Discover the Mysterious Stone Spheres of Costa Rica when visiting Dominical

If you’ve made it all the way to the Southern Zone of Costa Rica, to the beautiful pacific coast known as the Osa, you should consider visiting The Museum of the Stone Spheres, just a short drive south of our luxurious vacation villas. Located at the UNESCO World Heritage site, Finca 6, this museum will appeal to amateur archaeologists, history buffs, and all explorers at heart.

The Museum of the Stone Spheres, located at Finca 6, is the first “en situ” archaeological museum of Costa Rica, and it’s less than an hour drive from the Dominical and Uvita area. “En situ”, or on-site, means that the mysterious stone spheres created between 400 and 1500 AD, have never been moved from their initial location of creation by Borucan Indians.

Finca 6

In 1939, lines of stone spheres were discovered on an old banana plantation known as Finca 6, in Palmar Sur, and word of the mysterious stones began to spread. Finca 6 is the only site retaining stone spheres in linear arrangements. It’s therefore quite possibly the best place to explore this piece of Costa Rica Pre-Columbian history. Archeologists have posited that the locations of the stones could be related to the equinoxes, solstices and constellations. But this remains unproven.

The “Festival of the Stone Spheres” (or Festival Esferas Osa in Spanish) is held in the Osa canton on the day of the year in which it’s possible to watch the alignment of the Sun with several large spheres, in the early morning hours. Whether or not the spheres were created for this reason is hotly debated. Nevertheless, hundreds of sun worshipers head to the site each April for this very reason. The mysterious spheres have been heavily researched for decades, but still little is known about their purpose. A top question remains to this day, “What were they used for?”

Visiting The Museum of Stone Spheres

The museum’s focus is heavily on these mysterious stone spheres and the purpose and meaning they provided for the indigenous who created them. However, other sculptures which are easier to study also appear at the museum. These sculptures feature more elaborate details. A statue of a “peg-base human figure”, a sculpture of a feline animal, and even a ceremonial grinding stone used at the site previously. The museum also hosts additional learning exhibits. The current being Dí˅Crí˅, an exhibit of the development of Pre-Columbian societies of Disquis Delta. Dí˅Crí˅ is a word from the indigenous Boruca language. It means “great water,” and is in reference to the Terraba river.

The history of the Boruca people is fascinating. Visiting Finca 6 Museum is a sure way to learn more about this ancient warrior people, known for their boat-making skills which they used to navigate the Terraba river. Unfortunately, the increase in banana plantations in the 1930s led to drastic changes in boruca’s daily life.

Borucan Masks

Most recently, a surge in reclaiming lost traditions and handicraft skills has helped to make the history of the people accessible again, for all to learn and discover. The most popular example of this is the recent resurgence of interest in authentic borucan masks. The masks are coveted for their beauty as art. But they also serve as a reminder of one of the most important ceremonies in Boruca, the annual “Dance of the Devils.” The authentic Borucan Mask remains one of the most popular cultural souvenirs sold in the Southern Zone of Costa Rica. Be sure to select one for your home. It will serve as a reminder of the magical time spent discovering the mysterious spheres and the Borucan people.

As of early 2022, the museum is open Tuesday – Friday from 8am – 2pm. The entry fee is $7, and free for children under 12. For more information and to confirm hours of operation visit the museum website here: http://diquis.go.cr/