Culture and HeritageCosta Rica has a long heritage as a cultural mixing bowl. During pre-Columbian times, Costa Rica served as a trade and ceremonial center, an area for indigenous peoples from the North and South to meet. After Spanish colonization in 1521, Costa Rica adopted the Spanish language and culture. You can see this reflected in the architecture of colonial times in ornate historical buildings and churches. Costa Rica has managed to preserve its indigenous culture in the traditional ceramic handicrafts from Guanacaste, national foods like tortillas and pejibayes, and intricate hand-carved masks from the Bri-Bri and Huetar cultures. |