Nicoya: Temples, Processions and Traditions

Nicoya offers travelers several distinct cultural points of interest: a museum in a temple, the return of the Boyeros with ox carts, religious processions and the sharing of corn atol. There is also a hiking tradition at Cerro de Las Cruces in the surrounding area. If you are looking for a hotel in Nicoya, the destination’s cultural profile may be another factor in your choice. These themes differ in location, format and timing: the museum and processions are in Nicoya, while Cerro de Las Cruces is in the surrounding area.

Museum in Templo de Nicoya

The Museo de San Blas is located in Templo de Nicoya, whose construction dates back to around 1840. The museum and temple are therefore housed in the same building, providing a cultural and historical connection: you can link the museum’s location to the building’s history, while keeping in mind that the date is approximate. For a trip focused on culture and architecture, this connection is a specific point of interest in Nicoya. The date places the building approximately in the mid-19th century.

Procession and return at Pica e´ leña

At Pica e´ leña, the Boyeros return to the Cofradía at midday with their ox carts, traveling along Nicoya’s main streets. Riders accompany the carts, and the event also includes a procession with folkloric dances and Cimarronas. Unlike the museum in the temple, this tradition is defined by movement through Nicoya’s main streets. If you want to distinguish cultural events by their format, this procession offers a different point of interest from the museum’s fixed location.

La Atolada: Sharing Corn Atol

La Atolada takes place in Nicoya on December 9, when the Cofradía de la Virgen de Guadalupe distributes atol. The event is festive and ritualistic, and draws on the Indigenous tradition of ceremonially sharing corn atol. December 9 is therefore the specific calendar date to consider when planning your trip. If you want to plan your stay around the event, check the dates for the year you intend to travel.

The San Blas procession

During the San Blas procession, worshippers accompany the image on foot, by bicycle and on horseback. These three ways of taking part distinguish the procession from the Boyeros’ return, in which riders accompany the ox carts. Here, the focus is on the worshippers and the image; at Pica e´ leña, it is on the Boyeros and their return to the Cofradía. This comparison helps distinguish two different procession traditions in Nicoya.

Hiking tradition at Cerro de Las Cruces

A different focus is the hike to Cerro de Las Cruces, which is in the surrounding area of Nicoya. Young people and older adults take part, and the tradition has existed for more than 100 years. Unlike the processions and museum located in Nicoya, this hiking tradition connects a nearby place with a history of more than a century and participants from different age groups. It is therefore a distinct point of interest in the surrounding area, alongside Nicoya’s cultural offerings, when planning your trip.

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