Costa Rican traditional dances like Punto Guanacasteco, Suin Criollo, La Yeguita, Danza de los Diablitos, and Chorotega share stories of the country’s history and people. These folkloric dances, performed at festivals, pass down culture through lively steps and colorful costumes.
They mix pre-Columbian, Spanish, and African roots, offering a fun, educational glimpse into Costa Rica’s past. Here’s a look at these dances, their meanings, and how they came to be.
History of Costa Rica’s Folkloric Dances
Costa Ricans love to dance, and their folkloric traditions go back centuries. Pre-Columbian natives, older than the Aztecs, created dances to honor their gods and mark community events. When Spanish colonizers arrived in the 1500s, they introduced zapateo steps and stringed instruments like the guitar. African slaves added polyrhythms and percussion, shaping the marimba-driven music of today’s dances.
These influences mixed over time, creating Costa Rica’s distinct folkloric style. Dances became a way to tell stories—of love, resistance, and faith—while celebrating the land’s diverse heritage. Today, festivals and schools keep these traditions alive, sharing them with locals and visitors.
Costa Rica’s Traditional Folkloric Dances
Costa Rica’s folkloric dances are a lively celebration of the country’s history, weaving together stories of love, resistance, and faith. Performed at festivals in regions like Guanacaste, Nicoya, and Boruca, these dances—backed by marimba, guitar, and quijongo rhythms—carry centuries of tradition.
From Punto Guanacasteco’s flirty courtship to the Boruca’s defiant Danza de los Diablitos, each dance tells a piece of Costa Rica’s past, shaped by pre-Columbian natives, Spanish colonizers, and African influences.
Whether at a local fiesta or a tourist show, these performances offer a fun, immersive way to connect with Costa Rican culture.
Punto Guanacasteco
Punto Guanacasteco, Costa Rica’s national dance, captures courtship in Guanacaste. Men and women form a circle, with women’s colorful skirts flaring as they spin. Men wave hats and scarves, shouting flirty verses to lively marimba music. The bright costumes and playful moves show Costa Ricans’ bold approach to romance.
Suin Criollo
Suin Criollo, or Swing Criollo, is a younger dance inspired by U.S. swing but set to Costa Rican music. Born in the 20th century, it faced bans in the 1970s for its modern style but gained folkloric status in the 1990s. Its fast steps and twirls make it a crowd favorite at festivals.
La Yeguita
La Yeguita, meaning “The Little Mare,” celebrates the Virgin of Guadalupe on December 12 in Nicoya. It retells a legend of twin brothers fighting over a woman, Nantiume, until a mare—sent by the Virgin—stops them. Dancers mimic the mare’s movements, honoring this divine intervention with solemn steps.
Danza de los Diablitos
The Danza de los Diablitos, performed by the Boruca tribe from December 30 to January 1, reenacts resistance against Spanish invaders, symbolized by a bull. Male dancers wear cedar masks painted with bold designs, later selling them to support the tribe. The three-day ritual in Puntarenas is a powerful display of indigenous pride.
Chorotega Dances
The Chorotega dances—Danza del Sol (Dance of the Sun) and Danza de la Luna (Dance of the Moon)—come from the Chorotega people in Nicoya. Performed for tourists, they share legends of coffee farmers, lovers, and ancient spirits, keeping Costa Rica’s oral traditions alive through graceful moves.
Other Dances
The Baile de los Indios in Talamanca honors indigenous rituals with simple, spiritual steps. Danza de las Mascaritas, seen at carnivals, features masked dancers in playful, mestizo-inspired routines. These dances add to Costa Rica’s rich folkloric heritage, often paired with marimba or quijongo music.
Traditional Costa Rican Dance Costumes
Costumes bring Costa Rica’s folkloric dances to life, each tailored to its dance’s story. From flowing golas skirts to hand-carved Boruca masks, these outfits mix native, Spanish, and African styles, creating a colorful display that’s as meaningful as the steps themselves.
Golas
Women in Punto Guanacasteco wear long, bold-colored skirts called golas. When spun, these skirts create a dazzling swirl of color, paired with white blouses and flowers in the hair.
Boruca Masks
For Danza de los Diablitos, Boruca men don cedar masks painted with jaguars, devils, or faces, showcasing their woodworking skill. Woven sashes and body paint complete the look.
Nicoya Attire
La Yeguita dancers wear simple white outfits with red sashes, reflecting the dance’s religious roots, sometimes adding horse-like props for the mare. Men often wear white shirts, pants, and straw hats, waving scarves or fanning hats to match the music’s rhythm. These costumes turn every dance into a visual story.
Final Thoughts
Costa Rican traditional dances are more than entertainment—they’re a living link to the country’s past. From Punto Guanacasteco’s flirty spins to the Boruca’s defiant masks, each dance tells a story of love, faith, or resistance.
Catch a show at a festival like Enamorate de tu Ciudad or Nicoya’s Virgin of Guadalupe celebration to feel Costa Rica’s spirit. Programs like SINEM in Nicoya teach kids these dances, and a 2023 UNESCO exhibit featured Danza de los Diablitos, spreading their legacy globally. Support these traditions by attending a performance or buying Boruca crafts. Pura vida!