Carlos “Kalyche” Gómez Morales

Youth Advisor - Costa Rica

Carlos is an artisan and bearer of Boruca culture. He began working as an artisan in 1998, specializing in the creation of traditional Boruca masks carved from balsa wood. These masks are essential in the festival of the Juego de los Diablitos, in which they represent Indigenous people (Diablitos) facing the bull (a symbol of the conquistador). 

Since 2008, Carlos has been actively involved in youth and cultural movements in southern Costa Rica, promoting Indigenous identity and ancestral art. He has collaborated on initiatives that seek to revitalize Boruca traditions and strengthen their presence among younger generations. 

Over the years, Carlos has offered talks and workshops sharing the history of the masks, their cultural significance, and the artisanal process. In these spaces, Carlos teaches young people how to carve and paint masks under his guidance, contributing to the preservation of this artistic legacy. 

Boruca masks are symbols of wellbeing and protection for the people, as well as a depiction of ecological and mythical scenes. These pieces have ritual and artistic uses, but are also sold as collectible works of art.

Contact Kalyche : ckgomez12@gmail.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kalyche.gomez