Trip Planner:   Central America  /  Costa Rica  /  Province of San Jose  /  San Jose Metro  /  San Jose  /  Pre-Columbian Gold Museum

Pre-Columbian Gold Museum, San Jose

4.4

#1 of 57 in Museums in Costa Rica

Specialty Museum Museum Must See

• ©
• ©
• ©
• © +4
• ©
• ©
• ©
• ©

Inspect and observe thousands of artifacts from throughout the country's recorded history at Pre-Columbian Gold Museum. Located underground beneath the central bank, the collection has been building since the 1950s and today holds ancient gold pieces, pottery from well before European contact, and a collection focused on the everyday activities of the country's indigenous peoples. The gift shop sells jewelry, books, and indigenous crafts. See Pre-Columbian Gold Museum and all San Jose has to offer by arranging your trip with our San Jose itinerary planning site .

more less

Create an itinerary including Pre-Columbian Gold Museum

Start planning

Unable to display map at this time. Please try again later.

© OpenMapTiles © OpenStreetMap contributors

Pre-Columbian Gold Museum Reviews

Rate this attraction

TripAdvisor Traveler Rating

2,356 reviews

Google

4.6

• By pammawd

  I was shocked and amazed at the museum. I felt they did an awesome job of explaining the history of Costa Rica. The display of gold was astounding. I also appreciated the other items of their...  more »

• By carlosaN7870CC

  This well curated museum is well worth a visit when in downtown San Jose. While it is not a huge museum, it beautifully displays the history of gold in Costa Rica.  more »

View more on TripAdvisor »

Google

• By Jade Altman

  Excellent experience, a must see if you have the time in San José. It does not take too long to tour the whole building and there is so much to see. Great historical info and so many beautiful pieces to see. The vault with the coins is also particularly interesting. The architecture is also very interesting and the building itself is actually underground, I had a bit of a challenge finding it at first because you can only see the entrance when you are standing in front of it. The gift shop has some lovely jewelry and gifts as well. Highly recommended.

  more less
• By Graham Klym

  This is really three museums in one – the pre-Columbian gold museum, which provides a glimpse of Costa Rica's cultures and people before Europeans arrived; an art exhibition with a heavy focus on the 1970s art movement in Costa Rica; and a "bank vault" exhibit of the evolution of Costa Rican currency. Excellent presentations are found throughout, and the spiraling architecture of the underground museums took me pleasantly by surprise. I was bracing to feel underwhelmed, but the experience was very good. Well worth a couple hours if you're exploring San Jose.

  more less

View more on Google »

Places to stay near Pre-Columbian Gold Museum

Plan your trip to San Jose

• Get a personalized plan

  A complete day-by-day itinerary
  based on your preferences

• Customize it

  Refine your plan. We'll find the
  best routes and schedules

• Book it

  Choose from the best hotels
  and activities. Up to 50% off

• Manage it

  Everything in one place.
  Everyone on the same page.