Santa Cruz, Guanacaste: Festivities in Honor of Santo Cristo de Esquipulas Nominated for UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity

The Ministry of Culture and Youth, on behalf of Costa Rica, submitted to UNESCO the nomination of the Festivities in honor of Santo Cristo de Esquipulas in Santa Cruz, Guanacaste, for inclusion on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

Costa Rica prepared and submitted a nomination file for the Festivities in honor of Santo Cristo de Esquipulas in Santa Cruz de Guanacaste to UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity
Minister of Culture and Youth, together with the community of Santa Cruz, shared details of the nomination and its importance for the canton, the country, and the region on March 25 at the Catholic Temple of Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz, March 25, 2025. The Ministry of Culture and Youth, on behalf of Costa Rica, submitted to UNESCO the nomination of the Festivities in honor of Santo Cristo de Esquipulas in Santa Cruz, Guanacaste, for inclusion on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

The “Celebration of Santo Cristo de Esquipulas” in Santa Cruz, declared intangible cultural heritage of Costa Rica since 2020, is a tradition that transcends the religious sphere and, when fused with the cultural and artistic practices of its people, becomes a marker of their multiethnic and multicultural identity, with the “Black Christ” as its central figure.

The potential inscription of this festivity as an element of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity will help promote greater awareness and understanding of Costa Rica’s intangible cultural heritage; raise awareness of its importance both nationally and internationally; and foster respectful dialogue that honors cultural diversity.

“At the Ministry of Culture and Youth, we made a commitment this past January that this would happen. We worked with the community, ensured that everyone involved did their part, and with great pride and satisfaction, we achieved our goal of submitting the nomination to UNESCO. Our work will continue in defending this nomination, and we hope that in December 2026 we will receive the good news that the Festivities in honor of Santo Cristo de Esquipulas in Santa Cruz de Guanacaste are included on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity,” stated Jorge Rodríguez Vives, Minister of Culture and Youth.

For the nomination of this cultural manifestation to UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, a total of 23 prior, free, and informed consents were collected from the tradition-bearing community, along with official letters from the Diocese of Tilarán-Liberia and the Municipality of Santa Cruz. The nomination was also supported by the Santa Cruz Cultural Heritage Collective; Apuntalando lo Nuestro; Indios Promesanos; Caballeros y Damas de Esquipulas; Mayordomos de Esquipulas; Patrones de Vela; the Parish Priest of the Sanctuary; as well as other tradition bearers and local actors.

UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Committee, composed of 24 countries, will receive the nomination and deliver a verdict on a potential inscription in December 2026.

Living heritage. The Festivities in honor of Santo Cristo de Esquipulas in Santa Cruz are a reflection of Costa Rica’s living heritage, as demonstrated by the safeguarding measures in place, such as the community’s autonomous governance of the celebration in coordination with the Church and local government. Additionally, turnos (community fairs), pilgrimages, and the transmission of knowledge in dance, music, crafts, and gastronomy, among other areas, are organized.

Moreover, residents plan activities, manage funds, and pass on traditional knowledge, while the broader community participates in the turnos, prayers, vigils, and processions, maintaining the spiritual values of the festivity through a variety of efforts.

As part of the evidence submitted to UNESCO for the nomination, the Cultural Inventory of the canton of Santa Cruz—conducted between April and November 2019 by the Cultural Heritage Directorate of the Ministry of Culture and Youth—was included. This inventory officially recorded the Festivity of Santo Cristo de Esquipulas in Santa Cruz, Guanacaste.