Sarchí

The craft capital of Costa Rica, famous for its brightly painted oxcarts and traditional woodwork workshops. It is home to the world's largest decorated oxcart and colorful artisan souvenir shops.

Things to do

• See the World's Largest Oxcart — Marvel at the giant hand-painted oxcart in the central park, recognized by Guinness World Records as the largest of its kind.
• Visit Fábrica de Carretas Eloy Alfaro — Tour the oldest working oxcart factory in Costa Rica, where craftsmen still use water-powered machinery to build and paint traditional carretas.
• Explore the Artisan Souvenir Shops — Browse colorful workshops and stores along the main road selling hand-painted woodwork, rocking chairs, and miniature oxcarts.
• Admire the Sarchí Church — Visit the pink and turquoise Iglesia de Sarchí Norte, notable for its distinctive pastel facade facing the central plaza.
• Stroll Sarchí's Botanical Gardens — Wander the Else Kientzler Botanical Garden with over 2,000 plant species, trails, and viewpoints just outside town.
• Watch Oxcart Painting Demonstrations — See artisans hand-paint the intricate geometric mandala designs that make Sarchí's oxcarts famous worldwide.
• Buy a Traditional Rocking Chair — Purchase a handcrafted leather-and-wood folding rocking chair, a signature Sarchí product that packs flat for travel.

Food to try

• Casado — The classic Costa Rican plate of rice, black beans, plantains, salad, and your choice of meat, served at local sodas around town.
• Gallo pinto — A hearty breakfast of rice and beans fried together with Lizano sauce, often eaten with eggs and fresh coffee.
• Chicharrones with yuca — Crispy fried pork served with boiled cassava, a favorite snack at roadside stands and weekend fairs.
• Fresh Alajuela coffee — Sample locally grown highland coffee from the surrounding Central Valley plantations at a café or artisan shop.
• Cajeta and dulce de leche sweets — Try traditional milk-based fudge and candies sold in the town's confectionery and souvenir stores.

Local customs & good to know

• Respect the artisan workshops — Ask permission before photographing craftsmen at work and consider buying directly to support the traditional trade.
• The oxcart is a national symbol — Sarchí's painted carretas were declared a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage, so the designs carry deep national pride.
• Bring cash for small shops — Many family-run artisan stalls and sodas prefer colones in cash, though larger shops accept cards.
• Shop on weekends for the liveliest scene — Saturdays and Sundays bring more open workshops, demonstrations, and busier souvenir markets.

Nearby

• Zarcero — 10 km
• Alajuela City — 17 km
• Poás Volcano National Park — 18 km
• La Paz Waterfall Gardens — 25 km