Attending a rodeo seemed like an opportunity to witness a bit of local culture in an otherwise culture-less visit to the Nicoya Peninsula of Costa Rica, so I agreed to split the $60 round-trip taxi fare from Santa Teresa to Cobano with five other people. The bull riding was routine, except for the fact that dozens of (mostly drunk) people were in the ring with the bucking Brahmas. Once the cowboys were thrown, the bulls turned their fury on the surrounding people. You’ve heard of slapping the bull on the ass? Well, the point of this rodeo seemed to be to slap the bull between the horns without getting gored or trampled. Some participants came fully equipped with bullfighter capes and fake swords; others donned super hero costumes, apparently convinced the outfits made them indestructible. A couple of young men succeeded in hitting the mark as they streaked in front of the bull at full speed, but two were trampled in the attempt and had to be carried out of the ring. Both appeared later in the evening, apparently unharmed, except for the noticeable limp exhibited by one of them.
Can’t view the above video about the crazy rodeo in Costa Rica where bulls chase people? Click here.
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Oh, the bulls are scary !!!
Ooh, the Costa Rica equivalent of Pamplona – I run a mile from this kind of stuff but my 19 year old son would have been in that ring like a shot!
Cheap entertainment for boredom!
Interesting write up, not sure if I could have gone…events like this always struck me as inhumane.
Crazy… I just can’t understand why people do this… especially while drunk (actually, maybe it’s the drinking that is the only reason they did it in the first place?)
Maybe I’m just too boring… lol
While the chance of getting gored is probably fairly low, after having seen some videos of it online, I wouldn’t take the chance! Ouch!
Got to admit not my idea for fun. However, different strokes for different folks I guess. I am fine just admiring the bull from afar without the desire to smack it.
Ive always wanted to do the bull run in Spain! Im adding this one to my list of adrenaline-pumping activities!
It must be very exciting to watch a Costa Rican Rodeo. However, it seems so scary though!
That sounds amazing! At least they aren’t killing the bull like they do in many places and it has a fighting chance. I wouldn’t get in the ring but a drunk superhero getting hit by a bull sounds like a pretty funny sight.
I love Costa Rica, especially Corcovado National park which is just one of the great sample of those natural parks in the country.
I have been there for 7 days last year, and i will go there for longer next year.