Arenal Volcano National Park, San Carlos, Northern Plains.
Hummingbird (Chalybura urochrysia).
Cabuya Beach, Cóbano, Puntarenas
Coffee Plant, Central Valley.
Casona of Santa Rosa, Guanacaste
Toucan (Ramphastos swainsonii)
Conchal Beach, Guanacaste
Coral reef at Playa Cahuita, Limón.
Poás Volcano National Park, Alajuela.
Dance Group, National Theater, San José
Guaria Morada, Escazú.
Arenal Volcano National Park, La Fortuna, San Carlos, Alajuela.
Tortuga Island, Puntarenas
Gandoca Manzanillo National Park, Talamanca, Limón.
Masquerades
Three Toe Sloth, South and Central Pacific.
Red-eye Tree Frog, Humid Forest, Central and South Pacific, Caribbean and Central Valley.
Arenal Volcano National Park, La Fortuna, San Carlos, Alajuela.
Hummingbird (Lampornis calolaema).
Poison Dart Red Frog or Blue Jeans Frog (Dendrobates pumilio).

Culture

Costa Rican Culture
Museums in Costa Rica
List of Museums

Costa Rican Culture

Carretas Tipicas Costarricenses The richness of Costa Rica stems from the cultural diversity of its people. Throughout its history, waves of immigrants have added to the pre-Hispanic native populations, settling on this land and making it their home.

Presently, in addition to the majority Mestizo demographic, there are several colonial and national immigrant ethnicities that have restored their unique cultural heritage like African descendants, Chinese, Hebrews, Libanese, Italians, etc., as well as native people of Bribri, Cabécar, Maleku, Teribe, Boruca, Ngöbe, Huetar and Chorotega.

Costa Ricans are proud to have had more than a century of democratic tradition and more than 50 years without a military. This was abolished in 1948, and the money that the country saves from not having armed forces is invested in improving the quality of life of its citizens. This contributes to the social peace that makes Costa Rica a welcoming place to visit.

Costa Ricans, also known as “Ticos,” are famous for being very hospitable people and they would like to keep this reputation. They are well-mannered and hard working, always willing to offer a smile and a handshake to people.

They know that their country is unique, and they are generally willing to offer help to those visitors that are lost, at times even explaining cultural aspects that a foreigner might find strange, making their stay as pleasant as possible. It is said that “Ticos” are the best asset that the nation has, and once you have experienced their friendliness and spontaneity, you will be convinced.

For more information Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport's Events Calendar

Museums in Costa Rica

Exhibicion Museo San Vicente Costa Rica museums have inherited a rich and diverse cultural heritage, tangible and intangible, whose purpose is to display and educate present and future generations about our past and present.

The most notable collections include gold, jade, pre-Colombian ceramics and stone pieces, colonial religious art, contemporary art, and natural history.

Costa Rica possesses an important group of museums dedicated to collecting, preserving, and displaying the cultural heritage, and imparting our values. They are located throughout the country and uphold the legacy, which reflects the contributions of the indigenous, Afro-Costa Rican, Asian, European, and Central American populations.

Bailes Garífunas The museums go beyond just collecting, by categorizing and searching for meaning of the past and the present in a didactic way. This allows Costa Ricans to face the future with a sense of identity, community, importance and a complete concept of sustainable human development. In addition, it gives foreign visitors a first-hand look at the towns of yesterday and today that make up our country.

At the end of the last century, a movement arose among some towns to have their own museums. This number of towns has increased.

These are known as community museums and reflect the will of the communities to recover, preserve, share, and communicate the importance of their cultural aspects, whether they be traditions, customs, or local folklore.

These museums have arisen in small towns with a large cultural mix and a rich history and that have shown their commitment to recovery, revitalization and sharing of their traditions, as well as the improvement in the quality of life of its inhabitants.

The most notable community museums are the Abangares Mines museum, the Indigenous Boruca museum, and the Chortega Ceramics museum in San Vicente, Nicoya. These museums are educational, respresentative, and integrating tools within the community, with the goal that the cultural and natural heritage of the local area be respected, valued, and admired as a product of social history to be shared with visitors.