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Although it might seem more "authentic" to buy your souvenirs at their source, you can find everything in the city, a real bonus if you're pressed for time. If the capital has any real tourist shopping district, it's found loosely in the cluster of streets around Parque Morazán, just north of downtown, an area bounded roughly by
Although it might seem more "authentic" to buy your souvenirs at their source, you can find everything in the city, a real bonus if you're pressed for time. If the capital has any real tourist shopping district, it's found loosely in the cluster of streets around Parque
Although it might seem more "authentic" to buy your souvenirs at their source, you can find everything in the city, a re
Although it might seem more "authentic" to buy your souvenirs at their source, you can find everything in the city, a real bonus if you're pressed for time. If the capital has any real tourist shopping district, it's found loosely in the cluster of streets around Parque Morazán, just north of downtown, an area bounded roughly by Avenidas 1 and 7 and Calles 5 and 9. Stroll and search, because many other businesses congregate in the area as well.
The northeastern suburb of Moravia has a cluster of high-quality crafts and artisan shops—for good reason very popular with tour groups—in the three blocks heading north from the Colegio María Inmaculada high school. The street is two blocks behind the city's church.
Prices in shops are fixed and fair. You may be able to bargain at Mercado Central and the Calle Nacional de Artesania y Pintura, but bargaining isn’t the sport it is in other countries. Haggling, even if not ill-intended, will come off as rude. Your best bet for getting a deal is to simply suggest you’ll come back later and walk away. If the vendors really want to lower the price, they will.
Downtown San José's must-stop shop is Galería Namu, which sells the best indigenous crafts in town. Its inventory brims with colorful creations...Read More
Some 100 souvenir vendors congregate in a block-long covered walkway on the west side of the Plaza de la Democracia. As you approach, the whole...Read More
It's a tad out of the way, but just up the street from the Hotel Aranjuez is the city's best Saturday-morning farmers' market. Stock up on organic...Read More
Ensconced inside Barrio Escalante's trendy Kalú restaurant, equally trendy Kiosco SJO proffers a good selection of locally made woodwork, fabrics...Read More
The small shop off the lobby of the National Theater has a terrific selection of thespian-themed postcards, tote bags, and glassware. You can...Read More
This maze of passageways is where the average Costa Rican comes to stock up on day-to-day necessities, but a few stalls of interest to tourists...Read More
This is a standout among the Moravia shops for its fine carvings made from native cocobolo and guápinol wood. The salad bowls are especially...Read More
If you can't find it at Mundo de Recuerdos, it probably doesn't exist. Here's the largest of the Moravia shops with simply everything—at least...Read More
The small shop in the Jade Museum sells replicas of many of the pieces in the museum collection. The shop is accessible only if you've paid...Read More
The shop at the entrance of the Museo del Oro Precolombino offers a great selection of pre-Columbian-theme jewelry, art, exclusively designed...Read More
In addition to selling everything else imaginable, downtown department store Universal stocks a good selection of Latin CDs in its first-floor...Read More
The affable owners of 7th Street Books make this store the place to stop in and see what's going on in the expat community. It has the city...Read More
The staff and selection at Kaltak Artesanías make it a real standout from all the Moravia shops. Walk in with some unformulated "I'm not sure...Read More
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