The Origin of the Afro Caribbean Culture

The building of Costa Rica 's famous railway to the Atlantic coast contributed more to the country than just mere transportation. It helped establish the country's cultural and social identities, beginning centuries ago.

Manzanillo Center

When America was discovered and colonized, the region's new inhabitants built plantations and cities with slaves imported from the Caribbean and Africa. Entire families were made to work throughout the Americas, and Costa Rica was no exception. Slaves worked mainly as farm laborers, and in addition to the Caribbean coast, were brought to the Central Valley and northern region. Slavery was abolished in 1832.

In 1872, the construction of the railway between San José and the Atlantic coast began, with the purpose of linkig the port with interior provinces. To finish the work, the Costa Rican government contracted a North American company owned by Minor Keith, who became the founder of the country's first banana plantations. But Costa Rica had to few laborers to complete the task, so the company hired foreign workers from Honduras, Belize, Panamá, Italy, Curacao, China, Barbados, Trinidad, Jamaica (with about 1,500 workers arriving during a 15-year period), and elsewhere.

Caribbean Colorful Home

Construction took place for almost 20 years, during which workers called Costa Rica their home. They planted their own crops or worked in banana plantations. After the rail line was completed, many workers stayed to work in the banana plantations. They interspersed with the region's indigenous population in Talamanca, much the same as it is today.

Since the route to the Central Valley was covered with tropical forest and difficult to travel, most stayed on the Caribbean coast.