I travel the world looking for the unique and unusual. Years ago, I drove from my home in Playa Hermosa Costa Rica to a village named after it's inhabitants, Boruka. While I was there I met Chuje and his family. Chuje is in last photo. He explained to me how the men cut down the balsa wood trees and carved the masks while the children made and mixed the paints and the women painted the masks. It was amazing to watch.

If you don't know the history, the Borukan Indians once lived close to Quepos. When they heard of the Spanish invasion, they set some people out to find a more out of the way location to move to and hide from the Spaniards. Over a period of years they moved their entire village. Eventually the Spaniards found the Bouruca. I am not sure how, because the trip there in my Hilux was treturous. But when they got there they were met by a village ready to defend itself. The Boruka put on these war masks and used spears they made themselves to fight off the Spanish. They won the battle and kept their village.

Today, they still make these masks by hand. Every month they come down from the mountains and bring me a few. That photo is of Chuje in my house in Playa Hermosa.

The masks he makes for me are similar to the photo. They are 8 inches tall and represent the devil. They are hand made and no two are exactly alike so your mask will look slightly different than the one in the photo. 

If I sell out, just bookmark this page. I will bring more back on my next trip. These are amazing to hold and look at. They make a great gift. By purchasing this mask you are helping suport the Borucan Indians and their simple way of life.

Enjoy!