The following information is from the recognized website of Boruca: http://www.boruca.org/en/

If you have been in our office you probably noticed the display of intricately detailed masks that are displayed on one wall. All of our clients who buy a house receive a mask as a thank you for trusting us with your business. Not only are the masks a fabulous piece of art, they also represent a significant time in Costa Rican history.

Boruca is an indigenous tribe in the Southern Pacific area of Costa Rica. The village of Boruca is located in the Talamanca Mountains. It takes approximately one hour to drive from Ojochal to Boruca. The drive to the town is absolutely breathtaking as you travel along the top of a ridge with amazing vistas in all directions.

The masks are significant in that they are used in an annual festival, Dance of the Devils. The festival celebrates the resistance to Spanish colonization which allowed the Boruca people to maintain their identity and traditions. During the festival the people of the village reenact the Spainards being chased away. Traditional devil masks are worn to represent the force of the Boruca people and a bull costume is worn to represent the Spanish.

The indigenous Boruca culture is greater than a mask. Boruca is built on faith in the wisdom of elders and the Boruca legends that have been passed down for centuries. The identity of Boruca reflects a deep respect for the stories told, the nature that surrounds them, and the community they share. While Spanish is the dominant language of Boruca they teach the ancient Boruca language in their school. Local artisans enjoy sharing words and phrases in the Boruca language with visitors.

Beautifully woven fabrics are another trademark of Boruca. The weavers are generous in demonstrating the entire process for visitors. The dyes are made from leaves, bark and mollusks. You can watch them pick leaves and barks right from the garden, crush them, mix them with water and create amazing colors. After spinning thread from locally-grown cotton, they use a loom to weave the thread into fabrics for handbags, wall hangings, coin purses and more.

Today, an estimated 80 percent of Boruca sell handmade crafts out of their homes, local shops and by shipping them to other areas of Costa Rica.

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