La Gamba

La Gamba is a small village located 15 km away from Golfito, which is part of the Puntarenas state of Costa Rica. The small village’s inhabitants are living simply and prosperously off agriculture and jobs offered in cities such as Golfito and Rio Claro.

This village was developed in conjunction with different projects that were started and ended during the last 50 years in La Gamba; including the arrival of the United Fruit Company in the 1950s, the implementation of the Austrian Esquinas Rainforest Lodge. Developmental projects were also started in collaboration with organizations from La Gamba, the Costa Rican government and the Austrians.

Geography and climate

The village is located in the Puntarenas Province on the south-west side of the country, a few kilometers away from Panama and is reachable by the Pan-American. From the Villa Briceño (km 37) 3 km separate the Pan-American from the center of the village that is easily reachable. Rio Claro and Golfito are the closest cities and are the centers of services such as banks, supermarkets and drugstores. There is also one of the richest park in fauna and flora, which is named Piedras Blancas. However, the park is little known and serves mainly for biological research.

The weather is tropical; the temperature varies between 21 °C and 39 °C and the region receives roughly 6000 mm of rain in a year. There are two seasons: the winter (May–December) and the summer (January–April). The summer is the dry season while the winter, which stretches on a longer period, is the rainy season, and the greener period of the year and there is plenty of drinking water. This season is characterized by strong thunderstorms, floods and unstable weather.

Population

In the village, there are roughly 700 inhabitants separated into 150 families. Half of these families live around the center of La Gamba, while the other half are spread out along the roads leading to the center of the village, in Rio Bonito and La Bolsa, which are located at about 30 minutes walking distance from the center.

What is remarkable is the unity that reigns in much of the village, due to close family links and friendships. This atmosphere permits close collaboration between the inhabitants in most cases. There is a microcredit organization located in the city, which help support two groups of women that produce handcrafted natural shampoos and local artisans.

Food

For breakfast gallo pinto is commonly served, which is a mix of rice, coriander, chicken broth, onions and black beans. This recipe is frequently served with cheese, eggs, sausages or bread. Some alternatives are pancakes, tortillas and empanadas.

Main courses are always with rice and beans, and frequently accompanied with plantain, yucca (root vegetable), corn, palm products, soups, and chicken, beef or pork.

Religion

There are two dominant religions in the village: Catholicism and Evangelism. The Catholic service is offered on Sunday morning, while the evangelic church is more active giving services 5 times a week. In the latter, people sing, dance, pray and an explanation of the Bible is presented to its fervent disciples. Certain families have decided to change from the Catholic to the Evangelic church given frequent services and its comprehensive program. There are also a few Jehovah’s witnesses, but they are scarce, having their reunion held at the km 37. Many inhabitants aged between 15-50 don’t practice, even if the majority believes in God.

Agriculture

Given a decline in the wood and banana industries in the region since the 1970s, most of the workers that chose to stay in the village converted themselves into farmers. The climate of the area is perfect for rice, corn, cacao and palm agriculture. Most farmers also own cows, pigs, horses or chickens.

In the last few years, the cultivation of palm previously taken from Africa has expanded exponentially, providing an important source of revenue for some families and employment for others.

Work

Nowadays, many inhabitants work in the biological station and the Esquinas Rainforest Lodge. Others find employment in the construction of small bridges along the villages main road, and in neighboring cities such as Rio Claro. There also is the “deposito libre”, which is an important source of employments.

What to do

In downtown La Gamba, there is a soda (small restaurant), a convenience store and the only public phone in the village. This point also serves as the main point of reunion for those who wish to share time with others. The youth also meet into the small park built by a group of Canadians in 2006. Arcades are also an option in the convenience store. There is also a bar a little further from the center towards the Pan-American, and there is also a community center at the km 37 where they host karaoke nights, dances, arcades and a bar. The practice of evangelical events remains one of the main activities of the village’s nightlife.

Life conditions

Life in La Gamba is hard economically; the men work most of the time in farms, palm plantations or construction. Nevertheless, the people always appear friendly, healthy and live in harmony with their families dispersed across the village.

Given the machismo culture of Costa Rica, most women work hard in their house to accomplish their daily routine, but more and more women have to take care of their children or grandchildren as they work outside the house or study away. Some of them find employments in the Austrian hotel and biological station.

Sports

The main and most traditional sport of Costa Rica is football (soccer). In the village, there is a sport committee which organizes games and takes care of the material. Near the center of the village and the community center, the youth play on the big football field. This field is used by people of all ages. During the summer, the kids are more active on the football field and the team practices often.

Others also like to play volleyball and can practice it in Rio Claro, but football remains the main sport played in the village. Another traditional sport is carrera de cintura, in which people climb horses at full speed. Prizes are handed out to the most courageous and the best. There are also “fiestas taurinas” in which men ride bulls, watch bull fights and a fair.

Attractions

• El Río Bonito: This small quiet river situated along the road between La Gamba and Rio Bonito is perfect for the inhabitants who wish to cool down. Since the water comes from the mountains, it represents the principal source of drinking water. The level of the river depends of the weather. During the summer, the water level can be particularly low. For tourists it is preferable to swim with locals since they are familiar with the river and are aware of the quick changes in tides depending on the location. Also the river is known to have caimans.
• The Catarata « El Chorro »: The entrance of the waterfall is accessible from the main road towards the km 37 and is the perfect place to calm down and enjoy the nature and fresh water coming from the mountains. Tourists pay 1000 colons ($2 US), but this is definitively worthwhile. This is almost heaven.
• Piedras Blancas National Park: The park is home to one of the richest fauna and flora of Costa Rica. Despite low frequentation, the visit is worthwhile and even more attractive given its authenticity. This park is known for its enormous trees known as “Ceiba” and its biodiversity. A three-hour tour can be available and it can also be visited without.
• Austrian field station: The station was born in 1993 from a partnership between the Austrian NGO “Rainforest of the Austrians” and the University of Vienna in order to study and protect the biodiversity of the Esquinas forest.
• El Mirador (belvédère): The access is limited since the road crosses a private property; however with the right contacts in the village and preparation it is possible to climb it and be surprised by a splendid view of the Golfito region.
• Horse riding: A family in the village owns a few horses and offers tours as horses are part of the village's landscape.

The Asociación Pro-Bienestar (ASOPROBI)

This organization was created in July 1996 to replace the previous organization COOPEGAMBA in order to find alternatives to the development of the village. ASOPROBI works in harmony with its natural environment, which is in fact its major wealth. The final goal of the organization is the creation of employment in the village and the promotion of sustainable and local tourism. The village has a lot to offer and ASOPROBI wishes to promote it. All the participants are volunteers and change every few years, except for Jose Angel Montiel Franco, who works permanently organizing multiple activities and administrating the budget. The direction is formed of the president, vice-president, secretary, and the fiscal administrator.

Between 2004 and 2009, Plan Nagua, a Canadian organism, and ASOPROBI have collaborated in order to send groups of interns that have contributed to the development of the community through different projects.

Region (Golfito et Rio Claro)

Rio Claro is situated at about 20 minutes of bus from km 37. The inhabitants from La Gamba needs to go at least once a week to buy what is missing in the village. There are two banks, internet coffees, supermarkets, a clinic and drugstores that are essentials. For those who wish to get more services, there is Golfito that is about 45 min away from the km 37. The nearest hospital is also located in Golfito and there is a ferry that crosses a few times a day to Puerto Jimenez.

References

• (in Spanish, English, and German) Esquinas Rainforest Lodge
• (in Spanish, English, and German) Station biologique La Gamba