No visit to Costa Rica would be complete without a decent dash of history mixed in with all the nature, wildlife, adventure, and relaxation. An excellent introduction to the country and its past and its culture is a tour of Cafe Britt's plantation, where visitors get to see, learn, and taste one of Costa Rica's most important historical resources, coffee. Cacao, another plant that played an integral role in Costa Rica's formation, is explored in-depth at the Museo de Cacao along the Caribbean coast, a region rich in culture yet often overlooked. In the capital city of San Jose, the Jade Museum and the Museum of Pre-Colombian Gold provide history buffs with a treasure trove of artifacts and ancient art, while the National Theater's stunning architecture is a testament to the country's European history. The Basílica de Nuestra Señora de los Ángeles is a beautiful Roman Catholic church in classic Byzantine style, built in 1639, nestled at the base of the Irazu Volcano in Costa Rica.
An interactive tour of a real coffee farm is fun for the whole family...
Calle 16, Avenidas. 2-4, 7 blocks east of central square
Popular Catholic Church in a suburb of San Jose...
A complete education and exploration of cacao on a former cacao plantation on the Caribbean coast...
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Inaugurated in 1897, the National Theater opened with a performance of the opera Faust...
Avenida 7, between calle 9 and 11
A collection of precious jade artifacts and pre-Colombian pottery housed in a shiny black glass building...
Avenida 3, calle 15/17
A full city block of modern art, live performance, and design...
The best little museum to see all types of art by Costa Ricans under one roof...
Gigantic park in the middle of San Jose with a lake, trails, and lots of activities...
Calle 17
One-stop shop of a museum for gold, jade, artifacts, and Costa Rican history...
calle 4, avenue 9
Educational, interactive fun for the whole family at the children's museum...