Immerse yourself in Costa Rican art and traditions on a private VIP tour of Sarchi. Explore the birthplace of oxcart handicrafts and discover the rich history behind these ornate and hand-painted symbols of the country’s heritage.
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Fabrica de Carretas Eloy Alfaro - On this tour you will be visiting the picturesque town of Sarchi and its colourful souvenir stores and oxcart factories.
Eloy Alfaro was the pioneer Oxcart Factory and till now they have the first water mill used in the factory. At this time it is a living musseum of the history of Sarchi.
Now days, enjoy the large souvenir store with many and diverse souvenirs hand crafted. -
Alajuela - Alajuela is a province of Costa Rica located just besides the Capital City San Jose. It is the province where is located the international airport. The province offer many touristy attractions, including volcanoes, waterfalls, coffee plantations, dairy farms and more.
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Sarchi - Sarchi Norte and Sarchi Sur are the most famous craft center in Costa Rica. The city has more than 200 stores and small factories that function as family businesses for woodworking. They produce wooden bowls, tableware, folding furniture, wooden and leather rocking chairs and a wide variety of souvenir craft items. The most popular items are the elaborately painted “ox carts” that traditionally transported coffee from the Central Valley to the port on the Pacific coast. Today it is the canton where the world’s largest cart is located. The Sarchi furniture have an internationally recognized design and quality and are a true national icon.
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Fabrica de Carretas Joaquin Chaverri - Carretas Chaverri Sarchi’s oldest and best-known factory is 1.5km southeast of the plaza in Sarchi Town. Here you can buy souvenirs and watch artisans hand-building and painting the area’s famous oxcarts in the small studio in the back.
- Private transportation
- Lunch included
- Souvenir store visits
- Dedicated tour guide
Visiting Sarchi is a great experience for anyone who wants to know and enjoy Costa Rican art, since this small town is considered the cradle of Costa Rican crafts.
A national symbol of Costa Rica, the oxcart plays a key role in the country’s history, as they were used to transport coffee beans & other goods to nearby and faraway markets and ports. Starting in 1840’s most of the rural roads were very rough making the ox cart the sole means of transportation for families even though the trips could take weeks at times.
Highly ornate, these oxcarts are elegantly craved and are usually hand-painted with bright colors. The painting of the ox cart is a Costa Rican tradition that has been passed down from generation to generation. The largest and oldest oxcart factory is also found in Sarchi. The Joaquin Chaverri Oxcart Factory was built in 1902, and is considered to be the birthplace of oxcart handicrafts in Costa Rica.
Our tour is operated in a 100% private basis.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
