El Tope is Costa Rica’s traditional horse parade: hundreds or thousands of riders in cowboy hats and boots ride through town on show horses, while families line the streets with food, music and folding chairs. The biggest one, the Tope Nacional, takes place on Dec. 26, the Día Nacional del Caballista (National Horseman’s Day). Towns hold their own topes during local fiestas throughout the year, with the busiest stretch from late December to January. Watching from the street is free.
This guide is for travelers who will be in Costa Rica around the holidays or a town fiesta and want to know what the El Tope parade is, where to see one and how to watch it safely and comfortably.
| El Tope parade | At a glance |
|---|---|
| What it is | A parade of riders on horseback, rooted in Costa Rica’s ranching and sabanero (cowboy) culture |
| Main event | Tope Nacional, Dec. 26 (the host city has changed in recent years) |
| Other big topes | Palmares (mid-January), Santa Cruz (January fiestas), Liberia and Nicoya (July 25) |
| The horses | Many are Costarricense de Paso, Costa Rica’s own gaited breed |
| Cost to watch | Free from the street; bring cash for food stands |
| Typical length | Several hours for the big ones |
The basics
What Is the El Tope Parade?
In Costa Rica, a tope is a parade of horses and riders. It grew out of the country’s cattle-ranching traditions, especially in Guanacaste, where the sabanero, the Costa Rican cowboy, is still part of rural life. See our guide to what a sabanero is.
Riders show off their horses, saddles and outfits. Many ride Costarricense de Paso horses, Costa Rica’s own breed, known for a smooth, naturally gaited ride. You’ll see breeders with prize horses, ranch families, riding clubs and plenty of riders who simply love the day out.
A tope is a street event, not a staged show. Expect music, vendors selling food and drinks, and a crowd that treats it as a family outing.
Dec. 26
The Tope Nacional: Costa Rica’s Biggest Horse Parade
The Tope Nacional is held on Dec. 26, the Día Nacional del Caballista. For decades it rode through downtown San José along Paseo Colón and Avenida Segunda, and it remains the best-known date on the tope calendar. Recent editions have drawn more than 3,000 riders.
Check the location each year. San José’s city government stopped organizing the parade in 2024, citing its cost, and since then the host town, route and organizer have changed from year to year. Local news and the organizers announce the host town and route in the weeks before.
If you’re in the country for the holidays, it pairs well with the rest of the season. See our guides to Christmas in Costa Rica, San José’s year-end Fiestas de Zapote and Costa Rica’s holidays and celebrations.
Beyond Dec. 26
Other Topes in Costa Rica Worth Planning Around
- Palmares (mid-January): the tope is one of the main events of the Fiestas de Palmares, usually on the first Saturday of the fiestas. See our Palmares festival guide.
- Santa Cruz, Guanacaste (January): the town’s January fiestas mix topes with marimba music, folk dances and Costa Rican-style bullfights. See our guide to Guanacaste culture.
- Liberia and Nicoya (July 25): Guanacaste Day, marking the 1824 annexation of the Partido de Nicoya, brings topes, parades and dances to both towns.
- Town fiestas: many smaller towns hold a tope as part of their annual fiestas, often to raise money for local causes. Ask at your hotel or check the town’s social media.
Topes often share a fiesta program with toros a la tica, Costa Rica’s bloodless bullfights, but they are separate events. See our guide to bullfighting in Costa Rica.
Looking for the ox carts?
Painted ox carts are a related but separate tradition. The big ox-cart parade is Día del Boyero in San Antonio de Escazú each March. See our guide to the Costa Rican ox cart.
On the day
How to Watch a Tope: Practical Tips
- Arrive early. Locals stake out curbside spots well before the first riders appear, many with beach chairs or stools.
- Bring sun protection and water. Topes run through the middle of the day, often with little shade along the route.
- Stay behind barriers and give horses room. Horses spook at noise and crowds. Don’t walk behind one, don’t touch a horse without the rider’s OK and keep children close.
- Leave the car. Streets close and bus stops move for big topes. Take a bus, a taxi or a ride app to the edge of the area and walk in. See our guides to Costa Rica’s public buses and using Uber in Costa Rica.
- Watch your belongings. Dense crowds attract pickpockets. Carry a little cash and keep your phone in a front pocket.
- Eat from the stands. Vendors and local groups sell traditional food and drinks along the route. See our Costa Rican food guide.
- With kids, pick a spot with an easy way out and agree on a meeting point in case you get separated.
The debate
Animal Welfare and the Tope Debate
Topes are popular, and they’re also criticized. Animal-welfare groups have long objected to riders who drink, horses ridden for hours on pavement and rented horses handled by inexperienced riders. At the 2017 Tope Nacional, veterinarians from SENASA, the national animal health service, pulled five horses from the parade and barred 20 others over mistreatment.
Supporters see topes as a living rural tradition that raises money for local causes and celebrates the country’s horse breeding. Organizers of the national tope have promised more veterinarians on site and alcohol-free events. If you go, you’ll see both sides: carefully groomed show horses and, at times, riders who have been drinking.
For more Costa Rican traditions, see our guide to traditional dances and folklore.
FAQ
El Tope Parade: FAQ
What is a tope in Costa Rica?
A parade of horses and riders, rooted in Costa Rica’s ranching and sabanero (cowboy) traditions. Topes are held during the Tope Nacional on Dec. 26 and at town fiestas throughout the year.
When is the Tope Nacional?
Dec. 26, the Día Nacional del Caballista. The parade typically lasts several hours.
Where is the Tope Nacional held?
For decades it rode through downtown San José. Since 2024, the host town and route have changed from year to year, so check local news in December.
Does it cost anything to watch a tope?
No. Topes are street parades, and watching is free. Bring cash for food and drinks from the stands.
Are topes good for kids?
Yes, with care. Keep children close, stay behind barriers, give horses plenty of room and pick a spot with an easy way out of the crowd.
Is a tope the same as a bullfight?
No. Topes are horse parades. Toros a la tica, Costa Rica’s bloodless bullfights, are a separate event, though both often appear at the same fiestas.
The short version
El Tope is Costa Rica’s horse parade, and the biggest one is the Tope Nacional on Dec. 26.
Check the host town each year, then go early with water, sun protection and a little cash.
Give the horses room, leave the car behind and watch your belongings in the crowd.