Juntas

Introducing Juntas

Las Juntas de Abangares (its full name) is a small town on the Río Abangares that was once the center of the gold-mining industry in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Today, it’s simply a pleasant mountain town full of ranchers and farmers, though Juntas was once the premiere destination in Costa Rica for fortune seekers and entrepreneurs from all over the world, who wanted a part of mine-owner Minor Keith’s other golden opportunity.

The gold boom is over, though Juntas is trying to reel in travelers by flaunting its attractions, namely an ecomuseum and a recently constructed hot-springs resort. So far, people aren’t shaving time off their stay in Monteverde to visit Juntas. But the town does make for a pleasant stop if you’ve got your own wheels, especially if it’s starting to get late. Trust us. The muddy slip-and-slide commonly known as the road to Monteverde is best tackled in daylight.

Last updated: Feb 17, 2009