Fabrica de Carretas Eloy Alfaro
Fabrica de Carretas Eloy Alfaro
Fabrica de Carretas Eloy Alfaro
4.5
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Visítenos en la Fábrica de Carretas Eloy Alfaro y descubra cómo hemos preservado nuestras tradiciones durante más de un siglo. Viaje al pasado y admire el arte de las carretas típicas, elaboradas con la misma maestría de hace cien años.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
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4.5
201 reviews
Excellent
109
Very good
71
Average
15
Poor
2
Terrible
4
Ellen W
38 contributions
Aug 2021
A stop in Sarchi is an easy detour on the route from San Jose to either Monteverde or La Fortuna. After seeing so many pictures of the oxcarts in all the CR travel books, I had to stop and see them for myself. So glad we did. There are a couple of places in Sarchi you can go for oxcarts but what I like most about Fabrica de Carretas Eloy Alfaro is that they make them the old fashioned way, they use a waterwheel to power all the woodworking equipment, no electricity involved. Our visit started with a very informative tour about how the oxcarts are made, then we got to see the artists painting them, and then into the gift shop which had an amazing variety of hand crafted wooden items beyond the oxcarts. But the oxcarts are truly the start of the show, they are beautiful, the colors amazing. Reasonable prices, especially considering the workmanship involved. Highly recommend a stop.
Written September 12, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Fun4all!
27 contributions
Jan 2022
We went on a Sunday so worker were not in the mill but it was still worth the visit to see the set up. One lady was painting and showed us a hummingbird nest in the tree with two birds in it. They have a huge store to shop in, clean bathrooms, parking.
Written February 2, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
John W
Atenas, Costa Rica3 contributions
Apr 2022
To any of you that ever worked in machine shops or commercial woodworking shops (or if you just like to see industrial history) get over to this Oxcart Factory in Sarchi.
This place is still manufacturing oxcarts, complete with segmented wood wheels and forged steel rims. But the most astounding thing is their shops are still operating with overhead jackshaft power, running from the energy of an overshot water wheel. This may be the only privately owned water-powered machine shop left on the planet. Wow!
This place is still manufacturing oxcarts, complete with segmented wood wheels and forged steel rims. But the most astounding thing is their shops are still operating with overhead jackshaft power, running from the energy of an overshot water wheel. This may be the only privately owned water-powered machine shop left on the planet. Wow!
Written April 26, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
KnitsbyConnie
MA500 contributions
Dec 2023 • Family
This was a planned stop on our Caravan Costa Rica 8 day tour.
We had a narrative tour of the factory by guide who showed us the workings of the oxcart factory from days long ago. We also watched several crafts people painting items (ornaments, trays, etc.) with the intricate designs that were on sale in the gift shop.
Great place for most any kind of souvenirs at the best price. I was amazed at how large the store was with all the merchandise. They had a lot of variety to choose from.
We had a narrative tour of the factory by guide who showed us the workings of the oxcart factory from days long ago. We also watched several crafts people painting items (ornaments, trays, etc.) with the intricate designs that were on sale in the gift shop.
Great place for most any kind of souvenirs at the best price. I was amazed at how large the store was with all the merchandise. They had a lot of variety to choose from.
Written December 31, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
janalyn686
Stow, OH91 contributions
Aug 2024 • Couples
We loved visiting the Sarchi Oxcart Factory. It was beautiful. The store is huge and has everything you can think of. Behind the store you can watch the artisans at work and let me tell you, they are very talented. You can freely walk around inside the factory both upstairs and downstairs. It was very interesting. The smell of the wood is prominent and if you like that smell, its great. The quality of the craftmanship is the best I've ever seen. If you are in this area or nearby I'd definitely recommend a visit to this place.
Written September 1, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Trek-Always
Alpharetta, GA2,524 contributions
Jan 2014 • Couples
I am a woodworker so this site was interesting to me. Large, complete, wood shop on premises powered by water. Artisans then paint intricate designs on many of the pieces. Large gift shop. Lunch is available on the second floor.
One caution: we got there on a day when the cruise ships were in town and there were five full bus loads of people inside. They are large enough to handle this but the extent of the crowd was a minor annoyance.
Worth 1-2 hours to check it out. No charge for factory or gift shop. Full lunch with a drink was $8 per person.
If this review is helpful then please indicate so below.
One caution: we got there on a day when the cruise ships were in town and there were five full bus loads of people inside. They are large enough to handle this but the extent of the crowd was a minor annoyance.
Worth 1-2 hours to check it out. No charge for factory or gift shop. Full lunch with a drink was $8 per person.
If this review is helpful then please indicate so below.
Written January 18, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
sjond
Laguna Hills, CA17 contributions
Mar 2018 • Friends
This was a relatively short stop in Sarchi on a tour day but a real highlight in our day! The place is really nice. We had a short tour of the history of the ox-cart in Costa Rica and saw a active working Ox-cart building and painting, saw a couple artists (amazing work) and had a great time in the fabulous gift shop! Definitely worth the stop. A must visit.
Written April 6, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Gilberto V
Santa Ana, Costa Rica199 contributions
Aug 2018 • Family
If you like handcrafts, woodworking or even an engenier this is a good stop. It’s mostly a store but you can visit the wood shop which is run by water power since 1920 and still woorks today. A good place to buy suveniers.
Written August 22, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
BRDchelseafans
St. George, UT250 contributions
Jan 2018 • Couples
The oxcart tour was one of my favorite stops on our tour. The oxcarts are still made by hand with the use of water power, then beautifully hand painted to the buyers specs.The building is decorated by the artists with murals and gorgeous designs, worth seeing even if you don't look at the oxcart process. This place also has the best gift shop we saw anywhere in the country with lots of souvenirs made in Costa Rica. The prices were the best of anywhere we went.
Written January 24, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Wanderlust1954
La Jolla, CA339 contributions
Oct 2019 • Couples
Two things stand out about this old factory. First the art of hand painting the oxcarts is still done and the artists do a great job. Yes the style is simple, but the results are beautiful. Second the factory is powered by water. A water wheel turns a set of pulleys which drive the drill presses, saws and grinders. It’s amazing to see this Rube Goldberg contraption in operation. It was constructed 100 years ago and is still in use today.
Definitely worth the time.
Definitely worth the time.
Written October 20, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Buenos días.. quisiera saber si dan talleres para un grupo de 5 estudiantes,si nos pueden atender un viernes?
Written May 24, 2019
ni idea.... yo fui de turismo.... te aconsejo buscar direccion electronica y comunicarte con ellos directamente.... suerte
Written May 27, 2019
My wife and I purchased your nesting tables from your gift shop on December 22, 2018. We paid with a credit card and arranged for delivery to Michigan. We were told two to three weeks for delivery. It has been 5 weeks and no tables yet. We sent an email last week with no reply yet. We are asking for assistance to look into this matter. Please provide a way to contact you directly.
Written January 27, 2019
I would go on line and get their phone number and call them directly.
Good luck
Written January 27, 2019
Do you folks have a catalog or can we shop on line? In your factory the first of the month. It was great!
Written February 19, 2016
The tour is free but many of us tipped the tour guide.
Written December 9, 2015
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