signature EXPERIENCE hidden TREASURE

A hidden jewel in the bustling heart of San José, the Pre-Columbian Gold Museum is a treasury of the country’s rich past. This often-overlooked gem houses an extensive collection of over 1,600 hand-carved gold artifacts dating back to AD 500, including animal figurines, amulets, earrings and the famous “El Guerrero” (The Warrior), a life-sized gold warrior figure adorned with gold ornaments. The museum offers a unique window into the sophisticated craftsmanship and cultural practices of Costa Rica’s pre-Columbian societies.

The brightly colored, hand-painted wooden oxcart, or “carreta,” is a keepsake that embodies the spirit of Pura Vida in every brushstroke. Oxcarts were once the primary vehicle for transporting coffee beans, and through these carved, miniature replicas, carretas live on as symbols of the country’s rural heritage and national pride.