Texas of Costa Rica (Guanacaste province nickname)

Guanacaste province in northwest Costa Rica is known for its cattle ranches and its cowboys. Guanacaste has been called the “cattle province” and “Texas of Costa Rica” since at least the 1960s.
 
 
Wikipedia: Guanacaste Province
Guanacaste is a province of Costa Rica.
   
Geography
Guanacaste is located in the northwestern part of the country, along the coast of the Pacific Ocean. To the north it borders Nicaragua. To the east is the Alajuela Province, and to the southeast is the Puntarenas Province. Guanacaste’s capital is Liberia. The province covers an area of 10,141 km², and, as of 2000, had a population of 264,238. It is the most sparsely populated of all the provinces of Costa Rica.
   
Republic of Costa Rica
Guanacaste (province)
The Guanacaste province because of its smallest number of annual rainfalls in country is defined as a “piece of Africa in Costa Rica”. 
The Guanacaste province because of its dry climate, sandy landscapes and cowboys is called “Costa Rica`s Wild West” or “Texas of Costa Rica”. 
This province is also defined as a “terrain of cows”. It`s because 3/4 of Costa Rica`s cows is raised there. 
   
Costa Rica Provinces
Guanacaste
The province that in 1824 on the strength of referendum, was annexed from Nicaragua to Costa Rica. Its name means “the place with eared trees”. In the years 1858 - 1860 was named Moracia. Its the driest province of Costa Rica.
 
For the half of the year, November through April, it receive almost no rain, and thats why its calle “the piece of Africa in Costa Rica”, “Texas of Costa Rica” and “Costa Ricas Wild West”.
 
Its converted into cattle ranches (Three quarters of Costa Rica’s cattle are found in Guanacaste) and thats why its called “the cattle province”. Its also destinguished by rich folclor. Its covered by dry forests. 
   
Guanacaste Holiday
Called the “Texas” of Costa Rica, Guanacaste province is best known for its cattle ranches, beautiful beaches and volcanic mountain range. Visit a wildlife sanctuary on the first day and one of the country’s major historical sites on the next.
     
Costa Rica Tourism
Those who prefer contests between man and beast can visit the province of Guanacaste, commonly known as the"Texas of Costa Rica.” There ticos take part in an activity that is a cross between bullfighting and a Texas rodeo. Thesport dates back to the days of the first Spanish settlers. Back then sabañeros, or cowboys, proved how tough theywere by riding on the backs of bulls. The longer they could hang on, the tougher they were. These days the tradition continues. A sabañero slides onto the bare back of a 1,500 pound bull. The rider tries to hang on as the angry beast bucks and kicks. When the rider falls off, other sabañeros in the ring try to dodge the bull. Do not try this at home!
   
October -December 1967, American Fern Journal, “An Advanced Course in Pteridophyte Biology in Costa Rica” by John T. Mickel, pp. 145-161:
On our next trip we drove from San Jose northwest into the province of Guanacaste, the Texas of Costa Rica.
 
Google Books
Costa Rica
by Tracey West
Minneapolis, MN: Carolrhoda Books
1999
Pg. 26:
Ranchers raise cattle in northwestern Costa Rica, often called the “Texas of Costa Rica.”
 
Google Books
The Levy Story:
Descendants of David Levy, revolutionary soldier of Frederick, Maryland
by Kathryn Levy Bush
Panama City, FL: K.L. Bush and L.M. Bush
2002
Pg. 214:
Michael, Kim and her friend Edward went during the dry season and toured mostly Guanacaste Province, the Texas of Costa Rica.
   
2005 Jan Costa Rica Photo Gallery
crossing over the mountain with beautiful scenary, mostly is a little dry due to this is the dry season or the locals say ‘summer’. after leaving Tamarindo we passed through a flat farming area with lots of cattle, it is called “the Texas of Costa Rica” 
 
Gold & Silver Forum
Green Mountain Boy
01-02-2007, 08:22 PM
(...)
One thing that I could not stand at all was the humidity – everything’s damp all the time. It eats away at the houses and wood and rusts metal incredibly quickly. If I were to live in C.R., I would prefer to have land in the Guanacaste region where it is much drier or along the lake where there is a breeze. I thought the Guanacaste area was very beautiful – some people call it the Texas of Costa Rica because of all the cattle ranches there. Many Europeans live along Lake Arenal – Germans, Swiss, French. I would love to have a little ranch along the hill slopes bordering the lake.