3 Museums That You Shouldn’t Miss in San José, Costa Rica

Pre-Columbian Gold Museum in San José, Costa Rica
Pre-Columbian Gold Museum in San José, Costa Rica. Image by Puroticorico - Flickr/Wikipedia

Most people visiting Costa Rica are there to explore its sun-kissed beaches, thrilling volcanoes, and breathtaking national parks, but this country won’t leave you disappointed if you’re a passionate museum dweller. If you’re starting your journey from its capital San José, here are three museums you shouldn’t miss for the world.

Museo del Jade

San José is home to some pretty specific museums and one of its most popular cultural institutions is Museo del Jade, It’s home to the world’s largest collection of American jade, but you can find many other anthropological, geological, and archeological objects on its grounds.

Pre-Columbian Gold Museum

Speaking of incredibly specific museums that you can find in Costa Rica, the Pre-Columbian Gold Museum also falls under this category. It’s located in an underground building underneath Plaza de la Cultura and it features a collection of historic gold artifacts, ranging from coins to figures and jewelry.

National Museum of Costa Rica

Located inside the old Bellavista Fortress, the National Museum of Costa Rica is one of San José’s most picture-perfect attractions. Its collection is pretty versatile and it includes everything from archaeological and cultural to wildlife and military exhibits.