When Uriel Alfaro Castro was 13 years old, he followed his seven older siblings to start his first day of work at the family oxcart factory. His father, Eloy Alfaro, who founded the factory in 1923 in Sarchí, Costa Rica, asked his son which craft he wanted to learn to help construct the carts. Out of woodworking, blacksmithing, and mechanics, the young Castro chose mechanics—and 70 years later, he is still diligently constructing oxcarts in the tiny town of Sarchí, masterfully crafting each part by hand with the help of his associates.

Oxcarts have been commonly used throughout Central America, but those sporting bright colors and intricate patterns are unique to Costa Rica. They were essential to Costa Rica’s growth, enabling the transport of coffee from the rugged mountains to the coasts for export. When the Spanish used European-style carts starting in the 1840s, their open spoke wheels regularly broke or became trapped in the mud. Costa Ricans improved the cart design using a solid construction based on Aztec wheels. In the early 20th century, painting the carts bright colors with intertwining patterns became commonplace, as did adding bells and whistles, so each cart played a signature song whenever it moved. Some artists still add a musical feature to this day.

A traditionally painted oxcart from Fabrica de Carretas Eloy Alfaro sits on display in a government building in Liberia, Costa Rica. Castro’s company typically makes about three oxcarts per month, where it takes roughly 100 hours to construct each cart and 120 hours to paint them.
A traditionally painted oxcart from Fabrica de Carretas Eloy Alfaro sits on display in a government building in Liberia, Costa Rica. Castro’s company typically makes about three oxcarts per month, where it takes roughly 100 hours to construct each cart and 120 hours to paint them.

Sarchí was once the hub of oxcart creation, but now, Castro’s Fabrica de Carretas Eloy Alfaro is the last factory in the country still manufacturing oxcarts for distribution.

The year 2023 marked a century of business, and Castro and a handful of talented craftspeople are still dedicated to keeping this proud Costa Rican tradition alive. But they are not sure who will keep their legacies going—Castro is the last of his family working in the factory, and his children followed other paths in life. Castro says very few young people are interested in making oxcarts in their entirety these days, but because of their cultural significance (painted oxcarts come out in force every March for Dia de los Boyeros, or Oxcart Drivers Day), he hopes some will take up the tradition before it disappears.

Here’s a close-up view of the last oxcart factory in Costa Rica.

Castro manipulates lengths of steel that will become metal tires for oxcart wheels. Even after seven decades, he says his favorite part about making carts is still the mechanical process, which he chose as his craft when he first started working in the family factory.
Castro manipulates lengths of steel that will become metal tires for oxcart wheels. Even after seven decades, he says his favorite part about making carts is still the mechanical process, which he chose as his craft when he first started working in the family factory.

Kevin Madrigal, 25, is the youngest artisan employed at the factory and has been painting oxcarts since he was 12. He is one of the few young people in the area interested in carrying on the oxcart tradition; he learned the craft from his uncle, who was also a painter at the factory (left). Old oxcart panels and a wheel sit inside the factory’s work area. Castro says one of the most difficult parts of making each cart is getting the wheels just right. Divided into 16 wedges, each section needs to be precisely cut and placed so the wheels are balanced and even (right).
Kevin Madrigal, 25, is the youngest artisan employed at the factory and has been painting oxcarts since he was 12. He is one of the few young people in the area interested in carrying on the oxcart tradition; he learned the craft from his uncle, who was also a painter at the factory (left). Old oxcart panels and a wheel sit inside the factory’s work area. Castro says one of the most difficult parts of making each cart is getting the wheels just right. Divided into 16 wedges, each section needs to be precisely cut and placed so the wheels are balanced and even (right).

Fabrica de Carretas Eloy Alfaro remains very similar to how Castro remembers it from his childhood. Factory Manager Ronald Jimenez, who has also worked as a cart decorator, will happily guide curious visitors through the factory, explaining its history and significance.
Fabrica de Carretas Eloy Alfaro remains very similar to how Castro remembers it from his childhood. Factory Manager Ronald Jimenez, who has also worked as a cart decorator, will happily guide curious visitors through the factory, explaining its history and significance.

The carts from Fabrica de Carretas Eloy Alfaro are each handmade using traditional techniques. The table saw that has been used for decades is powered by a water wheel on the side of the property (left). Tools and oxcart parts line the outer walls of the factory. The factory artists not only practice their craft on carts, but also on souvenirs sold in the attached shop and the pieces that decorate the factory (right).
The carts from Fabrica de Carretas Eloy Alfaro are each handmade using traditional techniques. The table saw that has been used for decades is powered by a water wheel on the side of the property (left). Tools and oxcart parts line the outer walls of the factory. The factory artists not only practice their craft on carts, but also on souvenirs sold in the attached shop and the pieces that decorate the factory (right).

An original wheel from the world’s largest oxcart leans against a wall in the factory’s courtyard. Castro and his team built the cart in 2006 and kept one of the wheels when it needed to be replaced over a decade later. The updated oxcart is on display in Sarchi’s main park.
An original wheel from the world’s largest oxcart leans against a wall in the factory’s courtyard. Castro and his team built the cart in 2006 and kept one of the wheels when it needed to be replaced over a decade later. The updated oxcart is on display in Sarchi’s main park.

A small oxcart sits on display in the factory’s courtyard. UNESCO inscribed Costa Rican oxcarts onto its list of intangible cultural heritage in 2005, and they are the country’s official symbol of labor.
A small oxcart sits on display in the factory’s courtyard. UNESCO inscribed Costa Rican oxcarts onto its list of intangible cultural heritage in 2005, and they are the country’s official symbol of labor.