Horses in Costa Rica

Expats might have felt a bit left out yesterday if they did not bring their horses. December 26th is the day for the Tope Nacional, a horse parade of some 4,000 to 5,000 riders and their mounts through downtown San José.

This is the traditional day-after-Christmas event that also attracts other horse-related participants: carriage
owners, wagon drivers and even a few mules and donkeys.

The parade began around 1 p.m. on Paseo Colón and followed the usual city parade route past the Hospital San Juan de Dios, up Avenida 2 and then south on Calle 9 (Paseo de los Estudiantes) to Plaza Víquez. Most cross streets will be closed off, and early arrivers will get the best locations.

Since everything is closed anyway, traffic was not an issue.

If you missed it this year, be sure to put it on your calendar for next year!