Fiestas Típicas Nacionales Santa Cruz 2025 in Costa Rica

Fiestas Típicas Nacionales is a traditional festival with plenty of fun dancing, music, and food. Visitors can watch bullfights and a parade followed by a party with food, concerts, and fireworks.

Festival Highlights

Every year on January 14, the "Fiestas Típicas Nacionales de Santa Cruz" begins, celebrating the vibrant Guanacaste culture. This festival holds nationwide significance, attracting visitors from across Costa Rica. Many individuals even plan their vacations around this time to immerse themselves in the lively atmosphere and cultural traditions of Santa Cruz.

Preparations

A week before the official start of the festival, the town prepares what is known as the "Semana Cultural," featuring activities such as traditional dance performances and other cultural events. This festival is deeply religious, dedicated to a saint lovingly referred to by locals as "Cristo de Esquipulas."

Activities

A highlight of the festivities is the rodeo, where only the bravest take on the challenge of mastering the powerful bulls. Other vibrant cultural events include the "Pasacalle," a lively parade featuring participants dressed in oversized, colorful masks known as "Mascaradas." The festival also hosts the traditional "Tope," a horse parade where proud riders display their finely trained horses, trotting in a distinctive, practiced rhythm.

Music, particularly the enchanting sound of the marimba, is an essential part of the celebrations, though fewer young people now play this percussion instrument. Alongside these traditions, visitors can enjoy carousels for children and adventurous adults, thrilling mechanical rides, delicious street food, and dynamic live concerts.