Nicoya, District capital in Guanacaste Province, Costa Rica
Nicoya is a district town in Guanacaste Province, Costa Rica, situated at 123 meters above sea level between two rivers. It serves as the main transportation hub connecting the Nicoya Peninsula region to surrounding areas and beach towns.
Spanish conquistadors established the settlement in the early 1500s as one of Costa Rica's first colonial towns. The whitewashed church with its thick walls was built during this era directly on the site of a former indigenous sacred place.
The main plaza centers around a white-walled church that has watched over the town since the 1500s, and locals still gather there for celebrations and daily life. The building represents a mix of Spanish colonial and indigenous traditions that shaped how people lived here.
Route 21 runs directly through town and connects it with Liberia and the peninsula's beach destinations. Travelers will find several long-distance bus lines serving arrivals and departures from the area.
The region is one of only five places on Earth where people routinely live past 100 years old, and researchers study local lifestyle habits to understand their longevity. Many residents follow simple routines with daily physical activity and traditional diets.
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