Roam Chronicles
The Pre-Columbian Gold Museum is a worthwhile stop if you are in San Jose. Located right on the central walking mall in a fantastic subterranean building, architecture fans will appreciate the stop just for the design after soaking in the rest of San Jose.
I hadn’t been through San Jose in years – basically ever since the Liberia airport opened and made access to the surf towns of the Guanacaste easier to get to.
However, on a recent trip, not only did I have the time to explore the entire Pacific coast of Costa Rica and surf some waves I had wanted to surf for years, but I was also swinging through San Jose to meet some amazing kids associated with Ticos y Nicas: Somos Hermanos, a group that is helping student refugees from Nicaragua continue their education in Costa Rica.
I had arrived the day before my meeting so that I had time to check out San Jose after so many years. I was looking forward to seeing what had changed.
Plaza de la Cultura
I stayed at the Hotel Balmoral due to its central location close to the Plaza de la Cultura and all of the shops, museums, cafes, and restaurants in the area.
Right on the Plaza is the National Theater of Costa Rica and the The Pre-Columbian Gold Museum. It’s a great spot to sit outside and watch life in San Jose go by, then dip into the museum for some air and air conditioning.
I’ll be honest, after weeks of cooking in the sun, dust, and saltwater – surfing and driving -something about heading into the underground bunker of the Pre-Columbian Gold Museum was very relaxing.
While the collection of gold artifacts is not huge, it is impressive. Additionally, the museum had mixed in some great local art in the lobbies.
I greatly enjoyed my visit to this national treasure and was glad to have taken the time to re-visit San Jose after all those years.
Be sure to check it out next time you are in town.
Plan your visit with the museum website.
Visiting San Jose Costa Rica? Check out these local guides:
Barrio Escalante – San Jose’s Coolest Neighborhood
Which airport: Liberia or San Jose
