Exploring Costa Rica Guidebook

Shopping Cart

Culture and Art

COSTA Rica has a vibrant art and music scene, and this section gives you the inside scoop about galleries, music venues, books and more. Also, find out about festivals, holidays and other cultural events that are great for experiencing Tico traditions. Listings of movies, museums and schools are also provided.

Art Galleries

EITHER born from the imagination or a copy of nature, artwork

abounds in numerous galleries in San José. You may love em or

hate em, but do check them out. Some cultural centers and museums

also offer temporary exhibitions (check the Calendar Section of The

Tico Times for current shows).

Arts

FOR centuries Costa Rica has been a generous host to not only local but also other Central American artists, who come looking for a welcoming place to present their work. Here alcohol factories have been turned into art galleries and state jails into museums for children; all speak to Costa Rican resourcefulness when it comes to art and culture.

Bands & Music

DON’T let the club DJ’s tell you differently – there is more to music

in Costa Rica than reggaetón. Though when hitting the streets and

dance clubs, the Puerto Rican/Panamanian mix of dancehall reggae

and hip hop seems ubiquitous, it doesn’t take much searching to find a

Mariachis and Marimbas

IF you've ever dreamed of being serenaded by crooning, sombrero-wearing musicians, your wish is only a few phone calls (or a visit to a local restaurant) away in Costa Rica. Usually composed of seven or more men with mustaches and elaborate costumes, mariachis belt out traditional love songs backed up by trumpets, guitars and violins.

Books

ANTICIPATION is half the fun of traveling, and books abound to

whet your appetite for Costa Rica. Plenty of travel guides can help

you plan your visit to Costa Rica and a wealth of field guides can

fill in the background for what you re seeing while you re here. And once

you leave, there are beautiful souvenir books to help you relive your visit

in photos. The following English-language books about Costa Rica are

suitable for both on-the-go and armchair travelers. Check the Internet for

classics that are out of print, but often available second-hand. OP after a

title means out of print.

Cheapies & Freebies

WITH a little creativity, there's no reason travelers on a shoestring budget can't enjoy art, theater, drinks, food and sports for ¢500 (about $1) or less. San José, the Spanish-Latin American Cultural Capital last year, has enjoyed an increasingly vibrant cultural life in recent years, making cheap entertainment more abundant.

Dance Schools

LEARN how to shake your hips with belly dancing, or how to intertwine legs with the passionate tango, and surprise your friends at a disco, all at the growing number of dance schools. Many language schools also offer dance classes as part of their programs. (See Schools.)

Festivals, Celebrations

FROM a Saint's day to a seasonal fruit, many occasions are celebrated

in Costa Rica. Most of the fiestas include turnos (small fairs), exhibits

of food, animals, and art, carnivals and days off. Read on for a calendar

of the most important. Check The Tico Times for dates and locations.

Food

FOOD preparation here is a highly social event. If you get the

chance, try some home-cooked food and enjoy the flavors and the

good atmosphere around the table. There are many new foods to try

and you ll probably end up taking some recipes home!

Houses of Worship

EVERYONE in Costa Rica is free to practice any religion, except if it harms a human being. Catholicism is the official and largest religion of the country, although every candidate in the 2006 elections agreed that the Constitution should be changed in this regard. Many other faiths also flourish here. The following houses of worship offer services in English:

Movies

THE number of movie theaters has increased and it seems even more will open this year. The Magaly chain, Cinemark, Cinepolis, and Sala Garbo dominate the cinema business.

Museums & Science Centers

MUSEUMS offer more than displays of art, history, and science. Visitors can also participate in workshops, concerts and plays. Most are nearby. Learn and enjoy. Be sure to ask permission before taking flash photographs inside. Look for ? for kids stuff.

Schools

COSTA Rica's academic and linguistic standards are reflected in its quality public and private schools, universities and language academies.

Shopping

AT first glance, it’s all Pura Vida t-shirts and oxcart paper-clip holders,

but Costa Rica does offer a decent selection of quality souvenirs

that will delight the folks back home. (And while you’re at it,

pick up something for yourself too.) You might have to hunt a bit, but you’ll

find art and handicrafts made by local, Indigenous and international artisans among the standard fare.

Shopping Malls

Theaters & Playhouses

AUDIENCES can enjoy either comedies about current political or social events or classic and contemporary plays in a surprising variety of playhouses, some grandiose, some quaint, and some grungy. All shows are in Spanish except for the English-language Little Theatre Group in Escazú and the Dominical Little Theatre Group, on the Pacific. Theaters are in the San José area unless otherwise noted:

Bookstores & Newsstands