What to See>Museums & Gardens>Art & History Museums

Art & History Museums

Are you an art nut? There's plenty to see: art by local or international artists, a gold museum, a jade museum and more! How about a day at the fun and highly the stimulating Children's Museum, which will keep even the know-it-all adult amazed as to how much there is to learn.

San Jose (Central Valley) Region

The San Jose Region is full of interesting museums for all ages and interests. Want a little history lesson? Sample a bit of it and learn about the Indigenous tribes, the pre-Colombian era and the effects of coloniazation on Costa Rica in the historical museums.

Alajuela

Juan Santamaria Historico - Cultural Museum

Founded in 1974, this museum has weapons from the 'Filibusters' battle when American renegade adventurers tried to take over Costa Rica in the 19th century.

Where is it? 100 meters north of Central Park, on Avenida 3 and Calles 1 and 2
Schedule: Tuesday - Sunday 10 am - 6 pm
Admission: Free
Contact: 506-2441-4775
Historical Museum of San Ramon

History and tradition of San Ramon: indigenous ancestors and their customs, the colonization and the development of the San Ramon in the nineteenth century.

Where is it? In the regional office of the University of Costa Rica, in front of San Ramon's central park
Schedule: Mondays and Wednesdays 8 am - noon and 1 to 5 pm. Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday 8 am - 5 pm.
Admission: Free
Contact: 506-2445-5533 (ext 3251)

Cartago

Religious Art Museum of San Jose de Orosi

The museum, focusing on the colonial era, is located in a 1600's church and convent, a great example of liturgical architecture of that era.

Where is it? Iglesia de Orosi, Paraiso de Cartago
Schedule: Daily 1 - 5 pm
Admission: Adults: 350 colones, Children: 250 colones
Contact: 506-2533-3051

Heredia

Museum of Popular Culture

This museum is part of a project by the National University's Latin American Institute of Museums. It has different yearly exhibits of popular culture.

Where is it? 500 meters south of the Communal Hall, Santa Lucia de Barva
Schedule: Monday - Friday 8 am - 4 pm
Admission: Foreigners: 1000 colones, Nationals: 500 colones, children 300 colones
Contact: 506-2260-1619

San Jose City

Most of the museums in the city are in close proximity to each other and are easy to get to either by bus, taxi or walking.

Costa Rican Art Museum

This is the place to be for art lovers. Created 20 years ago, here you'll see modern art by the most contemporary Costa Rican painters and sculpturers.

Where is it? Calle 42, Sabana Este. (Behind the Leon Cortes-Castro Sculpture)
Schedule: Tuesday - Sunday 10 am - 5 pm
Admission: Foreigners: $5, Nationals: 500 colones, Students: 300 colones, kids under 12: free
Contact: 506-2222-7155
Costa Rican National Museum

This is the grandaddy of all museums. Over 100 years old and filled with religious and archeological objects defining Costa Rican history and character.

Where is it? 17th Street, between Central and Second Avenue and on Cuesta de Moras adjacent to Plaza de la Democracia.
Schedule: Tuesday - Saturday 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. Sundays 9 am - 4:30 pm
Admission: Foreigners: $4, Nationals: 500 colones, Kids under 12: free
Contact: 506-2257-1433
Dr. Rafael Angel Calderon Guardia Museum

The museums focal point is former President Rafael Calderon and his contributions to the country.

Where is it? Avenida 11 between Calle 25 and Calle 27, Barrio Escalante
Schedule: Daily 9am - 5pm
Admission: Free
Contact: 506-2255-1218
Gold Museum

With over 2,600 gold artifacts, rare coins and bills, this museum has the most valuable collection of pre-Colombian gold in the world.

Where is it? Plaza de la Cultura, Calle 5, between Avenida Central and Avenida Segunda
Schedule: Daily 9:30 am - 4 pm
Admission: Foreigners: $7, Students: $4, Nationals: 1000 colones, Kids under 12: Free
Contact: 506-2243-4214
Jade Museum

Besides the large collection of jade objects from two Costa Rican indigenous cultures, the Jade Museum has a lot more to see: displays of ceramics, precious stones and gold miniatures from different cultural areas of Costa Rica.

Where is it? Avenida 7 between Calle 9 and Calle 13 in the INS Building
Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:30 am - 3:30 pm, Saturday 9 am - 1 pm
Admission: Foreigners: $7, Nationals: 1000 colones, Kids under 12: Free
Contact: 506-2223-5800, Extension 2584
La Salle Natural Science Museum

The museum is home to over twenty thousand specimens from around the world.

Where is it? Southwest corner of La Sabana, Colegio La Salle
Schedule: Monday - Friday 8 am - 4 pm; Sundays 9 am - 5 pm
Admission: Adults: 700 colones, Children: 500 colones
Contact: 506-2232-1306
Museum of Contemporary Art and Design

Where is it? Avenida 3 between Calle 15 and Calle 17
Schedule: Monday - Saturday 10:30 am - 5 pm
Admission: Foreigners: $1, Nationals: 500 colones, Children: 300 colones
Contact: 506-2257-7202
National Children's Museum

Full of hands-on, stimulating, life-size exhibits. Kids and parents will get a kick out of the fun learning experiences.

Where is it? Calle 4 and Avenida 9
Schedule: Wednesday - Friday 10 am - noon; 2 - 5 pm; Weekends 10 am - 1 pm and 2 - 5 pm
Admission: Adults: 1000 colones, Childern: 700 colones
Contact: 506-2223-7003
Postal Services Museum

Over 20 years old, this museum displays stamps and other historical objects all related to Costa Rica.

Where is it? Avenida 1, Calle 3, Segundo piso del edificio de Correos de San Jose
Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8 am - 4:45 pm
Admission: Adults: 150 colones, Childern: 100 colones
Contact: 506-2223-9766 Ext. 269

Northern Region (Arenal & Monteverde)

Art Galleries

Monteverde has numerous art galleries featuring fabulous paintings, ceramics and other original works of art by local artists. Classes are available in ceramics, painting and wood sculpting.

Where are they? Scattered in Santa Elena
Insect Collection

The center features biologist Richard Whitten’s educational exhibit “Jewels of the Rain Forest”, the largest private entomological exhibition anywhere in the world.

Where is it? Selvatura Park
Schedule: Open daily 7:00 am to 4:00 pm
Admission: Varies depending on tours selected
Contact: Contact us to book this tour

North Pacific Region

Abangares Gold Mines Eco-Museum

This Eco-Museum, founded in 1987, sits on the site of the first gold mine in Costa Rica. In an outdoor display, equipment used during the gold fever in the turn of the century are featured here. There's also a picnic area, vista points and trails for an all day outing experience.

Where is it? Distrito La Sierra, Canton Abangares, Guanacaste
Schedule: Sunday - Tuesdays, 8 am - 3 pm
Marine Historical Museum of Puntarenas

All about man's relationship with the sea: economic, social, and the fishing industry.

Where is it? Located on central avenue, in the House of the Culture, Puntarenas
Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8 am - 4 pm
Admission: free
Contact: 506-2661-1394

South Pacific Region

Perez Zeledon Regional Museum

This museum focuses on the 'campesino' (farmers) and their history.

Where is it? San Isidro del General
Schedule: Monday - Friday 8 am - noon and 1 - 4:30 pm
Admission: Free
Contact: 506-2661-1394