Tradition: Costa Rica Mythology
Alternative Names: Achiote Frog, Achiote Red Frog
Category: Frog
The Myth
Káchabuké is a poisonous frog involved in the creation of the magical Duluítami tree in Talamancan mythology. The creature was chosen by Sibö, the creator deity, to guard the body of Bulumia after her death. Sibö wrapped her corpse in bijagua leaves and brought it to the ground, where he placed Káchabuké on her belly. He commanded the little frog to remain there for four days without moving, warning that it would be held responsible if anything happened to the body. Proud to have been entrusted with this important duty, Káchabuké settled down to keep watch.
As night fell, however, strange noises emerged from Bulumia’s belly, resembling the sound of ocean waves. The frog grew frightened by the sounds and its loneliness, while hunger gradually became unbearable. Sibö sent a bumblebee for Káchabuké to catch and eat, but the little frog failed to seize it. When the bee collided with some trees and landed, Káchabuké leapt away from its post to catch it. At that moment, the frog heard a gust of wind and hurried back to the corpse, but it was too late. Bulumia’s belly had separated from her body, and a small tree called Duluítami had emerged from within it. This magical tree would give rise to the sea and other sources of water.
The next day, Sibö returned and found Káchabuké playing while the young Duluítami tree stood nearby. When Sibö demanded to know why the frog had disobeyed his command, Káchabuké explained that hunger had driven it to chase the bumblebee. Sibö punished the creature for abandoning its duty by placing it in a tree and transforming it into the fruit of the achiote plant, whose reddish fruits gave the frog its name.
Sources
“Talamancan mythology.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation. Accessed October 14, 2026. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talamancan_mythology