San Jose Attractions.
In San José, Calles (streets) run north and south and Avenidas
(avenues) run east and west. They ascend in odd numbers north of Avenida
Central, and in even numbers south of it. Street addresses are rarely
used. General addresses are the norm (such as: Avenida 1, Calles 6/8,
which means the address is on Avenida 1 between Calles 6 and 8).
Centro Nacional de Arte y Cultura (National Arts Center):
Calle 13 between Avenidas 3 and 5
506/257-9370
Museum hours: Tues-Sun 10-5
Admission charged.
Houses the offices of the Cultural Ministry, several performing arts
centers, and the Museum of Contemporary Art and Design. The latter has
featured several impressive traveling international exhibits, including
large retrospectives by Mexican painter José Cuevas and Ecuadoran
painter Oswaldo Guayasamin.
Galería Nacional de Arte Contemporáneo
Calle 15 and Ave. 3
506/257-7202
Closed Sundays
Admisison charged.
In the basement of the Biblioteca Nacional, the city's main library.
It displays many fine works of contemporary artists.
Lankester Gardens:
Paraíso de Cartago
506/552-3151
Daily 8:30-3:30
Closed on all national holidays
Admission charged.
There are more than 1,200 varieties of orchids in Costa Rica, and no
fewer than 800 species are on display at this botanical garden in Cartago
province. Created in the 1940s by English naturalist Charles Lankester,
the gardens are now administered by the University of Costa Rica. There's
an information center, and the trails are well tended and well marked.
Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales "La Salle":
Across from the southwest corner of Parque La Sabana
506/232-1306
Mon-Sat 8-4, Sun 9-4
Admission charged.
This natural-history museum offers information and specimens of the
animals encountered in the jungles of the country. There are stuffed
and mounted anteaters, monkeys, tapirs, and many others from Costa Rica
and from around the world as well. There are also 1,200 birds, 12,500
insects, and 13,500 seashells displayed.
Museo Nacional de Costa Rica:
Calle 17 between Avenida Central and Avenida 2, on the Plaza de la Democracia
506/257-1433
Tues-Sun 9-4:30
Closed Dec 25 and 31
Admission charged.
Costa Rica's most important historical museum is housed in a former
army barracks in the castle-like ocher colored Bellavista Fortress that
was the scene of fighting during the civil war of 1948. There are hundreds
of bullet holes on the turrets at the corners of the building. Inside
this traditional Spanish-style building, are displays tracing Costa
Rican history and culture from pre-Columbian times to the present. In
the pre-Columbian room, there are exquisite 2,500-year-old jade carvings.
Downstairs is a spectacular insect collection sponsored the National
Institute of Biodiversity.
Museo Nacional de Ferrocarril (National Railroad Museum)
Avenida 3,Calle 19
506/221-0777
Tues.-Sun. 9-4:30 (call first, as these hours vary)
Admission charged.
The museum is housed in the ornate Atlantic train station built in 1907
on the northeast corner of the Parque Nacional. Assorted memorabilia
and photographs recount the century of operation of the "Jungle
Train" which was discontinued following the April, 1991 earthquake.
Museo de Arte Costarricense:
Parque La Sabana Este (Calle 42 and Paseo Colón)
506/222-7155
Tues-Sun 10-4
Admission charged.
www.cr/arte/museos.html
This small museum at the end of Paseo Colón in Parque La Sabana
was formerly an airport terminal. Today, however, it houses a collection
of works in all media by Costa Rica's most celebrated artists. On display
are some exceptionally beautiful pieces in a wide range of artistic
styles, demonstrating how Costa Rican artists have interpreted and imitated
the major European artistic movements over the years.
Museo de Los Niños (Children's Museum):
Calle 4 and Avenida 9
506/233-2734
Tues-Fri 8-4, Sat-Sun 10-5
Admission charged.
This museum is located a few blocks north of downtown, on Calle 4. Many
of the exhibits encourage hands-on play. Topics range from astronomy
to communications. This museum sometimes features limited shows of "serious"
art, and is also the home of the new National Auditorium.
Museo de Oro Banco Central (Gold Museum):
Calle 5 between Avenida Central and Avenida 2, underneath the Plaza
de la Cultura
506/223-0528
Tues-Sun 10-4:30
Admission charged.
Located directly beneath the Plaza de la Cultura, this unusual underground
museum houses one of the largest collections of pre-Columbian gold in
the Americas. On display are more than 20,000 troy ounces of gold in
more than 2,000 objects. The sheer number of small pieces can be overwhelming
and seem redundant; however, the unusual display cases and complex lighting
systems show off every piece to its utmost.
Parque Zoológico Simón Bolívar
Avenida 11 and Calle 7, in Barrio Amón
506/223-1790
Daily 9-4:30
Admission charged.
This zoo has received some much needed renovation in recent years. It
is geared toward locals and school groups, with a small collection that
includes Asian, African, and Costa Rican animals housed in cages rather
than in natural habitats. There is a new children's discovery area,
snake-and-reptile house, and gift shop.
Plaza de la Democracia
San José's largest square, 400 yards east of the Plaza de la
Cultura. It was laid out in 1989 for the Hemispheric Summit. It is the
site of a market offering homespun crafts and Guatemalan textiles.
Serpentario
Avenida 1 between Calles 9 and 11
506/255-4210
Mon-Fri 9-6, Sat-Sun 10-5
Admission charged.
Live snakes, lizards, and frogs are kept in beautiful large terrariums
that simulate their natural environments. Poisonous snakes make up a
large part of the collection. Also, brilliantly colored poison arrow
frogs, iguanas and fer- de- lance are represented here.
Mercado Central
Avenida Central, Calles 6/8
Open Mon-Sat. Closed Sunday.
This centrally situated market was opened in 1880 and is still thriving!
