Galería Namu

Galería Namu Review

Downtown San José's must-stop shop is Galería Namu, which sells Costa Rican folkloric art and the best indigenous crafts in town. Its inventory brims with colorful creations by the Guaymí, Boruca, Bribri, Chorotega, Huetar, and Maleku peoples—all Costa Rican indigenous groups. You can also find exquisitely carved ivory-nut Tagua figurines and baskets made by the indigenous Wounan people from Panama's Darién region and Tuno textiles from Honduras's Miskito coast. Take note of carved balsa masks, woven cotton blankets, and hand-painted ceramics.

The store looks expensive—and indeed, the sky's the limit in terms of prices—but if your budget is not so flush, say so: the good folks here can help you find something in the $10-$20 range that will make a more cherished souvenir of your trip than a Pura Vida T-shirt. As a bonus you'll get an information sheet describing your work's creator and art style. Namu has a reputation for fair prices for customers, and for fair pay to artists or artisans.