Costa Rica celebrated the 187th anniversary of the annexation of Guanacaste on Monday.
President Laura Chinchilla recognized the holiday in the northwest province’s colonial capital of Nicoya where she gave nearly $500,000 to producers of small businesses.
Guanacaste comprises the northwest part of the country. The area has been a subject of dispute with Nicaragua since its annexation in 1824.
The annexation of Guanacaste came voluntarily, according to Costa Rica’s history. Some Nicaraguan governments have insisted that the region should be part of its territory.
Guanacaste is known for its Pacific beaches and land dedicated to the cultivation of sugar and grains. The province’s modern capital, Liberia, is 281 km northwest of San José.
