History of Coronado

The natives of the Costa Rican Central Valley during pre-Columbian times were the HUETARES. Coronado's actual location, including San Rafael, during the arrival of the Spaniards was an important Huetar site, known to the locals as TOYOPÁN and governed by Chief YORUSTÍ.

The name TOYOPÁN comes from the Nahua and it means “God's place”, and according to archaeological research, in fact, this territory was a sacred center, a place for worship, ceremonies, prayer, religious celebrations and sacrifices.

Research shows that during pre-Columbian times this territory was very populated and reached a high cultural level. Among the pieces found in digs is the impressive “Altares de Toyopán”, which is stone ceremonial tables of a high artistic degree, dedicated in honor of the God of the rain. They can be appreciated today in the National Museum.

In addition to the complex stone work mentioned, we have found in the San Rafael region, natural and polychrome pottery and also some made of nephrite.

By the year 1562 the conquistador Juan Váquez de Coronado, described the Huetar natives to the Spanish King this way: “The natives are ingenious, aggressive, taller than others, that we have seen, well build; as good traders as the Mexicans, they were good quality cotton clothing, and great quantities of gold of all carats”, he frequently mentions his friend Yorustí.

Archaeological research is by no means over in this area.

In this century Coronado for many years has been the site of various international scientific centers, such as the Interamerican Institute of Cooperation in Agriculture (IICA), part of the Organization of American States, the Clodomiro Picado Institute, which belongs to the University of Costa Rica and studies snakes and procedures antivenin serum for Central America and also Central American Social Studies Institute (ICAES).