Arenal Volcano Attractions - Costa Rica

The Malekus Tribe in Guatuso Costa Rica

The Malekus tribe is located in San Rafael in Guatuso in the Palenques of Margarita; Tonjibe y el Sol in the area of Guatuso in the providence of Alajuela.  Previously they were found by the border with Nicaragua, above the river in Rio Frio and in the islands Solentiname, San Carlos de Nicaragua, Los Chiles and Upala.

In present day, it is a minority village in terms of native population that has an indigenous population of approximately 460 people.  Today the schools are bilingual and they are trying to conserve their traditions and customs.  As a consequence of the damaged environment and other cultural factors, it has drastically reduced opportunities for the Malekus to build their traditional housing, as well as other traditional practices related to hunting, agriculture and handmade crafts.  Respecting the houses, they are constructed with natural materials in a rectangular shape on top of stakes and do not have walls.

These ranches called “palenques” were made up of several families that we all relatives.  This town also made important strides to promote the production and merchandising of a great variety of crafts in which were very technical and had traditional designs made with natural materials like different types of wood, seeds, etc.

It takes less than an hour to get to the Maleku Tribal Reserve from the Arenal Springs Resort.  It is not necessary to have a car with double traction.  Also, you can take organized tours in the morning that leave at 8:00am every day.

Please inquire in our front desk about the tour to the Malekus tribe this tour has lots of cultural content you can see how the Malekus tribe has survive during the years their art and other aspects of the Malekus enjoy a Malekus ceremony or ritual visit the Malekus Tribe is near by the Arenal Volcano.