View source for Nicoya

{{Short description|District in Nicoya canton, Guanacaste province, Costa Rica}}
{{Other uses}}
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name                   = Nicoya
| settlement_type         = [[Districts of Costa Rica|District]]
| nickname                        = 
| motto                           = 
| image_skyline                   = Nicoya.JPG
| imagesize                       = 200px
| image_caption                   = 
| image_flag                      = 
| image_seal                      = 
| image_shield                    = 
| image_map = {{maplink|frame=yes|plain=yes|frame-align=center|type=shape|title=Nicoya district}}
| mapsize                         = 
| map_caption                     = 
| pushpin_map                     = Costa Rica
| pushpin_label_position          = bottom
| pushpin_map_caption             = Location in Costa Rica
| pushpin_mapsize                 = 200
| subdivision_type                = [[Countries of the world|Country]]
| subdivision_name                = {{flag|Costa Rica}}
| subdivision_type1               = [[Provinces of Costa Rica|Province]]
| subdivision_name1               = [[Guanacaste Province]]
| subdivision_type2               = [[Cantons of Costa Rica|Canton]]
| subdivision_name2               = [[Nicoya Canton]]
| government_type                 = 
| leader_title                    = [[Mayor]]
| leader_name                     = Eduardo Gutiérrez Rosales
| leader_title1                   = <!-- for places with, say, both a mayor and a city manager -->
| leader_name1                    = 
| leader_title2                   = 
| leader_name2                    = 
| leader_title3                   = 
| leader_name3                    = 
| established_title               = Founded
| established_date                = 1523
| established_title2              = Joined Republic of Costa Rica
| established_date2               = 1824-1825
| established_title3              = 
| established_date3               = 
| coordinates                     = {{coord|10.1061593|-85.486153|display=inline,title}}
| elevation_max_footnotes         = <ref name="CR2021"/>
| elevation_max_m                 = 123
| elevation_max_ft                = 
| elevation_min_footnotes         = <ref name="CR2021"/>
| elevation_min_m                 = 3
| elevation_min_ft                = 
| blank_name                      = 
| blank_info                      = 
| website                         = 
| footnotes                       = 
| name                            = 
| area_total_km2          = 310.61
| elevation_m             = 123
| population_total        = 24833
| population_as_of        = 2011
| population_density_km2  = auto
| timezone1               = [[UTC−06:00]]
| postal_code_type        = Postal code
| postal_code             = 50201
}}
'''Nicoya''' is a [[Districts of Costa Rica|district]] and head city of the [[Nicoya (canton)|Nicoya]] canton, in the [[Guanacaste Province|Guanacaste]] province of [[Costa Rica]], located on the [[Nicoya Peninsula]].<ref name="divadm">{{cite web |language=es |title=Declara oficial para efectos administrativos, la aprobación de la División Territorial Administrativa de la República N°41548-MGP |url=http://www.pgrweb.go.cr/scij/Busqueda/Normativa/Normas/nrm_texto_completo.aspx?param1=NRTC&nValor1=1&nValor2=88416&nValor3=115607&param2=1&strTipM=TC&lResultado=1&strSim=simp |website=Sistema Costarricense de Información Jurídica |access-date=26 September 2020 |date=19 March 2019}}</ref><ref name="dta2017">{{cite book |language=es |title=División Territorial Administrativa de la República de Costa Rica|date=8 March 2017|publisher=Editorial Digital de la Imprenta Nacional|isbn=978-9977-58-477-5|url=https://www.imprentanacional.go.cr/editorialdigital/libros/historiaygeografia/division_17.pdf}}</ref> It is one of the country's most important [[tourism|tourist]] zones; it serves as a transport hub to Guanacaste's [[beach]]es and [[national park]]s.

== Geography ==
Nicoya has an area of {{formatnum:310.61}} km<sup>2</sup><ref name="inecarea">{{cite web |language=es |title=Área en kilómetros cuadrados, según provincia, cantón y distrito administrativo |url=https://www.inec.cr/anuario-estadistico/anuario-estadistico-geografia |website=Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos |access-date=26 September 2020}}</ref> and an elevation of {{formatnum:123}} metres.<ref name="divadm" />

