Sarchi Costa Rica is one of the most famous craft centers in Costa Rica where artists showcase their woodworking traditions. Travelers will notice the vividly colored wooden ox-carts that are in use around the country. These are made in Sarchi.

The crafts center is heavily geared toward the travel and tourist trade where visitors can see artisans painting traditional ox-carts designs and creating household furnishings out of tropical hardwoods. Around 1910, as legend has it, a campesino (peasant) was crossing the Beneficio la Luisa when it occurred to him to decorate his ox-cart wheels with colorful mandala-like design inspired by ancient Moorish decoration.

The art form caught on. Originally each district in Costa Rica had its own special design and locals could tell by looking at the cart where the driver lived. It was also said that each cart had its own distinctive chirrido, or song of the wheels, by which people could identify who was passing by through listening.

As late as 1960, the most typical mode of transportation was the ox-cart since it was the only vehicle that could transport agricultural products through the rugged Costa Rican terrain. The father of president Oscar Arias Sanchez made his original fortune hauling coffee by ox-cart to Puntarenas. The painted carts are still in use today in villages as close to the capital as San Antonio de Escazu.

Sarchi is a pretty town that is lined with stalls and might look like a tourist trap, but it's the only place in Costa Rica to buy authentic Costa Rican souvenirs. If you are an adventurous traveler, there are worshops in the nearby countryside where visitors can shop or make custom orders.

Sarchi is spread out into two sections — the north and the south. The main plaza is located in the north.by the church.

In Sarchi Costa Rica, there are a number of souvenirs of interest and are listed below:

• The carretas are the unoffical souvenir of Costa Rica and many travelers are interested in this elborately painted oxcart because of the brightly painted mandala designs; this design has become synonomous with Cost Rica.
• Furniture made of leather and wood is a specially locally and there are collapsible rocking chairs that many take home with them.
• Tableware and wooden bowls are carved from hardwood from local plantations.
• It's possible to take a woodworking class or organize an apprenticeship for those who are interested.