About: A beautiful indoor and outdoor museum covering many aspects of Costa Rican culture and history. The building itself was once a military fort and prison. They have a butterfly garden, pre-Columbian spheres and other historical artifacts, as well as small jade and gold collections, which is perfect in case you don’t have time to…
Category: Downtown San Jose Museums
La Salle Museum
About: This is Costa Rica’s natural history museum, home to dinosaur skeletons and other fossils, gem and mineral collections, and taxidermy dioramas, as well as an extensive butterfly collection. It is small in size but filled to the brim with stuff to look at, so you could spend hours here. Province: San Jose Starting from:…
Jade Museum
About: This is an archeological museum home to an extensive jade collection as well as historical artifacts. It covers the historical and anthropological origins of Costa Rica and its people. It is very large with 5 floors offering both permanent and temporary exhibitions. They offer guided tours, or you can simply walk through self-guided. There…
Gold Museum
About: This museum has 2 levels and includes information on the history of gold and currency in Costa Rica, as well as national art pieces. It is located right in the heart of Downtown San Jose, and is the perfect stop on a walking tour of the area. Province: San Jose Starting from: Downtown San…
Costa Rican Art Museum
About: This is a wonderful little art and culture museum with an interesting history. It used to be the location of the San Jose airport, before it moved to Alajuela. It has permanent as well as rotating exhibits. The best part is it’s free! Province: San Jose Starting from: Downtown San Jose Time to reach…
Children’s Museum
About: This is a great children’s museum similar to children’s museums found around the US. It is interactive and hands on, and quite extensive with more than 46 different rooms and areas. It is a blast for children and adults alike. Province: San Jose Starting from: Downtown San Jose Time to reach from starting location:…
AWA El Museo del Agua
About: This is not actually a museum but a private reserve with trails visiting 4 waterfalls. A reservation includes a guided tour, as well as breakfast and lunch. You can swim in the natural pools. Province: San Jose Starting from: Downtown San Jose Time to reach from starting location: 2 hours 45 minutes Time needed…
Amphitheatre Villa
About: This is a very unique experience definitely worth a visit. It is a series of caves built into the side of a large hill that was once a quarry. They have added 2 restaurants, outdoor gardens, and viewpoints, as well as completely decorated the caves with themes. There is also a beautiful fountain that…