 Shopping:
Atenas Coffee
Atenas’ fertile soil is famous for producing some of the finest coffees in Costa Rica. Every Atenas supermarket and pulperia (mini-market) carries locally-grown coffee such as Cafe La Villa and Cafe Puro Ateneo, both whole bean and ground, at the reasonable price of $2 per pound. Both of these brands are produced by Coopeatenas.
Buy a Gourd!
For a taste of local life, visit the gourd man, Delfin Sequeira, on the outskirts of town, just past the entrance to Vista Atenas on Highway 3. His bamboo stand is chock full of calabazas, hollowed-out gourds in various shapes and sizes, all priced from $1-4. Delfin also sells roasted peanuts, however his specialty is gourds- an inexpensive Costa Rican souvenir.
Molas and Coffee Gift Shop
Specializing in the colorful, handcrafted tapestries known as “molas”, this souvenir store also has a good selection of wood handicrafts, pottery, hammocks, jewelry and Costa Rican coffee. It is located on the right side of the road leading to Atenas from La Garita. Most days, indigenous BriBri women are onsite making molas by hand.
Open: everyday from 7:30 a.m. until 5:30 p.m.
Tel: 506-2-446-5155
Friday Farmers Market
For a glimpse of Atenas culture and tradition, look no further than the Friday Farmers Market. Held every Friday from 6 a.m. until noon, two blocks south of Parque Central, this is the place to buy fresh flowers, produce, crafts, dairy products and meats in Atenas. It is packed with locals searching for the freshest products at the lowest prices and is a fun way to spend an hour or two. Lively interactions abound and townspeople greet one another cordially as they stock up on locally-grown produce. Take note that the selection dwindles as the morning wears on.
Keep an eye out for the colorfully painted replicas of ox carts, each handmade by 79 year old Ricardo Cortez Castro. Ricardo displays his products in a wheelbarrow next to the flower stand and also sells fruit, gourds and fresh beans.
Try a tamal (corn meal filled with meat or beans and steamed in a banana leaf) or a piece of chicharrone (deep fried pork skin with a bit of meat), both “tipico” Costa Rican snacks sold at the market. Learn more about Farmers Markets in Costa Rica
Tours:
ATV Tours of Atenas and Costa Rica
Moto Repuestos and Tours in Atenas offers ATV (All Terrain Vehicle) day trips throughout the mountains surrounding Atenas. Owner and guide Berny Barquero also offers trips ranging from 1 to 10 days to Jaco, Arenal, Puntarenas and even the Osa Peninsula via secondary dirt roads. Minimum age is 12, call for details. Note that ATV’s are only rented with a guide.
Tel: 506-2-446-5498
Coffee Tours
El Cafetal Inn, located in Santa Eulalia de Atenas, is nestled on its own coffee plantation and arranges coffee tours of nearby plantations.
Tel: 506-2-446-5785
Travel Art Tours
Based in Atenas and led by American artist Jan Yatsko, tours encompass Costa Rica’s art, nature and culture. Ten-day trips throughout the country provide instruction on creating a travel art journal based on personal experiences. Travel journals include native natural materials, paintings, drawings, sketches, collages and written observations.
Tel: 506-2-446-4039 in Atenas or 717-290-7461 in the States.
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Outdoor Activities:
Hiking
While on the small side, the Atenas municipal forest makes for a pleasant getaway for an easy hike or picnic. Located across from the main entrance to Alto del Monte, about five kilometers west of Atenas on the way to Jaco, the forest consists of 40 hectares of light trails and a panoramic view of the Central Valley.
Mountain Biking
Mountain bikers who find themselves in Atenas should take advantage of the dirt road leading out of town that eventually reaches all the way to Orotina. On the way, steep climbs and adrenaline-pumping descents will take cyclists through a number of small villages and past amazing views of green valleys and, eventually, the Pacific Ocean.
Swimming
Atenas has two public swimming pools known as balnearios, Los Ranchos and El Cerro. Cleaned weekly, both areas are relatively empty on the weekdays and packed with locals on the weekends. El Rancho is located near the center of town and offers a BBQ area and picnic tables set amid the shade of trees. Visitors are charged 1000 colones ($2) to use the pool for the day. No official hours.
Set a few blocks south of the Red Cross, Balnearios El Cerro is the busier of the two; locals pack its swimming pool, bar and restaurant on the weekends. There is a soccer field and horses are available for trail rides on Sundays.
Open: Tuesday through Sunday from 8 a.m. until sunset.
Admission: 800 colones ($1.55) adults, 200 colones (.40¢) children under seven.
Culture and Festivals:
Learn Spanish or Volunteer
Intensive Spanish classes are offered at reasonable prices at the community center known as Su Espacio (Your Space), located on Highway 3, across from the Coopeatenas gas station. Su Espacio also coordinates volunteer placements in the Atenas area free of charge. Opportunities include teaching English, ballet, art and other subjects. The center hosts and supports cultural events such as traditional dance festivals and music concerts.
Tel: 506-2-446-7735
Festivals & Events:
Atenas hosts several festivals and events throughout the year, such as the Feria del Clima (Climate Fair) festival held in April. Activities include indigenous Indian fire ceremonies, arts and craft displays, storytelling, music concerts, and horse parades.
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