San Jose is home to The Gold Museum. A collection of artifacts that date from pre-Columbian days, this is a must see. Gold artifacts, as you may rightfully assume and they are of all types, from simple to the most intricately detailed. Numbered at 1600 pieces, this collection is dated from 500 AD to 1500 AD. Christopher Columbus is credited with discovering Cost Rica in 1502 and was detrimental to spreading the word about the great supply of gold that was available here.

>>Check out other things to do in San Jose

However, Columbus was mistaken. The gold was not in great supply. It was prized because of its rarity and was used in religious ceremonies. It was also used to establish the difference between the social classes. Until 1982, this fine collection did not have a permanent home. Today The Gold Museum exhibits the pieces in an attempt to open the door to the world as it was in pre-Columbian days. The way the artifacts were used in the daily lives of the people who lived here many years ago is explained as well as their use in religious ceremonies.

About the Museum

The Gold Museum is under the Plaza de la Cultura. The Plaza de la Cultura is a 6,000 square foot building that is used for many gatherings. Wedding receptions and meetings as well as outside events are held here. The Plaza has 2400 square feet of striking landscape outdoors.

What to Expect

The Gold Museum extends underground for three stories. An architectural beauty, a long spiral staircase, is the connection between the three levels. One of the most valuable collections in the world is housed here. Animals of gold appear to be floating through the air. This is because they are hanging by transparent strings. The effect is an awesome sense of being surrounded by frogs, snakes, sharks, insects and birds all floating around in the air.

Two levels of the Gold Museum pertain to the gradual social development of Pre-Columbian art. The Coin Museum is a part of this same building. Containing a history of the money that has been used over the years in Costa Rica, there is also a collection which contains many types of coins that are quite rare and paper money. This is actually one of only a few pre-Columbian gold museums that are in existence today.

Golden Family Night Tour

This is a true family experience when it comes to the Gold Museum. This is a night tour with special guides who will introduce families to the intricacies of the gold pieces they view. There is a workshop that teaches the repoussé technique, which is the art of forming a pattern on metal by hammering it from the other side. Often used on bracelets and medals, this is fun for the kids because they can use their own design. After the bracelet or medal is made, there is a dinner which is served in the lobby of the Museum.

Tips for Visiting

When visiting The Gold Museum the third level of the building is where the gold pieces are located. This section has a video to introduce visitors to the pieces they are about to view.

There is on the premises a museum store. Here you can purchase replicas of any pieces you saw on display that especially caught your eye. There are also facilities for special tours. The Gold Museum has guided tours for virtually any group size up to 150 people.

Many of the gold replicas of animals on display in the museum are the last remaining cultural myths for the people of Costa Rica. The importance of learning how their ancestors lived and their beliefs is going to be lost if it is not imparted to the young generation now. This is why the effort has been made to preserve the artifacts that have been rescued and put them together in one place for viewing.

Original article can be found here: Pre Columbian Gold Museum in San Jose

San Jose, Costa Rica is a phenomenal place to visit while on a tour or vacation, and offers a wide array of interesting things to do. Exploring the area can be incredibly fun and eye-opening, especially if you are fan of the outdoors and nature activities. San Jose also boasts an incredibly vibrant and exciting nightlife for those who enjoy nights out on the town. Thanks to its rich cultural heritage and amazing history, San Jose is also home to a splendid variety of museums which will surely please even the most discerning tourist.

Day Trips from San Jose

Simon Bolivar Zoological Park

One very popular and family friendly attraction in San Jose, Costa Rica is the Simon Bolivar Zoological Park. This zoo, while relatively small, is jam-packed with an incredible array of Costa Rican wildlife. There is also a large variety of other animals, including some from Asia and Africa. The Simon Bolivar Zoological Park is a great way to spend an afternoon, or even an entire day, in while visiting San Jose. You and your traveling companions will find a great number of opportunities for photographs of the many animals on display here. This zoo also offers a great educational opportunity, as visitors can learn many interesting facts about the various animals on display.

