CASEM: Women’s Art, Community, and Traditional Flavors in Monteverde

At Ocotea Tours & Transfers, we believe that travel is about more than moving from one place to another. It’s about creating connections, with landscapes, with traditions, and most importantly, with the people who call Monteverde home.

That’s why we spotlight local businesses and organizations like the CASEM Coop (the Cooperativa de Artesanas de Santa Elena y Monteverde, or the Santa Elena and Monteverde Cooperative of Women Artisans), a women-led cooperative where art, food, and community spirit come together under one roof.

When you travel with us, supporting places like CASEM is part of our shared values: strengthening the local economy, celebrating women-owned businesses, and uplifting Monteverde’s creativity and resilience.

From Eight Women to a Thriving Cooperative

CASEM’s story began in 1982, when Monteverde faced a severe economic downturn. At that time, the region depended almost entirely on dairy production. As incomes faltered, eight local women – many of them homemakers – came together to use their manual skills to create small handicrafts. Their first fair that same year was a success, sparking a movement that blended creativity with economic resilience.

In the early years, CASEM operated informally, selling out of a founder’s home and later in small, rented spaces. By 1987, they had raised enough support to open their first permanent shop in Santa Elena. The cooperative model made all the difference: decisions were collective, responsibilities shared, and profits reinvested in families and the community.

By 2001, CASEM had gained full independence and became CASEMCOOP RL, securing its future as a recognized cooperative. Membership grew steadily, with artisans specializing in textiles, jewelry, ceramics, woodwork, and recycled crafts – all created in members’ homes to balance work and family life.

For Ocotea Tours & Transfers, CASEM represents the best of Monteverde: resilience in the face of challenge, a circular economy that keeps resources and support local, and women entrepreneurs lifting each other up. It is exactly the kind of community initiative we are proud to support and share with our travelers.

Handmade Crafts with a Story

When our guests ask where to find authentic, meaningful souvenirs, CASEM is always at the top of our list. Their artisan shop is more than a store – it’s a gallery of creativity where every piece is unique, made by hand, and tied to a family and a story.

Each item carries not only the artisan’s skill, but also a piece of Monteverde’s nature and culture. Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll find:

• Textiles: Embroidered linens, clothing, accessories
• Jewelry: Macramé, recycled materials, and custom beadwork
• Woodwork and Ceramics: Hand-carved utensils, pottery, sculptures
• Toys and Folk Art: Felt birds, handmade dolls, and puppets
• Paper Goods: Recycled journals, greeting cards, scrapbooks

At Ocotea Tours & Transfers, we encourage travelers to visit and support CASEM, because every sale supports nearly 100 local families. This is the circular economy in action: when you shop here, your travel dollars stay in Monteverde, creating ripples of positive impact.

La Cuchara de la Abuela: Tradition Served with Love

CASEM isn’t just about art – it’s also about flavor. Their café, La Cuchara de la Abuela (“The Grandmother’s Spoon,” a Costa Rican way of saying “Grandma’s home cooking”), was born from guests asking where they could taste authentic Costa Rican dishes. 

Staffed by CASEM members, the café serves traditional meals prepared with local ingredients, often sourced from members’ own gardens. Diners can enjoy Costa Rica’s beloved rice-and-beans breakfast, known as gallo pinto, classic casados with rice, beans, salad, plantains, and a choice of meat or vegetables, as well as comforting homemade soups and tortillas that bring a warm local touch.

Dining here is about participating in a tradition of women feeding their community, sustaining their families, and sharing Costa Rican cuisine and culture in the most delicious way. Supporting the café means uplifting women-owned businesses, a priority we proudly share at Ocotea Tours & Transfers.

Why CASEM Matters to Us – and You

At Ocotea Tours & Transfers, we seek out organizations like CASEM because they embody what we believe travel should do: build bridges and strengthen communities.

CASEM provides fair economic opportunities for women artisans, serves as a model for the circular economy by keeping income within the community, and offers a platform for creativity and entrepreneurship in Monteverde, while giving visitors a cultural experience they won’t find in chain stores or restaurants.

When you visit CASEM during your time here, you’re not just shopping or dining – you’re directly supporting the values that guide us both.

Travel That Gives Back

Monteverde is known worldwide for its cloud forest and wildlife, but at Ocotea Tours & Transfers, we believe our people are just as much a reason to visit. CASEM represents the creativity, resilience, and cooperative spirit that make this region unique.

When you choose to explore with us, you’re choosing a travel experience that gives back – supporting artisans, lifting up women-owned businesses (like Ocotea Tours & Transfers!), and keeping Monteverde’s cultural traditions alive.

Plan Your Visit

CASEM is easy to find in Santa Elena, just minutes from Monteverde’s cloud forest reserves.

Here at Ocotea Tours & Transfers, we love helping travelers experience our region in a way that feels personal and memorable. That’s why we’d recommend planning a visit to CASEM, whether you’d like to browse the artisan shop after a morning in the cloud forest, enjoy a relaxed lunch, or meet the women whose creativity keeps this cooperative thriving.

Every craft you buy or meal you share at CASEM strengthens Monteverde’s circular economy, uplifts women entrepreneurs, and carries home a piece of this community’s story. That’s the kind of travel we believe in – and the kind of connection we’re proud to create for our guests.