While most people visit Costa Rica for the natural wonders, many cultural activities abound as well, and no vacation is complete without a memento or two from your trip.  What you'll find when you go shopping in Costa Rica is more than a souvenir but the opportunity to bring a bit of Costa Rica home with you. 

The most prestigious museums in the country can be found in San Jose.  Perhaps the most well-known landmark in San Jose is the historic National Theater, a masterpiece in art and architecture as well as host to world-class theatre events.  Sabana Park near Paseo Colon is home to a fabulous sculpture park and the contemporary Costa Rica Art Museum.  The National Museum on the Plaza de la Democracia provides a historical perspective of Costa Rica and a look back at the pre-Columbus era.  For a bit more glam, try the Museum of Gold in the Plaza de la Cultura or the Jade Museum.  San Jose also has numerous art galleries and off-beat theatres. 

Northwest of San Jose, the town of Sarchi is practically a living museum.  Transporting you to a time when oxcarts ruled the roadways, Sarchi is known throughout Costa Rica as a shopping and crafts mecca.  The largest and oldest oxcart factory can be found here. Built in 1902, the Joaquin Chaverri Oxcart Factory is considered to be the birthplace of oxcart handicrafts in Costa Rica.  Also widely found throughout town are wooden furniture and souvenir stores that sell everything from beautifully decorated bowls and trays to intricately carved wooden utensils, jewelry and masks.

The beach areas in Costa Rica have their share of culture as well.  Punta Islita boasts the first outdoor Latin American Museum of Contemporary Art.  Also in Guanacaste, a unique cultural and shopping experience is to be had in Palo Verde National Park.  In addition to being a birdwatchers paradise, Palo Verde National Park is home to the famous artisan village of Guaitil.  Here you can learn about the Chorotega Indians while watching the artists make their pre-Columbian era pottery.

Northern Guanacaste also provides the opportunity to cross the border to Nicaragua, where you can visit Lake Nicaragua and the picturesque town of Masaya, home to many artisans.  The highlight of the trip is a visit to one of Latin America's oldest cities, Granada, with its captivating architecture.

Ranging anywhere from a few hours to full-day tours, cultural activities and shopping opportunities in Costa Rica are plentiful.  We work with the most experienced, reputable Costa Rica tour companies in the country.  Your fun, informative, bilingual guide will work hard to make sure your excursion into Costa Rica culture is safe and memorable. 

Contact us for your free quote on a customized Costa Rica family or honeymoon vacation featuring cultural activities and shopping excursions.  We can design multi-day packages with stays at top Costa Rica hotels and resorts or more economical accommodations in offbeat hideaways.  Please call our Vacation in Costa Rica experts toll free at (800) 608-3119 or email us at info@costaricaonlinetravel.com to start planning your cultural immersion.