Museums

If you or people in your traveling party are fans or students of art history, there are many options for art museums in San Jose, Costa Rica. One example which really stands out is the Pre-Columbian Gold Museum. This is certainly one of the most unique art displays one could ever hope to encounter, and it is worth a visit. More than 2,000 incredible pieces of work, all done in gold, are on display here. All of the work at the Pre-Columbian Gold Museum is quite ancient and really gives visitors a feel for how the culture of Costa Rica must have been back in those ancient times. This museum is a great opportunity to educate yourself on the culture and history of Costa Rica; there is also an amazing display of stamps and gold coins here which will further enhance your visiting experience.

The Museo Nacional, or National Museum, is another great place to check out while you are inn San Jose, Costa Rica. This museum has an archeological room with Indian artifacts and items such as pottery and arrowheads. It also has a colonial room, where visitors can view and learn about the Spanish conquest and many artifacts from that period of Costa Rica’s history. In another area of this museum there are exhibits about various contemporary art in Costa Rica.

Turu Ba Ri Tropical Park

For those who enjoy hiking and being out and around incredibly scenic natural environments, the Turu Ba Ri Tropical Park is an absolute must for any visit to San Jose, Costa Rica. This intriguing park boasts nearly 600 acres of undeveloped, protected natural wildlife and amazing vegetation. With over 500 different kinds and species of plants, those who enjoy learning about and seeing different types of flowers and trees will certainly be incredibly entertained at this beautiful place. The park offers many wonderful hiking trails, so please bring your hiking boots, water bottles and perhaps even a light picnic lunch to bring with you while you explore the gorgeous surroundings. For those who enjoy a thrill, there is also a “Tarzan Swing” which is over 260 feet high!

Plaza de la Cultura

While in San Jose, Costa Rica, you may find yourself wanting to do a little shopping. Perhaps you would like to pick up some souvenirs for yourself or for friends and family back home. If so, head right over to the Plaza de la Cultura (the Plaza of the Culture). This is undoubtedly the most popular and varied shopping area in all of San Jose, and you are certain to find many wonderful items to remind yourself of your Costa Rican trip for many years to come. There are many street vendors in this area, as well as many delicious and enticing options for dining out and trying the fantastic local cuisine. Or you can simply stroll around the area and watch the comings and goings of the local residents of San Jose. No matter what you do there, you are sure to have a great time.

Finally, no trip to San Jose, Costa Rica would be complete without sampling some of its incredible nightlife. Whether you seek dancing, entertainment or a simple but pleasant dining experience, San Jose has plenty to offer. There are many great dance clubs and restaurants to go to in San Jose, and a night on the town here will never be forgotten by you or anyone in your tour group.

Original article can be found here: What to do in San Jose

Easter is a major Catholic holiday all over the world, and Costa Rica is no exception. In fact, Easter in Costa Rica is probably one the longest and most widely celebrated holidays in Costa Rica. Second only to Christmas of course. During the week of Easter and the weeks leading up to it, you can expect to see all kinds of festivals, celebrations, parades and more. This is true for even some of the smaller and more remote areas of Costa Rica as well.

What to Expect

In Costa Rica, Easter is a very big holiday for the locals. It is a holy week with religious masses, and processions. The actual holiday takes place on the Thursday and Friday before Easter Sunday. The streets are extremely crowded, with local Costa Ricans celebrating the Easter holiday. There are not a lot of visitors during the holidays in Costa Rica, but when there are, it is a time to relax on the beaches or join in the Costa Ricans holiday celebrations. In the Costa Rica Easter celebrations, they have processions and depict the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, as most Costa Ricans are of Roman Catholic decent.

