Costa Rica’s artisanal oxcarts—with their precise, geometric constructions and eye-popping colors—are a sensation. Yet in the 19th century, they were simply the essential technology for overcoming muddy roads and bringing coffee to market. The town of Sarchí is now a center for the colorful woodworking traditions that resulted in the beautiful carts. Try to hit Sarchí’s artisanal markets and workshops—like Eloy Alfaro’s or the Fábrica de Carretas Joaquín Chaverri—as well as visit its local parks and parish church, with a striking hand-hewn ceiling.
