Photo Gallery

The lrazú volcano near San José, the capital of Costa Rica, is 3432 metres high. It has several crater openings, one of which forms a lake that shines in amazing colours. Numerous fissures have opened up at the summit, from which clouds of gas constantly escape, attracting many tourists. A road leads visitors near the summit. - 1977

In the harbour of Puerto Limón in Costa Rica. Columbus landed in this bay on his 4th voyage to America. - 1977

The coffee harvest takes place at different times of the year in most of the Central American republics. Coffee trees are one of the main natural resources of the countries of the subcontinent. Drying of the beans takes place immediately after the harvest of the precious commodity. This operation is carried out in an ingenio (factory) established on the slopes of the mountain, in all regions where coffee trees are particularly well represented. - 1977

Breeding of cows imported from Brazil (Brahman hybriden) in the hacienda La Pacífica, Guanacaste province, Costa Rica. Large domesticated animals first appeared in Central America at the time of the conquest, in the 16th century. Generally speaking, it can be said that these animals acclimatised well to geographical and climatic conditions that were very different from those they had experienced in Europe. It is true that on the high plateaus of the mountainous region livestock farming is fraught with difficulties, already because of the altitude of the terrain and the poor quality of the pastures. The cows, which are expensive, are usually owned by half-breeds or whites. The Indians' cows were thin and stunted, and the little milk they produced was very poor. Considered a luxury food, it is sold. The crossbreeding of cows and zebus, experimented with in recent times, has given excellent results, especially for animals raised in the lower areas of the continent. - 1977

Packing banana bunches in Palmas Sur, Costa Rica. Banana plantations are spread along the Atlantic coastline where the climate is tropical and humidity high. These plantations, mainly operated by North American companies, cover tens of thousands of square kilometres. The bunches are sent to the United States and various European countries. Domestic consumption represents only a small percentage of production. In recent years, bananas have become less important due to the instability of prices on the markets. - 1977

Packing banana bunches in Palmas Sur, Costa Rica. Banana plantations are spread along the Atlantic coastline where the climate is tropical and humidity high. These plantations, mainly operated by North American companies, cover tens of thousands of square kilometres. The bunches are sent to the United States and various European countries. Domestic consumption represents only a small percentage of production. In recent years, bananas have become less important due to the instability of prices on the markets. - 1977

A tempting display in Alajuela, Costa Rica. It shows bananas and small juicy fruits called pejiballes. This picture gives us a fairly accurate idea of the wealth and diversity of tropical fruits in the Central American republics. The consumption of these products of the earth, on the internal markets, is notable. It is an indispensable complement to a mainly vegetarian diet. This fact is the result of a long tradition. But it is also explained by the high cost of meat for the country's poorest populations. Nevertheless, the production of tropical fruits by the large landowners is primarily geared towards export. The production of bananas - to give just one example - has allowed North American companies to develop and even acquire considerable economic and political importance, becoming a veritable state within the state and keeping a close eye on everything that happens in the republic. - 1977

A tempting display in Alajuela, Costa Rica. It shows bananas and small juicy fruits called pejiballes. This picture gives us a fairly accurate idea of the wealth and diversity of tropical fruits in the Central American republics. The consumption of these products of the earth, on the internal markets, is notable. It is an indispensable complement to a mainly vegetarian diet. This fact is the result of a long tradition. But it is also explained by the high cost of meat for the country's poorest populations. Nevertheless, the production of tropical fruits by the large landowners is primarily geared towards export. The production of bananas - to give just one example - has allowed North American companies to develop and even acquire considerable economic and political importance, becoming a veritable state within the state and keeping a close eye on everything that happens in the republic. - 1977

The coffee harvest takes place at different times of the year in most of the Central American republics. Coffee trees are one of the main natural resources of the countries of the subcontinent. Drying of the beans takes place immediately after the harvest of the precious commodity. This operation is carried out in an ingenio (factory) established on the slopes of the mountain, in all regions where coffee trees are particularly well represented. - 1977

The coffee harvest takes place at different times of the year in most of the Central American republics. Coffee trees are one of the main natural resources of the countries of the subcontinent. Drying of the beans takes place immediately after the harvest of the precious commodity. This operation is carried out in an ingenio (factory) established on the slopes of the mountain, in all regions where coffee trees are particularly well represented. - 1977

Painting on floats in Sarchi, Costa Rica. This handicraft event, unique to the small Central American republic, is unfortunately slowly disappearing. Indeed, the life of the peasants is currently undergoing a spectacular evolution. The construction and constant improvement of a road network and the mechanisation of agriculture, which in some regions is already well advanced, are all factors likely to bring about radical and definitive changes in the customs and habits of the peasant population. - 1977

Painting on floats in Sarchi, Costa Rica. This handicraft event, unique to the small Central American republic, is unfortunately slowly disappearing. Indeed, the life of the peasants is currently undergoing a spectacular evolution. The construction and constant improvement of a road network and the mechanisation of agriculture, which in some regions is already well advanced, are all factors likely to bring about radical and definitive changes in the customs and habits of the peasant population. - 1977

Painting on floats in Sarchi, Costa Rica. This handicraft event, unique to the small Central American republic, is unfortunately slowly disappearing. Indeed, the life of the peasants is currently undergoing a spectacular evolution. The construction and constant improvement of a road network and the mechanisation of agriculture, which in some regions is already well advanced, are all factors likely to bring about radical and definitive changes in the customs and habits of the peasant population. - 1977

The symbol of the city of Heredia in Costa Rica is the Fortín, a thirteen-metre high construction dating from 1876 and designed by Fadrique Gutiérrez, a local sculptor, draftsman and photographer who also served as the city's Comandante de Plaza. By decree of 2 November 1974, the Fortín was declared a National Monument. - 1977

A scrap ship at Puerto Limón, the main port of Costa Rica on the Caribbean coast. - 1977