These appearances inspired the building of the city's first church. Throughout the city, sounds of cumbias, salsa, and American pop can be heard from cars and windows. During festivals children and adults alike will dress in the traditional costumes and perform traditional dances. Women wear flowing skirts and blouses, and the men complement them in white trousers and shirts, often wearing a bandanna and hat. The majority of people rely on bicycles as a means of transportation, sometimes fitting entire families of five on one bicycle.
Public buses are also a popular means of transportation to nearby towns.
Several cooperatives within the city support the town's people, as well as preserve their traditions. Women's cooperatives serve tortillas and traditional dishes such as gallo pinto, casados and natilla or sell jewelry and crafts. Descendants of the Chorotega Indians reside in nearby Guaitil and craft pottery, a tradition that has been passed down for centuries. Santa Cruz is in the tourist region of Guanacaste and has several hotels and motels that serve the tourists who want to take advantage of the city's traditional atmosphere and proximity to the nearby beaches. Tourism Santa Cruz is centrally located in the Nicoya Peninsula.