Where to Buy Authentic Boruca Masks in Costa Rica: Rey Curre
For almost 10 years, I’ve thought about the mask that got away.
I was guiding a student group for a week in southern Costa Rica, and one of the highlights was a visit to the Boruca community east of Palmar Sur. We spent the morning painting masks and sharing a home-cooked meal with a local family, then visited the community museum before heading out. Driving back through town, I saw masks on display by different artists at roadside stands and at the community museum. One at the museum was my favorite of the morning: a jaguar mask with a dark pink background. Sadly, my wallet was packed away in a bag on top of the bus with everyone else’s gear, and that was that. I wasn’t going home with that mask, and I’ve thought about it ever since.
When I realized I’d be passing the turnoff to the Boruca community on this trip, that mask came right back to mind. But I was short on time, and it was already a long drive from the Osa Peninsula to San Gerardo de Dota. No time to add a detour into the community itself. I mentioned this to a friend who’s spent a lot of time in the area, and he told me to skip the drive into Boruca altogether and look for masks in Rey Curre instead, right along the road. That’s the thing about insider tips. You never quite know if they’ll pan out.
This one did.
My mask wish list had changed some over the years, too. This time, I was hoping to find one that combined both a jaguar and an owl. We found three places selling masks along Highway 2 in Rey Curre. The first is a proper storefront on the left side of the road heading east, with a large sign reading Artesania Jicaro, Familia Lazaro Ortiz. The other two are smaller roadside stands on the right, the second of which is Taller Daymar. I drove past both stands before realizing what they were and had to turn back for them. Easy to miss if you’re not looking for them.
All three are cash only, so budget accordingly. I ended up buying two masks, one for 20,000 colones and another for 35,000 colones, plus two small carved necklaces at 12,000 colones each. I’d recommend stopping at all three before buying anything, just to see the full range of what’s available before you commit. Carvers and painters vary, and so does the work.
I didn’t know what to expect going in, so I hadn’t brought enough cash after the first stop to purchase what was to become my favorite piece of the day. A long jaguar face with an owl in flight at our second stop. I’ll probably be thinking about that one for the next 10 years, too.
I don’t have a read on posted hours for any of the three, so I’d treat this as a daytime stop along the highway rather than something to time precisely. The shopkeeper at Taller Daymar said you can WhatsApp him at +506 8739 5806 to ask what’s currently in stock.
If you don’t have time for a guided experience with the Boruca community but still want to bring home an authentic mask and support the artists directly, this is the way to do it.
