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Juanilama is a land settlement established by IDA (Asentamiento Campesino del IDA) located outside of Santa Rosa de Pocosol in the Northern Zone of Costa Rica, 4.5 kilometers on the main highway to Los Chiles. You must then get off at the stop called “Tres y Tres” and travel 3 km on gravel road (on foot, motorcycle, bicycle, or car, preferably one that has 4x4 off-road capability).

History

In the past, the land settlement, then known as “La Mónica”, was the property of one land owner named Rafael Barrientos Alfaro.  The land was then divided into lots, or “parcelas”, by two organizations— Asociación de Pequeños Productores de San Cristóbal (APASCRI) and La Unión de Trabajadores Agrarios de Santa Rosa de Pocosol (UTRASA).

In September of 1990, a study was conducted by the two organizations in order to find less fortunate families who would benefit from the land allocations.  These lots were adquired through an agreement by the Board of Directors of IDA (Instituto de Desarrollo Agrario), in Article XLVI, Section 007-90, on January 23, 1990. 

One hundred and twenty seven (127) parcels were given to small farmers (600 people) in 1993 who founded three small communities no further than 3 km between each other: San Martín, La Esperanza, and Juanilama— collectively called the Asentamiento Juanilama.

The community of Juanilama, located between San Martín and La Esperanza, is the center of the Asentamiento and is made up of approximately 160 people, whose main source of income are dairy products, mainly milk and cheese.

In 1999, these group of farmers established the Asociación Agroecológica del Asentamiento Campesino Juanilama- ASOJUANILAMA, or ASAJUP, in charge of protecting a Biological Reserve of a Tropical humid forest (25 hectares) and running a rural community-based tourism project. 

They are currently known as the Asociación Agroecológica de Juanilama, with a Board of Directors (or “Junta Directiva”) that includes 5 families. 

Interesting factoids:

•  Electrical lines did not arrive to Juanilama until 2003. 
•  Roads are still in the process of being improved, but are currently rock and gravel.
•   There are 2 "pulperías" (or small convenient stores) located in the town's center.
•   Other resources and landmarks that can be found are a Catholic Church, a community multipurpose building ("salón comunal"), a fútbol plaza, an agricultural supplies store, an elementary school, and a high school.
•   "Juanilama" is also the name of a local plant Lippia alba (Mill.) from the Verbenaceae plant family.  Also known in English as Mint Verbena.