The city of Nicoya is not known as a tourist destination and mostly is only visited on the way to other places on the Nicoya Peninsula in Costa Rica’s Province of Guanacaste. The town of Nicoya is one of the oldest cities, founded by the Spanish colonists. The name oif the town and the peninsula has Indigenous roots, because Nicoya was the name of the chief of the Chorotega tribe at the time of the Spanish conquests. When the Spanish explorers coming from Nicaragua entered what is now known as the Guanacaste Province they were overwhelmed by the lush tropical environment where they found an indigenous civilization that was organized in groups and tribes. This network of tribes covered almost the entire country of Costa Rica, including the highlands of the Central Valley. Scientists estimate that at least 400,000 Indians populated the Provinces of Guanacaste and Puntarenas. Living of agriculture, fishing and hunting the tribes had a rich cultural tradition that has partly withstood the centuries. In Nicoya beautiful Indigenous handicraft such as hammocks, pottery and baskets can be bought. A special drink called ‘chicha’ made from fermented corn used to play an important role in religious ceremonies, but is still being made and consumed on more plain occasions. In the center of Nicoya in its Central Park you can find one of Costa Rica’s oldest churches Iglesia de San Blas, built in the 17th century. Nicoya has all the facilities in the form of banks, stores, restaurants, hotels to make it a perfect stop-over on the way to other destinations in Guanacaste. From Nicoya Route 150 leads to the town of Samara on the Pacific Coast.