The Painted Oxcarts of Sarchi

Long before eco-tourism vans took to the roads of Costa Rica, there was another much simpler mode of transportation: the oxcart. Brightly painted with intricate designs, these original wagons or their replicas can be seen throughout the country in restaurants, businesses, and on the shelves of souvenir shops. This icon of Costa Rica was once used by farmers to transport goods like sugarcane and coffee beans. Today, in the town of Sarchi, they are still made in the traditional style. In this post, we’ll let you know how you can visit this charming town and see these beautiful carts for yourself.

 

The Painted Oxcarts of Sarchi | Two Weeks in Costa Rica

Sarchi and Its History

Just 30 minutes northwest of the international airport near San Jose (SJO) is Costa Rica’s capital of oxcart production, Sarchi. You’ll know you have arrived thanks to the giant oxcart replica (the biggest in the world) right in the town’s central park.

 

Visiting the oxcarts of Sarchi | Two Weeks in Costa Rica
This huge oxcart sits in Sarchi’s Central Park.

 

For over 100 years, farms near Sarchi have been producing some of the country’s best coffee beans. Needing a sturdy way to transport this precious cargo to ports on the coast, a demand for ox-drawn carts was born. The earliest oxcarts of Sarchi dating back to the late 1800s were simple and functional. But as time went on, craftsmen began incorporating their own unique markings to distinguish their carts. By the beginning of the 20th century, competition among artisans was strong, and carts were decorated with elaborate geometric patterns, similar to the designs that can be seen today.

In addition to Sarchi, oxcart makers in other towns around Costa Rica decorated their carts in a slightly different way. At one time, it was said that you could tell which specific towns were represented at a shipping port just by comparing the carts.

Visiting an Oxcart Manufacturer

Today there are two factories in Sarchi that you can visit to see how oxcarts were traditionally made and painted. Both Fabrica de Carretas Joaquin Chaverri and Fabrica de Carretas Eloy Alfaro offer daily demonstrations where you can get a closer look. We recently visited Fabrica de Carretas Eloy Alfaro and will give you an overview of what we saw.

 

Visiting the oxcarts of Sarchi | Two Weeks in Costa Rica

 

Oxcart Fabrication

At Fabrica de Carretas Eloy Alfaro, you can still find much of the original equipment that was used to make thousands of oxcarts over the years. If you are a woodworker, this is your place. The small outdoor factory is positioned on a stream and uses a waterwheel to power much of the machinery. Although the equipment is dated, over the years there have been some upgrades. For example, in 1934, the large wheel was converted from wood to metal. It was upgraded again in 1965 to a stronger iron.

 

Visiting the oxcart factory Eloy Alfaro in Sarchi | Two Weeks in Costa Rica
The original waterwheel with its belts spinning.

 

The most prominent part of any oxcart is the wheels. They are also the feature that is the most complex to build. Square and rigid pieces of wood like Spanish cedar, mahogany, and laurel are first stacked to dry. Then when they are ready, each piece is carefully cut into the shape of a wedge. Sixteen different wedges make up each circle and they are bound together with a heated metal ring to make a wheel. The wheels are then sanded smooth. While watching the process, you’ll notice some large clunky belts spinning overhead, which connect the machinery to the waterwheel. These belts are what power the table saw, sander, and any other tools needed by the craftsmen. Once the wheels are complete, they are passed on to the artists who paint them.

 

Visiting the oxcarts of Sarchi | Two Weeks in Costa Rica
A finished wheel ready for painting.

 

Painting an oxcart wheel isn’t as simple as it sounds, especially when the designs are so intricate. But just across from the woodshop at Eloy Alfaro are several painters who are continuing this tradition. These talented individuals paint each detail by hand with narrow brushes. In addition to the wheels, they decorate all the other parts of the oxcart as well.

 

Visiting an oxcart factory in Sarchi | Two Weeks in Costa Rica
An artist hard at work.

 

Other Artwork and Gift Shop 

Walking around Fabrica de Carretas Eloy Alfaro, you’ll see that the artists have painted just about every other surface in the place too. One of our favorites is a replica of the Alegoría al Café y al Banano (Allegory of Coffee and Bananas) that is painted on a wall. The original of this mural can be found on the ceiling of the National Theater in San Jose. It depicts the Port of Limon on the Caribbean Coast with bananas and coffee being exported.

 

Exploring Costa Rica's History in Sarchi | Two Weeks in Costa Rica
The famous mural “Allegory of Coffee and Bananas” replica.