During the Thursday and Friday holiday, all transportation is off, and no one is working. That is one of the reasons that there are not many visitors on the holiday, because there is no transportation to any attractions. Everyone celebrates together, and the streets are full of people attending processions. Many businesses are closed the whole week long, so they can celebrate the holiday without any interruption. There are street fairs with dancing, music, traditional food, and what is known as toro a lo tica. Which is basically bullfighting without any bloodshed. The Easter holiday is a time for the locals to put off work and relax.

Festivals during Easter

One very popular festival during the Easter time in Costa Rica is the Fiesta San Vincente de Moravia. This fiesta is a huge party that all locals attend, it is basically a street festival with a lot of partying. It is like a fair with music and dancing all over the streets, and traditional Costa Rican food is served. It is a time for the locals to relax and enjoy their faith. The festivals flood the streets, and all local Costa Ricans participate in the celebration. Some have time off of work for the whole week before Easter Sunday, and have a large festivals throughout the entire week.

The celebrations start the Thursday before Easter and do not stop till Easter Sunday, and even into the Monday after Easter. The holiday however is really only the Thursday and Friday before Easter Sunday, but many locals will celebrate throughout the entire week. In Costa Rica it is one of the largest holidays for the locals, and includes parades, festivals, celebrations, and many other activities. The holiday is of a Christian descent since Catholic is the primary religion, but nowhere else in the world has celebrations for Easter like Costa Rica does.

History of Easter in Costa Rica

Most of the local Costa Ricans are primarily Roman Catholic, so during the Easter time they are celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The Roman Catholic is a descent of Christianity, and during Easter time is the time when Jesus Christ was crucified on the cross. According to the Christian faith, the body of Jesus Christ was put in a tomb, and three days later on a Sunday, Jesus was not in the tomb any longer. The family and disciples were looking for Jesus Christ in his tomb saw him, and Jesus told them he had resurrected to be in Heaven with God. It is celebrated in Costa Rica throughout the entire weekend, as in other parts of the world it is only celebrated on Easter Sunday. That is what makes the holiday so special for the locals, being the largest religious celebrations for them.

Easter falls at the end of a forty six day Lenten season, beginning with ash Wednesday. During the forty six day period, there are six Sundays that fall in the time period. On the last week of the Lenten season, it is considered the holy week. It is the highest festival for the Christian faith, and is a continuation of penitence in preparation for Easter Sunday. In Costa Rica it is one of the largest festivals, even all over the world it is celebrated for being the highest festival in the Christian faith. It is the most important holiday, because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ which pieces together the entire Christian faith.

Original article can be found here: Easter in Costa Rica

While Costa Rica might not be well known for festivals, parades, and parties; there are still a number of major events that happen though out the year. This list represents most of the major holidays and events that happen in Costa Rica thought out the year.

A word of caution; not all of these events are tourist friendly. By that I mean they can be very unsafe situations for tourist. Even if you travel in a group, some of the larger events can draw some locals with bad intentions. Use your best judgment, never travel alone, and be smart with your money and valuables.

JANUARY

• Palmares Civic Fiestas – This is festival rich with culture. During the festival you will see a vast amount of folk dances, rides, music, bullfighting, and more.
• Alajuelita Fiestas – This festival is held honoring the Black Christ of Esquipulas, Alajuelita’s Patron Saint.
• Santa Cruz Fiestas – A typical festival that consists of dancing, marimbas and bullfighting.

FEBRUARY

Check out this post to see what is like during February in Costa Rica.

• San Isidro del General Fiestas – This is the annual agricultural and industrial fair. You can expect to see bullfights and a flower exhibition among other things.
• Fiesta of the Diablitos – This is the annual reenactment of the fight between Indians and the Spanish.
• Puntarenas Carnival – A large carnival like festival that draws a crowd from all over the area.

MARCH

Check out this post to see what is like during March in Costa Rica.

• Dia de los Boyeros (Oxcart Driver’s Day) – This a kind of cool sight to see. On this day the farmers parde oxcarts around down to have them and their crops blessed by local priests.
• National Orchid Show – A small festival that showcases a wide variety of extremely beautiful orchids in COsta Rica.

