Discovering Costa Rica

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Arts and Culture

No matter the area of Costa Rica, there are so many wonderful things to see and places to visit.

The arts of Costa Rica are diverse due to the numerous local artists and the foreign artists that

have made this country their home. The streets are filled with artists showing off their work and

selling their pieces, in addition to the plentiful galleries to see around town. The people of Costa

Rica also enjoy going to see dance or music at a local theatre.

Museums, Cultural Centers, and Art

Costa Rica has a number of great museums, including:

The Gold Museum,

5th Street between Central and 2nd Avenue, San José: This

museum is the pride of Costa Rica, and has a diverse collection of Pre-Columbian gold.

Admission also includes a numismatic museum, showing rare currency dating back

hundreds of years

The Museum of Costa Rican Art,

42nd Street, San José: Even the building is a work of

art at the Museum of Costa Rican Art. This museum houses more than 3,000 pieces

regularly, in addition to the special exhibits and events the gallery hosts

The Jade Museum,

Avenida 7, between Calle 9 and 11, San José: The Jade Museum

is home to the world’s largest collection of Pre-Columbian jade. There are five main

galleries for patrons to explore

The National Gallery of Contemporary Art and Design,

Old Liquor Factory, 3rd

Avenue, San José: The National Gallery of Contemporary Art and Design has an

emphasis on trends in Costa Rican art, design, and architecture. It includes collections

of theaters, libraries, art galleries, and more

The Costa Rican National Museum,

17th Street between Central and 2nd

Avenue, San José: The National Museum

is located in the old fort from the

revolution of 1948. Bullet holes from that

time add to the authenticity of the

displays within this museum

The Children’s Museum,

4th Street,

north of 9th Avenue, San José: The

Children’s Museum was once San José’s

jail. Now, its world-class galleries focus

on technology, science, culture, and literature. Children enjoy the earthquake simulator

and other showcases of learning exhibits