San Jose, Costa Rica Attractions

National Museum. Housed in a former military fortress with bullet holes from the Civil War of 1948, Costa Rica's historical museum is known for the pre-Columbian artifacts on permanent display. The National Museum also features exhibits of Costa Rican religious art and the history of the country since the Spanish conquest. The traditional Spanish-style courtyard building offers displays on Costa Rican history and culture from pre-Columbian times to the present. In the pre-Columbian rooms, you'll see a 2,500-year-old jade carving shaped like a seashell. The archaeological room offers Indian artifacts and pottery made of stone and clay. Among the most fascinating objects unearthed at Costa Rica's archaeological sites are ornately decorated grinding stones. Some of the large metates are believed to have been part of funeral rites. A vault houses the collection of pre-Columbian gold jewelry and figurines. The colonial room presents facts about the conquest and religious art brought by the Spaniards. In the courtyard, you'll enjoy a city views and Costa Rica's mysterious stone spheres. Visit www.museocostarica.go.cr

Melico Salazar Theatre. One of the most significant artistic representations of Costa Rica, The Melico Salazar Theatre presents high-level performances of music, theater, dance, multicultural events and demonstrations of classical, traditional and contemporary disciplines. The famous 1,500 seat theater is closely linked to the artistic and creative development of the country. The National Opera Society and the award-winning National Choir perform on this historic stage. Visit www.teatromelico.go.cr  [Top]

Centro Nacional de Arte y Cultura. National Center for Art and Culture in San Jose hosts the city’s top cultural activities, art exhibits and stage performances. Once the National Liquor Factory, the Center is a complex of theaters, a museum, performing arts centers and a restaurant skirting a brick courtyard and amphitheater in Barrio Amon. The Center houses the Cultural Ministry, FANAL Theater, and the Museum of Contemporary Art and Design, which presents cutting-edge Costa Rican and Central American artists. The Museum also features impressive international exhibits, including retrospectives by Mexican painter José Cuevas and Ecuadorian painter Oswaldo Guayasamín. National Center for Art and Culture presents a variety of modern dance, experimental theater, and lectures on Costa Rican video. Visit www.mcjdcr.go.cr

Museum of Gold. Under the Plaza de la Cultura in downtown San Jose, Museum of Gold has an extraordinary collection of gold objects that reflect the world view, social structure and gold working techniques of the Pre-Columbian peoples of Costa Rica. The most valuable collection of Pre-Columbian gold in the world, the exhibition showcases 2600 pieces of Pre-Columbian gold work that date from 500 AD to 1500 AD - interpreting the social and cultural evolution of Pre-Columbian cultures. The impressive underground building that houses the exhibit creates a mysterious background for the gleaming beauty of the golden artifacts, suspended by transparent strings. These indigenous jewels depict numerous animals - frogs, birds, snakes, insects, crocodiles, lobsters and sharks. Visit the Coin Museum exhibit and Temporary Exhibition Galleries, showcasing renowned international and national artists and dynamic visual arts.  [Top]

Museum of Jade. Housed on the 11th floor of the National Insurance Company building in downtown San Jose, Museo de Jade, or Jade Museum, displays pre-Columbian jade pieces and animal shapes and impressive Indian jewelry. The largest American jade collection in the world, the collection is extremely valuable and has religious and historical significance for the Indian population in Costa Rica. The beautiful museum also features excellent examples of indigenous craftsmanship in stone, ceramics, and gold. The view of the city and surrounding mountains is a bonus of this fine museum.

Costa Rica Art Museum. Set in La Sabana Metropolitan Park, in a beautiful building that was the old international airport, Museo de Arte Costarricense features gorgeous architecture and a diverse collection of modern art by celebrated Costa Rican artists. El MAC features a diverse permanent collection and temporary exhibitions that showcase the exceptionally beautiful artwork and styles of Costa Rican painters and sculptors. Preserving the national arts heritage of Costa Rica, the museum holds two separate collections, one of Costa Rican art and another for foreign art works. The national collection includes 2,575 pieces, including sculptures, paintings, prints and woodcarvings. The collection includes José Sancho, Jorge Jiménez Deredia, Max Jiménez, and Francisco Zuñiga. The Gold Room presents concerts and temporary exhibitions. A lovely outdoor setting features a sculpture garden. For exhibits and concerts, visit www.musarco.go.cr  [Top]

Museum of Contemporary Art & Design. For modern art lovers, The Museo de arte Contemporaneo presents cutting-edge Costa Rican and Central American artists. Located in the old National Liquor factory, the museum offers an industrial, artistic and graceful setting for its outstanding exhibits. The Museum features impressive international exhibits, including large retrospectives by Mexican painter José Cuevas and Ecuadorian painter Oswaldo Guayasamín The museum has four exhibition rooms with changing art, an auditorium for dance and theater presentations, and the Pila de la Melaza - an open-air space for performances and events. Visit www.madc.ac.cr

La Salle Natural Science Museum. Nature lovers enjoy the Museo de Ciencias Naturales La Salle (Natural Science Museum) in the University of Costa Rica. Located in La Sabana Park, the Museum of Natural Science features more than 20,000 specimens from around the world and presents a taxidermy collection of various animals and a preserved fish and reptile exhibit. The small university museum contains a large collection of insects of Central and South America, including beautiful butterflies.   [Top]

Coffee Tours. Enjoy an afternoon coffee tour in the province of Heredia. Tours originate from the hotel around 2pm and lead you to the beautiful, organic coffee fields an hour away. The tour offers a close look at the coffee fields, lush tropical gardens, and plantation roastery. After the tour, relax and enjoy the fine Costa Rican coffee and other delicious drinks with appetizers at the Don Prospero restaurant. To cap off your fun day trip, go explore La Casita, a perfect place to buy coffee and souvenirs.

La Sabana Metropolitan Park. A peaceful retreat from the excitement of San Jose, La Sabana Park offers wonderful woodland areas, large open spaces, playing fields, ponds and horseback riding trails. Cool things to look at here include the Museum of Contemporary Art, housed in San Jose’s old airport terminal, the National Gymnasium, which presents pop concerts, and the National Stadium, the main venue for Costa Rica’s national sport- soccer.  [Top]

Plaza de la Cultura. Located between Main Avenue and Avenue 2 and Calle 3 and 5, this spacious, open square in downtown San Jose is a pleasant spot to buy souvenirs, soak up the sun or watch marimba bands, clowns, jugglers and the colorfully dressed Andean musicians who entertain in the plaza.

Central Market. San Jose’s Central Market is a lively marketplace with exotic spices, fish, fruit, vegetables and leather handicrafts from a variety of vendors. Browse the warren of dark, narrow passages to find treasures and delights of Costa Rica. Wander the flower stalls, clothing and shoe stores, gift shops, fabric vendors, butchers, and restaurants. This is a favorite places to buy the dark beans. The market is bounded by Main Avenue and Avenue 1, Calles 6 and 8. It’s open Monday - Saturday, 6am-6pm.  [Top]