COSTA RICA
COUNTRY #3
CHRISTOPHER
Christopher’s Wisdom:
“God takes care of us. The warriors of the Boruca culture.”
“Sibú qui dín ya^ brá^ra, sót bruncájc égui ai^í rójc.” (Boruca)
About the Boruca
The Boruca tribe is an indigenous group living in the southern part of Costa Rica. Made up of roughly 3,000 people, they pride themselves in the wisdom of elders and the Boruca legends they tell. The identity of Boruca reflects a deep respect for the stories told, the nature that surrounds them and the community they share. Every year, they hold a festival called the Fiesta de los Diablitos, which celebrates their defeat of the Spanish conquistadors. During the festival, members of the tribe dress up as diablos, or devils, and reenact the battle between the Boruca and the Spanish. From their mask-making, the Dance of the Devils, and the unusual story of a group of women organizing to turn the economy around, daily life in Boruca has changed to focus on cultural preservation.
About Costa Rica
Costa Rica is a country located in Central America known for its biodiversity and ecotourism. The first inhabitants of the region were the indigenous people who lived in small villages along the coast. These people were eventually forced out by the Spanish conquistadors who arrived in the early 16th century. Costa Rica remained a Spanish colony until 1821 when it gained independence as part of the Central American Federation. The federation soon dissolved and Costa Rica became its own sovereign nation. Since then, Costa Rica has been politically stable and become the wealthiest nation in the region due to its economic emphasis on tourism.
TRAVELOGUE
Chapter 3: Costa Rica
I arrived in the remote Boruca Territory of the Puntarenas Province with the hope that a local culture center would help me find someone to photograph. It wasn’t until I arrived that I realized the center had been closed for almost a year. After exhausting all other options, I sent a desperate plea to a local Airbnb host.