are many other nationalities.
Maleku Village
The Maleku indigenous population is primarily located in the canton of Guatuso, within the so- called “Maleku Indigenous Territory”, that covers an area of approximately 2994 hectares. Currently, its population is approximately 1,400 people, located in three palenques or settlements: Margarita, El Sol and Tonjibe, where they live under very limited economic conditions. Palenque El Sol is located 4 km from San Rafael de Guatuso; Margarita is located 6 km east and 2 km southeast of San Rafael and Tonjibe is located 2 km from Palenque Margarita.
These small settlements have basic water, electricity and public telephone services, but their roads are in poor conditions.
The palenques are located within the “Maleku Indigenous Territory” located in the upper and middle parts of the Rio Frio basin.
They speak two languages: Maleku or Guatuso and Spanish, which is spoken by approximately 70% of the population. It belongs to the Vootic family of the Chibchense lineage.
In the toponymy of northern Costa Rica, the Guatusos have left some traces of their language, such as in Cóter, Upala and Tonjibe.
They are considered small farmers and grow traditional products. They cultivate the land by planting corn, cocoa, rice, plantain bananas, peach palm fruit, tubers such as cassava, tiquizque and malanga, vegetables and fruits, for family consumption and for sale in small quantities.
Maleku Tourism
Currently, they complement their subsistence economy with the craft trade. For this reason, it is common to find in each community huts with craft sales that that are offered to tourists. These crafts represent the artistic heritage of their ancestors that endures over time and explains part of their
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