Barrio Bird Walking Tours
  • San Jose Tour Activities
    • The Bird's Nest Tour
    • The Artist Bird Tour
    • The Hungry Bird Tour
    • The Glam Bird Tour
    • The Bird's Paradise Tour
    • Saturday Favorites Tour
  • Day Trips
  • Agents & Hotels
  • Travel Planning
    • Concierge Services
    • Private Shuttle Transport
    • Gay & Lesbian Fun
    • Outside Central Valley
    • General Advice
    • Safety
    • Helpful Travel/Fun Links
  • Best of San Jose
    • The Wise Birds
    • Gallery
    • News from the Barrio
    • Tour Reviews
    • Contact Us
  • San Jose Tour Activities
    • The Bird's Nest Tour
    • The Artist Bird Tour
    • The Hungry Bird Tour
    • The Glam Bird Tour
    • The Bird's Paradise Tour
    • Saturday Favorites Tour
  • Day Trips
  • Agents & Hotels
  • Travel Planning
    • Concierge Services
    • Private Shuttle Transport
    • Gay & Lesbian Fun
    • Outside Central Valley
    • General Advice
    • Safety
    • Helpful Travel/Fun Links
  • Best of San Jose
    • The Wise Birds
    • Gallery
    • News from the Barrio
    • Tour Reviews
    • Contact Us

news from the barrio

Mysterious Costa Rica Stone Spheres on Display at New Site

12/7/2013

5 Comments

 
**Editor's note. After publishing this post we have received several comments that the park and museum offer less information and viewing of stones than what is expected. We recommend visiting if you will already be in the area but not making a special trip unless the spheres are of great interest to you. You can see some spheres in San Jose on our walking tours. 

70 years after being discovered in southwest Costa Rica, numerous mysterious stone spheres 'las esferas' now have an official home at the newly inaugurated museum and archaeological site, Finca 6 located in Palmar Sur. 

On Friday, government officials celebrated the opening of the park, which is now accessible to the general public 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. Tuesday - Sunday. Price of admission is $6 for tourists and $2 for nationals. 

Over 200 spheres have been discovered since the first were found when United Fruit Company was developing land for banana plantations. 

They have been dated to 400 - 1500 A.D. and are the most significant but yet mysterious pre-columbian objects found in Costa Rica. It is not understood why they were made, or how, based on the tools available at the time.

Each sphere is within 5 degrees of being a perfect sphere. Some, which can be viewed on the site, appear in straight lines possibly indicating their use as navigational pointers or following astrological patterns. Other theories indicate they may have been burial markers or recognition of community leaders. 

Finca 6 also has a new museum to walk visitors through the discovery of the spheres and theories as to their purpose and creation. In addition, creation of the park brings awareness to the indigenous groups of Costa Rica specifically the Boruca group, direct decendents of the Diquis people responsible for creating the spheres.

Earlier this year the spheres were granted the honor of being recognized by UNESCO as heritage pieces. They also are the inspiration for the work of famous Costa Rican sculptor, Jimenez Deredia. He uses the shape of the sphere as his primary motif.  

We recommend adding this destination to your trip if you are heading to the Osa Peninsula, Dominical or Ballena National Park. We cannot confirm exact driving directions but you would take the PanAmerican Highway to the Palmar Sur airport on highway 223. This is within a mile of the site and there you most likely could ask how to reach the entrance to Finca 6. 

Most visitors don't find the time to travel to this more remote part of the country, but you can enjoy some of the experience in San Jose on our Bird's Nest tour. We view some of the spheres in person and pass a few of Deredia's fabulous sculptures which can also be seen on our Artist Bird tour. 
See More San Jose Activities
Picture
Culture minister with Borruca Indians. photo by Costa Rica Ministry of Culture.
Picture
Example of sculpture by Jimenez Deredia displaying the influence of the spheres on his work. photo by Garnier & Garnier architects.
Picture
President Chinchilla and ministers in front of one of the larger spheres. Photo from Ministry of Culture.
Picture
New museum greets guests to Finca 6. Photo from Ministry of Culture.
5 Comments
    See San José Activities

    RSS Feed

    Join the hundreds receiving SJO fun tips
    Picture

    Author

    By Stacey Auch.
    Stacey is the founder of Barrio Bird Walking Tours and an original advocate of San Jose's revitalization. She has opened 4 businesses all with a focus on sharing San Jose secrets and tips with locals and visitors. 

    You'll want to subscribe to this blog above if you want to enjoy the best of San Jose, and you'll definitely want to book a walking tour!

    Connect with Stacey on Google+.

    Categories

    All
    Architecture
    Art
    Art Deco
    Art Nouveau
    Art Tour
    Best Bars
    Best Breakfast
    Best Brunch
    Busses
    China Town
    Chinese
    City Guides
    City Tour
    Costa Rica
    Explore
    Fantasy
    Film
    Food
    Free Things To Do
    Getting Around
    Getting Around San Jose
    Hike Costa Rica
    Insiders Tips
    Local Tips
    Music
    National Theater
    Rainy Season
    Reviews
    Safety
    San Jose
    San Jose City Guides
    San Jose Day Trips
    San Jose Travel
    San Jose Travel Guides
    Solo Female Travelers
    Taxi
    Tour
    Travel For Free
    Travel Guides
    Travel Guide San Jose
    Traveling In Costa Rica
    Traveling With Children
    Traveling With Kids
    Traveling With Pets
    Travel Safety
    Travel Tips
    Walk
    What To Do In San Jose
    Yoga

    Archives

    October 2019
    October 2017
    May 2017
    November 2016
    October 2016
    December 2013
    October 2013
    June 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    July 2012
    October 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    April 2011

(506) 64782937  |  BarrioBird@gmail.com  |  San Jose, Costa Rica  |  Sitemap  |  Contact  |  Privacy Policy