Zapote Fair ends with more than 400 people injured, say Red Cross

By the A.M. Costa Rica staff

According to the latest Red Cross reports, 418 people were treated for medical emergencies during the bullfights, carnival and horse parade as part of the year-end festivities are known as Fiesta de Zapote organized by the San José Municipality.

So-called bullfights in Costa Rica, are a bit similar to the bull riders rodeo in the U.S.

According to the paramedic report, 297 of the injured were men and 121 were women. Of the total 11 people were treated for injuries caused by a high altitude fall. 176 people needed to be treated for health problems, and 231 people were treated for minor injuries.

Of the so-called improvised bullfighters, 61 had been taken to the emergency room of the Calderon Guardia Hospital after having received heavy impacts by a bull.

According to the Red Cross, more than 100 paramedics were required to attend to any possible emergence during the December horse parade and Carnival.

The fair at the Zapote fairgrounds started Wednesday, Christmas Day and finished on Sunday. There were mechanical games, meals, typical dances, concerts and fireworks every night. Next to the fairground was the bull stadium.


The National Tope, which is a parade of horses, old cars and old carts was held Dec. 26. According to the municipality, about 5,000 riders went through the main San José avenues.



The New Year's Eve Carnival was held on Dec. 27 with at least 11 comparsas participated. Comparsas are groups of dancers representing communities and the provinces.

The bullfights that were taking place in the Plaza de Toros in Zapote are known in Spanish as Toros a la Tica.

In Costa Rica it is illegal to kill or injure bulls, so bullfights are very different from those that can be seen in Spain or México.


One of the activities considered fun by Costa Ricans is when a bull is released inside the ring to chase dozens of so-called improvised bullfighters, know as toreros improvisados in Spanish. Each is supposed to buy a special insurance policy from the National insurance Institute.

According to the organizers, almost 300 bulls were used among different games and activities.


Also, related to the food quality in the Zapote fair, the Ministry of Health reported that 10% of the prepared food samples came out with some kind of contamination.

"In the Zapote fairgrounds 600 laboratory samples were made to prepared foods with the goal of determining the presence of contamination," said the ministry in its statement. "Of this only 10% were infected."

In the case of contamination detection in food, the ministry applied the process of destruction of food and ordered sanitary measures for the vendor.

Among bad food reports, the ministry said inspectors  found rotten food and badly stored raw food or materials, among other problems. All the food sales are made form temporary locations, such as tents and trailers.

As for the activities in the mechanical games and rides, the horse parade and the carnival, the ministry reported that no incident or complaint were recorded.

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Have you participated in the toros, carnival or horse parade in Costa Rica? We would like to know your thoughts on this story. Send your comments to news@amcostarica.com