Museums

Children Museum

Specially design museum that explores the scientific and literature world. This large museum used to be a prison. Plan to go there for several hours because it's huge and there is lots you can do and see. It offers hand on interactive displays form earthquakes to electricity up to cleaning teeth. It also dispalys parts of the old jail. Exhibits of children, children's rights, old trains, a helicopter, etc. etc. San Jose Downtown, former Penitentiary. Tel. 258-4929

Pre-Columbian Gold Museum and Numismatic Museum

This famous collection of over 2000 Gold Pieces is really worth seeing. Your are not allowed to take pictures there. In the same museum you'll find a small numismatic museum and a changing display of Costa Rican Art.

San Jose Downtown, downstairs from the Plaza de la Cultura. Tel. 243-4202

MADC Modern Art and Design Museum

This museum within the National Cultural and Arts Center, next to the National Library used to be the old Liquor Factory of Costa Rica. It offers changing art shows.
Former FANAL (National Liquor Factory) 13 and 15 Streets, 3rd Avenue. Tel. 257-7202

Jade Museum

Located on the 11th floor of the Instituto Nacional de Seguros, this is one of Costa Rica 's famous Museums with the world 's largest collection with hundreds o pieces on display. To fully appreciate the translucent quality of this gemstones many are displayed with a backlight.
5 and 7 Avenue, 11 and 13 Streets, INS Building, 11th Floor
Tel. 223-5800

Forms, spaces, sounds and other perceptions museum

An specially design museum for handicap visitors, where the can explore the world with their other senses. Barrio La California, former Train Station for the Atlantic Coast. Tel. 222-9462

National Museum

The perfect place to explore Costa Rican culture and natural history. This rather small Museum displays Costumes, Jade, Gold, Archaelogy and some Colonial and Religious Art. Some of the pieces are labeled in English and in Spanish. 17 Street, 2nd Avenue. Tel. 257-1433

Historic Museum Dr. Rafael Angel Calderon Guardia

25 street, 11 and 13 avenue. Tel. 255-1218

Costa Rican Art Museum

Collection of paintings and sculptures of the 19th and 20th Century. This museum used to be the old airport building until 1955, when the Sabana Park used to be the airport. Sabana
Tel. 222-7155.

Natural Science Museum

South - West Corner of the Park La Sabana in the former La Salle High School. If displays a large collection of stuffed animals and mounted butterflies. It is a resource for people that like to identify some species they have seen in the wild. There are also exhibits on paleontology and archaeology. La Salle High School, La Sabana. Tel. 232-1306

Postal, Telegraphic and Filatelic Museum

San Jose Downtown, Calle 2, Ave. 1 y 3 Central Post Office. Tel. 223-6918

Juan Santamaria Museum

Historic Museum about the events of the Central American War of 1856, were Central America fights for it freedom against William Walker. Alajuela, 3rd Avenue, Central and 2nd Street
Tel. 441-4775 / 442-1838

Historic Marine Museum of Puntarenas

Puntarenas Downtown