Introducing Santa Cruz
A stop in Santa Cruz, a sabanero town typical of inland Nicoya, provides some of the local flavor missing from foreign-dominated beach towns. Unfortunately, since there are no real sights in town to hold your attention, most travelers’ experience in Santa Cruz consists of changing buses and buying a mango or two. It doesn’t help much either that Santa Cruz (with Liberia a close second) holds the dubious title of being the hottest city in Costa Rica (we’re talking temperature, not sex appeal). However, the town is an important administrative center in the region, and serves as a good base for visiting Guaitil.
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About three city blocks in the center of Santa Cruz burned to the ground in a devastating fire in 1993. An important landmark in town is a vacant lot known as the Plaza de Los Mangos, which was once a large grassy square with three mango trees. However, soon after the fire the attractive and shady Parque Bernabela Ramos was opened up 400m south of Plaza de Los Mangos.
Last updated: Feb 17, 2009
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Thorn Tree forum discussion
Recent posts
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Re: Off the beaten path
by edaviscr 20 June 2011
If you make it to Guanacaste, all of the little towns have their annual festivals on different dates during dry season. The Santa Cruz…
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RE: Driving the Nicoya Peninsula
by BOOMER1 22 October 2010
From Samara to Tamarindo on the coast road you still have to cross a couple of rivers which won't be possible at that time of year. You'll…
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RE: Quiet Nicoya Peninsula Beach, Few Tourists, Maybe Snorkeling
by micothecat 01 February 2010
Playa Junquillal is a small coastal village approx. 30 minutes west of Santa Cruz and approx. 30 minutes south of Tamarindo. The beach…
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