Costa Rica is separated into seven provinces, which are divided into cantons (or counties) and then further divided into districts. As far as physical size, Sarapiqui is the largest canton of the province of Heredia. Sarapiqui is Heredia’s 10th and last canton, formally established in 1970. While Sarapiqui is separated from the rest of the province by the Cordillera Volcánica Central (Central Volcanic Mountain Range), the other 9 cantons are located within the Greater Metropolitan Area, known as the Central Valley. Sarapiquí’s northern border is the San Juan River and the Nicaraguan border.
Sarapiquí was named after it main waterway the Sarapiquí River, which played a big role in Costa Rica’s history as the first transport and trading route with Europe and also in the defense of national sovereignty. William Walker and his troops entered Costa Rica by way of the river and were blocked by the Costa Rican in the Battle of Sardinal, denying access to the interior of the country. Today the Sarapiquí River has been a main attraction for tourism in the area, offering class 3 & 4 rapids, deeper more tranquil waters downriver, and amazing views of wildlife and nature's beauty.
Many of the first settlers to come to Sarapiquí were farmers from the San Carlos lowlands, who came in hopes of farming new fertile land. Today many families still do not have legal title to the land they have lived and worked on for decades. The government has stepped in with programs and processes for families to pay and acquire legal title to their land, however this has not stopped families from selling and bartering their land while they wait.
Visiting students and scientists have studied the soil in Sarapiquí and declared it is best suited for cacao (chocolate), vanilla and peppercorn. Vanilla is the second most expensive spice in the world yet Costa Rica has not yet seized their advantage in this trade, likely because of the complexity of the growing process. Despite the studies, commercial and foreign-owned pineapple and banana plantations dominate the cleared landscape. These plantations also are the main source of employment in the area. Other agricultural activities include cattle ranching, dairy farms, corn, heart of palm, and a wide variety of tropical fruit trees.
Tourism does not follow very closely to agriculture as far as an economic stimulus for the region, and we would like to change that.
Although the banana and pineapple plantations do cover a good portion of the Sarapiquí landscape, thanks to strict conservation laws established in the 1980’s and 1990’s, Sarapiquí is still home to primary and secondary forests, many of which are either privately or publicly protected. Sarapiquí is home to reserves such as, La Selva, La Tirimbina, Selva Verde, Nogal, Bijagual, El Bejuco, Rara Avis, Refugio Lapa Verde and Cinco Ceibas. Thanks to these and others we are still surrounded by the lush tropical rainforest and to its very diverse wild residents. Ants, termites, spiders, beetles, bees, frogs, turtles, snakes, lizards, crocodiles, caymans, panthers, monkeys, OH MY!
Did I mention the BIRDS? The Ornithological Association of Costa Rica lists 901 different kinds of birds that can be found in Costa Rica, and almost half of these can be found in Sarapiqui.
The people of Sarapiqui are pioneers who not too long ago began to settle the land to create new opportunities for themselves. They are a very family oriented community. It is our desire to help the community organize and keep growing, so that there will be more resources and services for the younger generations and more economic opportunity for the entire community. We hope to grow the tourism industry in the area and be a part of a new inspiration for the future of this beautiful area.
Sarapiquí was named after it main waterway the Sarapiquí River, which played a big role in Costa Rica’s history as the first transport and trading route with Europe and also in the defense of national sovereignty. William Walker and his troops entered Costa Rica by way of the river and were blocked by the Costa Rican in the Battle of Sardinal, denying access to the interior of the country. Today the Sarapiquí River has been a main attraction for tourism in the area, offering class 3 & 4 rapids, deeper more tranquil waters downriver, and amazing views of wildlife and nature's beauty.
Many of the first settlers to come to Sarapiquí were farmers from the San Carlos lowlands, who came in hopes of farming new fertile land. Today many families still do not have legal title to the land they have lived and worked on for decades. The government has stepped in with programs and processes for families to pay and acquire legal title to their land, however this has not stopped families from selling and bartering their land while they wait.
Visiting students and scientists have studied the soil in Sarapiquí and declared it is best suited for cacao (chocolate), vanilla and peppercorn. Vanilla is the second most expensive spice in the world yet Costa Rica has not yet seized their advantage in this trade, likely because of the complexity of the growing process. Despite the studies, commercial and foreign-owned pineapple and banana plantations dominate the cleared landscape. These plantations also are the main source of employment in the area. Other agricultural activities include cattle ranching, dairy farms, corn, heart of palm, and a wide variety of tropical fruit trees.
Tourism does not follow very closely to agriculture as far as an economic stimulus for the region, and we would like to change that.
Although the banana and pineapple plantations do cover a good portion of the Sarapiquí landscape, thanks to strict conservation laws established in the 1980’s and 1990’s, Sarapiquí is still home to primary and secondary forests, many of which are either privately or publicly protected. Sarapiquí is home to reserves such as, La Selva, La Tirimbina, Selva Verde, Nogal, Bijagual, El Bejuco, Rara Avis, Refugio Lapa Verde and Cinco Ceibas. Thanks to these and others we are still surrounded by the lush tropical rainforest and to its very diverse wild residents. Ants, termites, spiders, beetles, bees, frogs, turtles, snakes, lizards, crocodiles, caymans, panthers, monkeys, OH MY!
Did I mention the BIRDS? The Ornithological Association of Costa Rica lists 901 different kinds of birds that can be found in Costa Rica, and almost half of these can be found in Sarapiqui.
The people of Sarapiqui are pioneers who not too long ago began to settle the land to create new opportunities for themselves. They are a very family oriented community. It is our desire to help the community organize and keep growing, so that there will be more resources and services for the younger generations and more economic opportunity for the entire community. We hope to grow the tourism industry in the area and be a part of a new inspiration for the future of this beautiful area.