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Photo courtesy of the Municipality of Nicoya Canton, Guanacaste Province.

Costa Rica Celebrates 202nd Guanacaste Day

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Published on Saturday, July 25, 2026
By the A.M. Costa Rica staff

Costa Rica is celebrating on Saturday the 202nd anniversary of Guanacaste Day, commemorating the voluntary annexation of the former Nicoya territory into the country on July 25, 1824.

The national motto associated with the celebration, "De la Patria por Nuestra Voluntad" ("We are part of the country by our own free will"), reflects the historic decision made more than two centuries ago by the people of Nicoya to join the newly independent Republic of Costa Rica.

According to historian Julio César Jaén-Contreras in his work El Partido de Nicoya y su Integración a Costa Rica ("The Nicoyan Territories and Their Integration into Costa Rica"), the territory officially became part of Costa Rica on July 25, 1824. Today, the region is known as Guanacaste Province.

The annexation followed a public vote held in Nicoya, where residents of the Nicoya and Santa Cruz districts gathered in an open town hall and voted to become part of Costa Rica.

To commemorate the historic event, the Ministry of Culture and the Municipality of Nicoya Canton are hosting a weekend-long celebration featuring free activities throughout the city.

Events include traditional dance performances, theatrical productions, concerts, a fair showcasing locally made products, food stands serving regional cuisine, horse parades, bullfights, an amusement park and other family-friendly attractions.

Most activities will take place at Recaredo Briceño Park and the San Blas Fairgrounds. Festivities begin at 9 a.m., and admission is free.

According to the Costa Rican culture authorities, Nicoya's voluntary annexation expanded Costa Rica's territory, population and natural resources, including its unique tropical dry forest, while significantly enriching the nation's cultural identity.

Today, Guanacaste remains one of Costa Rica's most influential cultural regions. Its traditions are reflected in gastronomy, music, language, art, architecture and religious customs that continue to shape the country's national identity.

The province is known for traditional dishes such as pinolillo, torta dulce, rosquillas, perrerreque, yoltamal and arroz de maíz, all considered staples of Guanacaste's culinary heritage.

The region is also recognized for its Chorotega-inspired pottery, a centuries-old ceramic tradition regarded as one of Costa Rica's living cultural legacies.

Distinctive speech patterns and regional expressions used by Guanacaste residents are also considered an important part of the country's cultural identity, reflecting both everyday communication and generations of local tradition.

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Among Guanacaste's best-known musical traditions is the quijongo, a stringed instrument made from a two-meter wooden pole, a stretched cord, a resonating board and a dried calabash gourd, or jícaro. Along with the marimba, it is considered one of Costa Rica's traditional folk instruments.

The province's architectural heritage is equally significant. One of its most iconic landmarks is Nicoya's San Blas Church, built between 1522 and 1544. The nearly 500-year-old church was designated a Historical-Architectural Heritage site in 1995.

Beyond its historical and cultural importance, Guanacaste has become one of Costa Rica's leading tourism destinations.

The province is home to numerous luxury resorts, Daniel Oduber International Airport, major commercial centers and internationally known beach communities, including Papagayo, Playas del Coco, Flamingo, Conchal and Tamarindo.

More than 200 years later, Guanacaste's voluntary decision to join Costa Rica remains one of the country's defining historical moments.

Rather than being shaped by conquest or conflict, the annexation reflected the people's right to choose their own future. That decision helped strengthen the foundations of a nation that would later become one of Latin America's oldest and most stable democracies, leaving a lasting legacy of freedom, self-determination and civic participation.

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What do you believe is Guanacaste's greatest contribution to Costa Rican culture? We would like to know your thoughts on this story. Send your comments to news@amcostarica.com