 

After the demonstrations, you can also check out the huge gift shop for a keepsake. The shop has all the usual souvenirs like oxcart replicas, T-shirts, key chains, wooden bowls, and indigenous masks, but most interesting to us are the rocking chairs.

In addition to its oxcarts, Sarchi is also known for its furniture. All around town, you’ll find stores displaying beautiful wooden pieces from beds and bookcases to chests and dining sets and traditional rocking chairs. These chairs are made of native wood, have a leather seat and back that are often decorated in a traditional Costa Rican theme, and fold up nicely for transport/shipping. We actually picked one up ourselves in anticipation of our baby arriving this November!

 

Shopping for furniture in Sarchi | Two Weeks in Costa Rica
A typical Costa Rican rocking chair

 

Location

Here is a map with both Fabrica de Carretas Eloy Alfaro and Fabrica de Carretas Joaquin Chaverri.

 

Hours

Fabrica de Carretas Eloy Alfaro – Open daily, 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Fabrica de Carretas Joaquin Chaverri – Open daily, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

 

We hope that you get a chance to visit the town of Sarchi to see these beautiful carts for yourself. If you have a free afternoon near the airport or are visiting the Poas Volcano area, Sarchi isn’t far away and is a great activity to add to your itinerary.

Have you visited Sarchi? Tell us what you thought in the comments below.  

Looking for more info on this area of Costa Rica? Check out these posts:

 

Related Posts

Tamarindo Estuary Tour
Tamarindo Estuary Boat Tour
Catarata El Encanto
Catarata El Encanto: Esparza’s Charming Waterfall
River Float Tenorio River Guanacaste
River Float Wildlife Tour in Guanacaste
tour guide in front of small group in tropical setting
Jaguar Rescue Center Wildlife Tour in Puerto Viejo

14 Comments

  1. Hi Jenn & Matt,
    This looks like a great first stop for us on our way to San Ramon where we stay for a night before we head to Monte Verde. We will be arriving right around lunch time. is there a nearby restaurant that you would recommend where our rental car could be safely parked?

    1. Hi Mavis, There are a few little local restaurants in Sarchi. I can’t remember the name of the one we ate at when we visited because it has a been a while. When we have stuff in our car, we are very careful to pick a restaurant with parking right outside so that we can watch it so maybe choose based on that. Of course, you should take all your valuables with you anyway just in case (things like passport, cash, electronics, jewelry, etc.). If you find some good food, we’d love to hear about it!

  2. We visited the factory a couple of weeks ago, and recommend it to anyone looking for an interesting look at how the factory used to run (if you manage to catch it, they actually have demonstrations of the water wheel in action, using the generated power to saw wood). The gift shop is also fun, with some lovely painted wooden items (eg trays, mugs, Christmas decorations); wooden items such as bowls, jewellery, table mats, salad servers; some alcohol and coffee, rocking chairs, and T shorts. I deeply regret not buying a lovely T shirt showing a volcano – it is heat responsive so changes colour when warm…. anyone going that way willing to buy me an XL?
    On the subject of restaurants, we found a nice one on the road out of town – look for the sign to a Butterfly garden and follow the tiny alleyway down the hillside – the restaurant is just off the main road. The butterfly farm is great place to visit, they are a bit tucked out of sight but give a very informative tour through their butterfly nursery – they told us they supply the bigger butterfly centres in Monte Verde as the climate is perfect in Sarchi for breeding!
    On the topic of rental cars and security, we had a car for a week and no problems, although we never left anything in sight to tempt anyone.

  3. I BOUGHT A SMAL CART#22 CARRCIA BUT I DID NOT HAVE ASSEMBLY INSTRUCTIONS AND I HAVE ONE PIECE LEFT OVER COULD YOU E MAIL ME A PHOTO SHOING WHERE EACH PART GOES THANKS

        1. I tried attaching a picture of the oxcart but was unable to. I sent a copy separately to the email given. I hope you received it.

        2. Are you in the market to purchase an ox cart from Sarchi? I have one that I purchased from there years ago and am looking to find it a new home

  4. Is it possible to visit Sarchi by public transport from Alajuela? Looking for a day trip before the rest of our group arrives.

  5. I would like to buy an oxcart bar. I saw one in costata rica for 475 dollars and 125 shipping

    1. I have a white hand painted oxcart from Costa Rica in perfect condition I would like to sell. I can send pictures.

Submit a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Add Trees to Your Order

$
$

Become a Subscriber!

Receive our newest articles by email. It’s free.