Crowds press together, working their way through the narrow alleyways
to see the many offerings displayed in the stalls of the market. Cobblers,
saddle shops, woodworkers, butchers, florists, crafts people, fruit
sellers, fishmongers, vendors yelling for the attention of customers,
are all there. Keep your money safely concealed and enjoy the experience
of an authentic market experience.
Fidel Tristán Museo de Jade
11th floor of INS building, Avenida. 7 between Cs. 9 and 11
506/223-5800 ext. 2584
8:30-4:30 daily. Closed weekends.
Admission charged.
www.cr/arte/museos.html
Nearly all the items at the Jade Museum, the world's largest collection
of American jade, were produced in pre-Columbian times, and most of
the jade dates from between 300 BC to AD 700, before the indigenous
artisans learned goldsmithing. More pre-Columbian artifacts, such as
polychrome vases and three-legged metates (low tables for grinding corn),
and an array of ceramic fertility symbols round out the collection.
Outside San José:
Side trip to Heredia (seven miles northeast of San José):
Café Britt Farm
Carretera 126, 1.25 miles northwest of Heredia on the road to Barva(telephone
for directions)
506/261-0444
Three tours daily: 9, 11, and 3. Tours Nov-Feb during the harvest season;
store open daily 8:30-5 year-round
Admission charged.
www.coffeetour.co.cr
Café Britt is one of the leading brands of coffee in Costa Rica,
and the company offers an interesting tour and stage production at its
farm, which is 20 minutes outside of San José. Visitors are taken
on tours to see how coffee is grown, they visit the roasting plant,
and can participate in tasting to experience the different qualities
of coffee.
Braulio Carrillo National Park
Highway 32, 14 miles northeast of San José
290-1937 or 283-5906
Parque Nacional Braulio Carrillo is a 108,970 acre forest that protects
a massive watershed on the winward side of Cordillera Central. This
is a tract of pristine wilderness spanning five life zones.
Aerial Tram at the Park
257-5961
Discover the natural wonders of the forest canopy as you glide through
the jungle canopy on the Aerial Tram, a silent creation that allows
you to obtain a bird's eye view of the rain forest while accompanied
by a naturalist guide. The tour begins with a hike on a diverse trail
where you will learn characteristics of the ecosystem.The ride lasts
for 90 minutes on the open air tram.
Side trip to Alajuela (one mile north of the Juan Santamaría
Airport and 13 miles northwest of San José):
Poás Volcano
23 mile drive from Alajuela goes winding ever upward on a mountain road.
482-4165 or 233-5284
Admission charged.
A scenic drive through coffee and sugar plantations will take you up
to the top of this spectacular volcano. Take a close up look from the
observation terrace at the enormous crater with its deep green lake.
On a clear day you can see both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. The
visitor center shows a model of the volcano and explains the process
at work. The main crater bubbles and belches forth steam on a regular
basis; two others are extinct.
Butterfly Farm:
13 miles northwest of San José
In front of Los Reyes Country Club
506/438-0400
Daily 9-5
Admission charged.
80 different species of butterflies are raised at this butterfly farm
south of Alajuela. The admission includes a 2-hour guided tour. In the
demonstration room there are exhibits of butterfly eggs, caterpillars,
and pupae. The butterflies live in a large enclosed garden similar to
an aviary.
Zoo Ave
La Garita, Alajuela
506/433-8989
Daily 9-5
Admission charged.
Scarlet macaws, owls, raptors, several different species of toucans,
and a host of brilliantly colored birds from Costa Rica and around the
world make this one exciting place to visit. There are also large iguana,
deer, and monkey exhibits and a 12-foot-long crocodile. Zoo Ave. houses
only injured, donated, or confiscated animals.
Side Trips and Tours to other areas near San José:
Manuel Antonio National Park
Located two hours from San José, Manuel Antonio National Park
is considered to be Costa Rica's most beautiful park, with enchanting
white sand beaches ideal for swimming and a tropical forest with abundant
wildlife. Either relax in the tropical splendor, or explore the park's
trails leading to scenic lookouts. A visit to the nearby town of Quepos
for a "tipico" lunch finishes off a perfect day. (Guided tours
available)
Carara Biological Reserve
Highway 34, 14 miles south of Orotina (one hour drive from San José)
383-9953
Located in the foothills of the Talamancas Mountains, this important
reserve lies at the meeting point of the rainforest and dry forest;
of the wet and dry climatic zones. Carara is a Huetar native American
name meaning "crocodile." The reserve protects the last major
stand of transitional forest on the isthmus. Within its 11,613 acres,
representative species from both eco systems abound, including the rare
Scarlet Macaw, and a vast number of species of plants and trees. Walk
through the trails of this transitional forest, a cross between a dry
tropical forest and humid jungle. Appreciate the wonders of this intricate
eco-system and it's importance to our planet.
Arts & Entertainment:
Dance:
There are frequent dance performances and concerts in San José's
Teatro Fanal and the Teatro 1887, both of which are inside the Centro
Nacional De La Cultura C. 13 between Avdas. 3 and 5, San José,
257-5524 (tickets and info).
San José's baroque Teatro Nacional
Plaza de la Cultura, San José
221-1329 (tickets and info)
Hosts performances from visiting musical groups and dance troupes, also
performances by the excellent National Symphony Orchestra. The season
runs from April to December, with concerts on Friday evening and Sunday
morning.
Theater:
One of San José's main theaters is the Teatro Melico Salazar
Avda. 2 between Cs. Central and 2, San José. Dozens of theater
groups, including one that performs in English, put on shows at smaller
theaters around San José check the English-language Tico Times
for information about upcoming performances.
For more information on San Jose, Costa Rica visit
the below pages:
San Jose Overview | San
Jose Attractions
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