APRIL

Check out this post to see what is like during April in Costa Rica.

• Holy Week – Being a major Catholic country, you can expect to see lots of festivals and parades all over the country.
• Juan Santamaría Day – This is a national holiday that remembers a soldier who gave his life in the battle against William Walker’s troops in 1856.

MAY

• Puerto Limon – There is usually a carnival and/or festival of sorts every May.
• San Isidro Labrador’s Day – A small holiday that honors the patron saint of farming.
• Corpus Christi Day – A religious holiday that happen on May 29.

JUNE

• Saints Peter & Paul Day – Small religious holiday that falls on June 29. No big festivals, but occasionally there are parades in small towns.

JULY

• Virgin of The Sea – This festival takes place in the fishing town of Puntaranes where the fishing boats honor Puntarenas’ Patron Saint. You will also find parades, dances and fireworks.
• Guanacaste Day – A typical festival in the Gunacaste area.

AUGUST

• Virgin of Los Angeles – A religious holiday that honors Costa Rica’s Patron Saint , “La Negrita” with nationwide pilgrimage to the Basilica in Cartago.

SEPTEMBER

• Costa Rica’s Independence Day – This celebrated on September 15th. There are a variety of festivals all over the country. Some places have parades filled with children and lanterns.

OCTOBER

• Limon Carnival – This is the biggest festival to hit the Carribean side of Costa Rica all year.
• Tres Rios Virgen del Pilar’s Day – Another religous holiday the honors the Patron Saint with parades and costumes made entirely of corn husks and byproducts.

NOVEMBER

• All Souls day – On November 2 Costa Rica celebrates its day of the dead. While its not nearly as exciting as in other countries, you may find a random parade here or there.
• Central Valley Coffee Festival – An all around fun festival with a coffee pick contest, music, food, vendors, and more.

DECEMBER

• Fiesta de los Negritos – This is a popular event held in the Indian village of Boruca. At it, they perform an ancient Indian ritual that honors the Virgin of the Immaculate Conception.
• Nicoya Fiesta de la Yeguita – Another typical Costa Rica festival that is complete with bull fights, music, dancing, fireworks,a nd more.
• Carnival – This is San Joses equivalent of Mardi Gras. A large festival full of music, drinking, food, and events.

Original article can be found here: Festivals in Costa Rica

The Costa Rican flag consists of five horizontal stripes in blue, white, and red. The red stripe, which is located in the center, represents the Costa Rican people. Red is chosen to stand for their love to live and the blood they have shed for their freedom. The red stripe is twice the width of the others. On either side of the red strip is a white stripe. The white stripes represent peace and happiness. The blue stripes on the outer edges represent opportunity, intellect, idealism, and spiritual desires.

There is also a second flag, the Pabellon Nacional, that has the Costa Rican shield on the red stripe. This flag is used in schools, government offices, and on merchant ships. The shield has representations of the seven provinces, the geographic make up of the country, and the words “Republica de Costa Rica” (Republic of Costa Rica) in gold lettering.

History of the Costa Rican Flag

The flag that Costa Rica originally used was the federal flag of the United Provinces of Central America, which had white-blue-white stripes. After the five provinces in the federation became independent countries, Costa Rica continued to base its flag on the Central American banner until 1848.

First Lady Pacífica Fernández Oreamuno designed the current Costa Rican flag in 1848. The First Lady admired was an admirer of France and had the flag modeled after the French flag after the French Revolutionary War. It was created to encompass the ideals of equality, freedom, and brotherhood. This flag was officially adopted on November 27th, 1906.

The national shield on the Pabellon Nacional first appeared at the behest of President Jose María Castro Madriz in 1848. The shield has since been redesigned twice, once in 1906 and again in in 1964. The first change in 1906 removed all war elements from the flag, including cannons and rifles. This was done in order to highlight the peacefulness and civility of the Costa Rican people. The 1964 change added two additional stars representing Limon and Puntarenas, the two new provinces.

