Sean Paul

Six days into the raucous Palmares civic festival, in the northwestern Central Valley, police already have arrested 198 people.

Each year in January, Ticos descend on the sleepy coffee town of Palmares, northwest of San José, for the country’s most rowdy fiesta. Palmares hosts a traditional Costa Rican festival with bullfights, horse parades and carnival rides, but also brings in famous international acts and way more beer than is probably necessary.