==Locations==
* ''Barrios'': Los Ángeles, Barro Negro, Cananga, Carmen, Chorotega, Guadalupe, Granja, San Martín, Santa Lucía, Virginia
* ''Poblados'': Cabeceras, Caimital, Carreta, Casitas, Cerro Negro, Cerro Redondo, Cola de Gallo, Cuesta, Cuesta Buenos Aires, Curime, Chivo, Dulce Nombre, Esperanza Norte, Estrella, Gamalotal, Garcimuñóz, Guaitil, Guastomatal, Guineas, Hondores, Jobo, Juan Díaz, Lajas, Loma Caucela, Miramar (northwest), Nambí, Oriente, Los Planes, Pedernal, Picudas, Pilahonda, Pilas, Pilas Blancas, Piragua, Ponedero, Quirimán, Quirimancito, Sabana Grande, Santa Ana, Sitio Botija, Tierra Blanca, Tres Quebradas, Varillas (Zapotillo), Virginia, Zompopa

==Demographics==
{{CR Census population
|1864=
|1883=769
|1892=
|1927=4215
|1950=10693
|1963=20556
|1973=20915
|1984=21455
|2000=20945
|2011=24833
}}
For the [[Costa Rica 2011 Census|2011 census]], Nicoya had a population of {{formatnum:24833}} inhabitants.<ref name="censo2011">{{cite web |language=es |title=Censo. 2011. Población total por zona y sexo, según provincia, cantón y distrito |url=https://www.inec.cr/censos/censos-2011 |website=Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos |access-date=26 September 2020}}</ref>

In early 2006, a group of researchers led by adventure writer [[Dan Buettner]] and supported by ''[[National Geographic Magazine]]'', the [[National Institute on Aging]], and Allianz Healthcare, designated Nicoya as a [[Blue Zone]]. This designation is granted to global regions that are characterized by the longest life expectancies. Among the ideal Nicoyan lifestyle characteristics cited by the research were the water's high calcium and magnesium content, intense daily physical activity, year-long fruit consumption, and close inter-generational relationships.

==Economy==

As of 1850, Nicoya harvested [[pearl]]s for exportation.<ref name=Baily>{{cite book|last=Baily|first=John|title=Central America; Describing Each of the States of Guatemala, Honduras, Salvador, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica|year=1850|publisher=Trelawney Saunders|location=London|page=181 |url=http://www.wdl.org/en/item/7306/view/1/181/}}</ref>

== Transportation ==
=== Road transportation ===
The district is covered by the following road routes:
*[[File:CR RNP 21.svg|25px]] [[National Route 21 (Costa Rica)|National Route 21]]
*[[File:CR RNS 150.svg|25px]] [[National Route 150 (Costa Rica)|National Route 150]]
*[[File:CR RNS 157.svg|25px]] [[National Route 157 (Costa Rica)|National Route 157]]
*[[File:CR RNT 905.svg|25px]] [[National Route 905 (Costa Rica)|National Route 905]]
*[[File:CR RNT 921.svg|25px]] [[National Route 921 (Costa Rica)|National Route 921]]

Route 21 is the main road serving Nicoya, connecting the city with [[Liberia, Costa Rica|Liberia]] (76&nbsp;km, north-bound). On the opposite way, Route 21 also connects Nicoya to the rest of Nicoya Peninsula, including Pueblo Viejo (exit to Route 18, and then connecting to Route 1), on the main way to [[San José, Costa Rica|San José]] (204&nbsp;km vía Route 1).

=== Airports ===
Nicoya has also [[Nicoya Airport|an airport]] for domestic flights with no current scheduled services.

==Arts and culture==

The town was built in an old colonial style, in the Cordillera Volcánica de Guanacaste. [[Agriculture]] and cattle form the backbone of the city's economy, as well as the province which surrounds it.

==Governance==

While the town elected 61-year-old Lorenzo Rosales Vargas<ref name="CR2021">{{cite web |url=http://www.cr2021.org/html/nicoya.mht| publisher = Costa Rica 2021| title=Nicoya|access-date= 2010-02-14}}</ref> as mayor on December 3, 2006, he was only able to serve for about a year before quitting for health reasons. Since May 5, 2008 Eduardo Gutiérrez Rosales has been holding the office as Nicoya's first supply mayor. They are both members of the [[National Liberation Party (Costa Rica)|National Liberation Party (PLN)]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nacion.com/ln_ee/2008/mayo/06/pais1525935.html |title=Renunció alcalde de Municipalidad de Nicoya|publisher=La Nación|author=Oliver Pérez|date=May 6, 2008|access-date=2010-02-14}}</ref>

==Sports==
[[A.D. Guanacasteca]]<ref name=UNAFUT>[http://www.unafut.com/site/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3742:liberia-le-celebra-a-su-equipo&catid=9:noticias-historicas&Itemid=49 Liberia le celebra a su equipo] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150221013312/http://www.unafut.com/site/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3742:liberia-le-celebra-a-su-equipo&catid=9:noticias-historicas&Itemid=49 |date=2015-02-21 }} - UNAFUT {{in lang|es}}</ref> is the city's major [[Association football|football]] team, having spent several years in the [[Costa Rican Primera División]]. In 2004, they sold their license and were moved away from Nicoya to become [[Brujas F.C.|Brujas F.C''.'']], but were reformed a year later. They currently play their home games at Estadio Chorotega.