With the exception of the shield, the flag that was first adopted in 1848 has flown unchanged over Cost Rica.

Original article can be found here: Costa Rica Flag

Are you a “foodie” or spice lover, an advocate of “green” living and ecology? Is creative cooking one of your favorite hobbies? If so, Villa Vanilla Spice Plantation is the place for you.

Villa Vanilla Spice Plantation is a spice farm in beautiful Costa Rica. Their goal is to be totally sustainable. They grow many different spices, and vanilla, cocoa, and ceylon (cinnamon) are the most popular.

What to Expect
Due to high demand from the tourist population and the hotels in the area, they have created a “Spice Plantation Tour“ where knowledgeable guides identify the various fragrant spices, medicinal plants, and plants from which essential oils are made to visitors.

The tour is a slow ambling walk through the scenic plantation and will appeal to all your senses, during which you will be stopping for samples and inhaling the delightful aromas along the path. As advocates of sustainable development they also demonstrate with pride the cultural practices on the farm which is organic and biodynamic.

Hours of Operation
The Spice Plantation Tour takes only half a day and is available in the morning or afternoon at 9a.m. and 1p.m. You will experience the sights, tastes, and aromas of vanilla, cinnamon, pepper and other tropical spices, essential oil plants, and a wide variety of exotic tropical plants.

Contact Information

Henry Karczynski, Manager:
Cel. 506-8839-2721, Farm 506-2779-1155 (011 prefix)

Website: www.rainforestspices.com
Email: info@rainforestspices.com

Directions from San Jose, Costa Rica
From San Jose, take Pan Am Hwy 1 west driving past the airport. From Alajuela continue your journey heading towards Atenas and S. Mateo. From S. Mateo take the road heading South towards Jaco and Quepos. Just before you reach Quepos there will be a split in the road. Turn left towards Playa Dominical. When you reach the first intersection take a left turn (you will see a service station to your right). Drive 6.2 kms to another split in the road. (passing through a small town called Naranjito.) Take a left turn at the next split in the road and drive for another 3.9 kms. Villa Vanilla will be on the left (the town is called Villanueva).

Original article can be found here: Villa Vanilla Spice Plantation

Christmas in Costa Rica

Costa Rican is a largely based Catholic population. Because of this many citizens celebrate Christmas in Costa Rica with just as much passion as other Catholic countries. Christmas in Costa Rica is an exciting time filled music, lights, trees, decoration, and of course gifts.

It seems that Costa Rican spare no time in getting ready for Christmas. Many businesses and families start to get ready for Christmas in Costa Rica around the middle of November. That’s when you start to see all the holiday sales and lights going up.

Christmas Trees

While there’s not exactly a plethora of pine trees in Costa Rica, there is no shortage cypress trees or coffee branches. Many families decorate dried coffee branches or small cypress tress much like the rest of the world Does.

While Costa Rica follows many of the same Christmas traditions as the rest of the world does. They have one tradition that means the most to them. This is their family nativity scene, or as the call them, portals.

Costa Rica Christmas Traditions
The portal is one of the most important Costa Rica Christmas traditions. Many families put more emphasis on the family portal than the tree. The portal often takes up an entire corner of the house and is always displayed with pride and prominence.

Costa Ricans don’t put the baby Jesus into the manger until midnight on December 24th; which makes since due to the fact that Jesus wasn’t born until then. This is also when the adults celebrate their gift exchange.

Christmas Events in Costa Rica

The main Christmas event in Costa Rica is the Festival de la Luz. During this time, San Jose is decorated with lights and transformed into mesmerizing array of lights and decorations.

There are also plenty of parades including the popular Tope parade. At the Tope, you’ll find horse and bull riders showing off their clothes and skills, floats, bands, clowns, and much more.

Original article can be found here: Christmas in Costa Rica