Rock Garden at Piedra Colorada
Montezuma, Costa Rica
Balanced rock sculptures honour a slain conservationist and his pioneer wife.
A man named Jake made a daily visit to the Piedra Colorada area of the Southern Nicoya Peninsula years ago to make balanced rock monuments along the shore. Every day, he would reconstruct the sculptures washed away by the tide and create new statues to add to the existing collection.
When he moved away, travellers carried on the habit of leaving delicate and often baffling balancing rock monuments known as cairns on the shore. The peace of the cairns surrounds Nicolas Wessberg's ultimate resting place. Wessberg and his wife, Karen Mogensen, persuaded the Costa Rican authorities to establish the country's first protected wildlife reserve. They founded the neighbouring Cabo Blanco preserve in the early 1970s, and the two routes that run through it are now known as the Swede's Path and Dane's Trail, after their respective home nations.
Many environmentalists worldwide followed their lead, purchasing acres of Costa Rican land to ensure no development would disrupt the country's delicate ecosystem. It is now home to two UNESCO World Heritage Sites. On the other hand, conservation was not a popular concept just a few decades ago. Mogensen discovered her husband's bones in Corcovado in 1975, where he was concentrating his last protective efforts. While never confirmed, it is widely assumed that he was slain by people who desired to exploit that land. A plaque honouring the duo's work, tenacity, and vision now rests among the cairns as a fitting monument.
Visitors can now walk past the turtle conservation along the beach to contribute to the sculpture garden. It's a 20-minute stroll north of the town centre along the Nicoya Gulf. Take a walk along the beach or the slightly covered nature trail. If you're standing in the water facing the cairns, you'll notice a stream to your left behind them. Because it's shallow, it's a perfect location for youngsters to play, or you may travel further down to witness a lovely tiny waterfall. No place is nearby to buy water or food, so come prepared.