==Climate==
This area typically has a pronounced dry season. According to the [[Köppen Climate Classification]] system, Nicoya has a [[tropical savanna climate]], abbreviated "Aw" on climate maps.<ref>[http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather-summary.php3?s=591676&cityname=Nicoya%2C+Guanacaste%2C+Costa+Rica&units= Climate Summary for Nicoya, Costa Rica]</ref>

{{Weather box
| width       = auto
| metric first = yes
| single line = yes
| location    = Nicoya
| Jan high C = 33.0
| Feb high C = 34.2
| Mar high C = 35.5
| Apr high C = 35.9
| May high C = 33.9
| Jun high C = 32.3
| Jul high C = 32.4
| Aug high C = 32.9
| Sep high C = 32.3
| Oct high C = 31.7
| Nov high C = 31.8
| Dec high C = 32.2
| Jan low C = 20.1
| Feb low C = 20.8
| Mar low C = 21.5
| Apr low C = 21.8
| May low C = 21.7
| Jun low C = 21.3
| Jul low C = 21.4
| Aug low C = 21.0
| Sep low C = 21.2
| Oct low C = 21.1
| Nov low C = 20.5
| Dec low C = 19.9
| precipitation colour = green
| Jan precipitation mm = 4.2
| Feb precipitation mm = 7.7
| Mar precipitation mm = 22.4
| Apr precipitation mm = 62.1
| May precipitation mm = 264.2
| Jun precipitation mm = 310.4
| Jul precipitation mm = 247.0
| Aug precipitation mm = 305.9
| Sep precipitation mm = 389.2
| Oct precipitation mm = 391.4
| Nov precipitation mm = 122.3
| Dec precipitation mm = 21.4
| Jan precipitation days = 0.7
| Feb precipitation days = 0.6
| Mar precipitation days = 1.7
| Apr precipitation days = 4.8
| May precipitation days = 14.4
| Jun precipitation days = 18.1
| Jul precipitation days = 14.2
| Aug precipitation days = 17.1
| Sep precipitation days = 20.5
| Oct precipitation days = 20.8
| Nov precipitation days = 9.2
| Dec precipitation days = 2.1
| source 1 = [[World Meteorological Organization]] (temperatures 1961–1984, precipitation 1949–2003)<ref>{{cite web
|url = https://worldweather.wmo.int/en/city.html?cityId=1127
|title = World Weather Information Service
|publisher = World Meteorological Organization
|access-date = 18 August 2024}}</ref>
}}

== Education ==
* Liceo de Nicoya was founded in 1956. It's an academic high school, and it provides education to the whole canton of Nicoya.{{citation needed|date=August 2023}}

== See also ==

* [[Blue zone]]s
* [[Nicoya Peninsula]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
* {{cite journal |last1=Mora-Alvarado |first1=Darner A. |last2=Portuguez-Barquero |first2=Carlos F. |last3=Alfaro-Herrera |first3=Nuria |last4=Hernández-Miraulth |first4=Michael |last5=Mora-Alvarado |first5=Darner A. |last6=Portuguez-Barquero |first6=Carlos F. |last7=Alfaro-Herrera |first7=Nuria |last8=Hernández-Miraulth |first8=Michael |title=Diferencias de dureza del agua y las tasas de longevidad en la Península de Nicoya y los otros distritos de Guanacaste |trans-title=Differences water harness and longevity rates in the Peninsula of Nicoya of Guanacaste and the other districts |journal=Revista Tecnología en Marcha |date=September 2015 |volume=28 |issue=3 |pages=3–14 |doi=10.18845/tm.v28i3.2407 |url=https://www.scielo.sa.cr/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0379-39822015000300003 |language=es |doi-access=free }}

{{Districts of Guanacaste Province}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Populated places established in 1523]]
[[Category:Blue zones]]
[[Category:Populated places in Guanacaste Province]]
[[Category:1523 establishments in the Spanish Empire]]