Maleku people

The maleku, a branch of the Chibcha, as are the Bribri, Brunca and Chorotega an indigenous people in Costa Rica, which is located today in Guatuso indigenous reserve near the town of San Rafael de Guatuso ( short ' Guatuso '). Approx. 600 people (previously there were only 23 villages) are now living in the reserve, people from outside are in the community welcome nonetheless. Before the Spanish colonization of their enlarged area further west to Rincon de la Vieja and closed the Arenal Volcano to the south and de Río Celeste as sacred sites with a. Today, her focus more on the areas south of the village Guatuso south of San Rafael de Guatuso, an hour north of La Fortuna.

The reserve

The reserves consist of various villages, similarly built as the Mayan village of Palenque ( Palenque = straw or grass huts ). Among them, the village of Palenque Palenque solenoid and Tonjibe. The maleku have their own language ( maleku ). While most maleku Spanish speaking, some of the elders speak only maleku. The economy of the maleku consists of art: carvings, paintings and musical instruments are the most popular items. Each member in the village ( including children) taking care of a field of art or help, such as cut, carve, prepare the necessary Balsabaumholzbäume or fruits that are required for the particular work of art. The preparation of the bow and arrow, spears and knives, large and small jungle drums and rainmakers complete the artistic woodwork.

Tourism

The maleku still uploading a tourist to visit their villages, although most tourists prefer to see ceremonies in the nearby town of La Fortuna. You can visit the traditional gardens with medicinal plants and pre-Columbian tombs and animals that are still living freely in the forest, such as Toucans, frogs and monkeys.

• Ethnic group in Costa Rica
• Indigenous Culture in Central America