San José Travel Forum

Hey all,

I'll be in Costa Rica for just under a week this August and was wondering if anyone with an interest in shamanism could point me in the direction of something interesting in this regard while I'm there. I'll be in San Jose working for a few days but will have a weekend or maybe three days off. If there are cultural centers dedicated to local pre-colombian traditions and beliefs I'd love to hear about them, or better yet if someone knows a Shaman and could 'recommend' one then that would be very, very cool indeed.

Thanks in advance!

Costa Rica doesn't have much in the way of pre columbian history. There is a small burial ground in the Puerto viejo de Sarapiqui area. A friend of ours down on the Osa is not a Shaman but is extremely knowledgable about medicinal plants. His name is Abraham and he and his wife own the Bosque del rio tigre lodge. It is just a small place but we enjoy it there. He is also a wonderful cook. He grew up in that area and knows it very well.

the drake bay area does have the stone spheres. Cano Island has a little history. The turrialba area may have something. will check and get back asap.

the insight guide to costa Rica is a great book. done for/by the discovery channel. It has a lot of history which would explain the lack of much pre columbian life.

Costa Rica doesn't have much in the way of pre columbian history. There is a small burial ground in the Puerto viejo de Sarapiqui area. A friend of ours down on the Osa is not a Shaman but is extremely knowledgable about medicinal plants. His name is Abraham and he and his wife own the Bosque del rio tigre lodge. It is just a small place but we enjoy it there. He is also a wonderful cook. He grew up in that area and knows it very well.

the drake bay area does have the stone spheres. Cano Island has a little history. The turrialba area may have something. will check and get back asap.

the insight guide to costa Rica is a great book. done for/by the discovery channel. It has a lot of history which would explain the lack of much pre columbian life.

Do go to the museums in san jose.

There is the Gauyabo National monument in turrialba.http://www.costaricamap.com/ing/biopguayabo.html

Actually, there are in Costa Rica, but it is not that widespread as for instance Belize. Maybe you could go to the "casa de la cultura" in Heredia, it is 10 kms from San José. There works a guy who is an anthropology professor. His name is Ricardo Martinez. He knows about those things, but you should speak Spanish. In Puerto Viejo de Heredia (not Limon), there is a shaman I thought. They have telefone too, but I have forgotten the number.

Hey Suzie 3 and Stieven,

Thanks so much for your replies. Unfortunately I didn't have time to go far outside of San Jose on this trip but as luck with have it I did find my native Shaman thanks to a very friendly and hugely informative tour guide (it seems like all the guides have phds - or should have - in Costa Rica!). I'm not sure what I gained from the experience but I'm sure it will sink in later. Needless to say the rest of my time in this so very cool and beautiful country was totally amazing.

Thanks again,

Liam.