Artful Mementos - Punta Islita

Shopping is one of the signature pleasures of the consummate traveler... Finding a one-of-a-kind piece that reflects a unique experience is a fun little challenge, and a great way to build lasting memories of the places we cherish. A figurine, placemat, hat, or t-shirt can certainly bring satisfaction, but there is no greater pleasure than finding an item that doesn’t bear the label of mass production. Local art is, undoubtedly, the most rewarding of mementos and a fantastic way to ensure, not only the economic benefit of the host communities, but their empowerment and self-confidence.

That is precisely the case in Islita, a small rural village adjacent to Hotel Punta Islita, an upscale boutique resort located in a remote cove of Costa Rica’s Guanacaste Peninsula. As part of a synergistic responsible tourism model, the village’s simple infrastructure and open spaces were transformed into a unique collective art display that has redefined the area’s core identity. The Islita Open-Air Art Museum has become the community’s signature institution and a vehicle for self-validation and renewed optimism. The Museum culminated “Islita Encounter”, an initiative that paired established urban Costa Rican artists with local townspeople to create colorful outdoor murals and sculptures in a living display of aesthetics and traditions. Sponsored by Hotel Punta Islita and its Villafranca & Zϋrcher Foundation, the Museum has since fostered the emergence of more than five thriving community art groups, helping to revitalize an economically depressed region that used to rely solely on subsistence agriculture.

Realizing that visitors are not only interested in the spectacular natural beauty of their birthplace, but also in its culture and people, has prompted a transformative sense of empowerment. Local artist and homemaker Juana López recalls: “Prior to my involvement in the art groups, I barely left the house. I hadn’t even visited the nearby beaches in over ten years… I found no reason to.” Today, Juana finds expressive language (and a supplementary income source) in collages and sculptures, incorporating the polished glass, seashells, and twigs that line the coast. Her renewed sense of optimism is collectively mirrored in a series of successful "regional firsts" undertaken by local community leaders including a small public library and an ambitious recycling program.

Thousands of Hotel Punta Islita’s guests visit the Museum, its workshops, and gallery in growing awareness that acquiring local art is far more meaningful than jaded t-shirts. A deep bond with local people is established and brought back to share with friends and family. We can only imagine the engaging conversations as they relay their exciting, rewarding, and unique travel experience, reflected in a signature piece that was created with heart and in hope.