La Guacima A Success; Palmares and Puntarenas Around the Corner
For tens of thousands of "Josefinos" (residents of San José), the annual festival held in La Guacima de Alajuela had to do, given that the traditional Zapote Fair held in San José was cancelled this year.

Some 100.000 people attended the 11 day event that included carousels, traditional food, bars and discos and of course, the bull ring, traditions of the frustrated Zapote event held each year from Christmas day to New Year's day.

The event was a great success, according to organizers who had invested some ¢65 million colones (us$126.000 dollars), cashing in on an enormous risk.

Gustavo Pacheco, general manager of Pomotor, the organizer of the Guacima festival, said that the risk was in not knowing if Josefinos would travel the distance to La Guacima, however, the financial compensation was well worth the risk.

According to Pomotor, some 60.000 came by private vehicle, while 40.000 visitors came by public transportation.

Pacheco added that the results are motivation for a strong 2007 festival.

The other festivals to take note of are the Palmares festival and Puntarenas carnival.

The Palmares festival, offering live music, folk dancing, carnival rides and games and of course the bull fights begins on January 11th and run through to the 19th.
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During the Carnavales Puntarenas which begins on February 8 through to the 18th, the town's boardwalk is dressed for the event and though Puntarenas does not have the bulls, it does entertain with the beauty contest to elect a Carnaval Queen.

A less popular, but well worth a visit, is the  fiesta in Santa Cruz on the Nicoya peninsula takes place the second week in January and has a western flair with bullfights and a parade followed by a party with food, concerts and fireworks.