Costa Rica (Lonely Planet, 9th Edition) - Matthew Firestone [67]
Various organizations fight the sexual exploitation of children in Costa Rica, which you can contact to learn more about the problem or to report any incidents you encounter. For details, see boxed text.
For general information on shopping in Costa Rica, turn to Click here.
eÑe (Map; 2222-7681; cnr Avs 7 & 7bis; 10am-6:30pm Mon-Sat) This hip little design shop across from the Casa Amarilla sells all manner of pieces crafted by Costa Rican designers and artists, including a limited selection of clothing, jewelry, silk-screened T-shirts, handbags, picture frames, zines and works of graphic art.
Galería Namu (Map; 2256-3412; www.galerianamu.com; Av 7 btwn Calles 5 & 7; 9:30am-6:30pm Mon-Sat, 9am-1:30pm Sun) A fair-trade gallery run by Aisling French does a great job of bringing together artwork and crafts from a diverse population of regional ethnicities. Here, you’ll find a lovely array of Boruca masks, finely woven Wounaan baskets, Guaymí dolls, Bribrí canoes, Chorotega ceramics and Huetar carvings, as well as contemporary urban and Afro-Caribbean crafts. They can also help arrange visits to remote indigenous territories in different parts of Costa Rica. See their website for details.
Kiosco SJO (Map; 2258-1829; www.kioscosjo.com; cnr Av 11 & Calle 7; 11am-6pm Mon, 11am-10pm Tue-Sat) With a focus on sustainable design by Latin American artisans, this sleek shop stocks art books, original photography, artisanal chocolates, fashion and contemporary home decor by established regional designers. It’s pricey, but rest assured that everything you find here will be of exceptional quality.
La Casona (Map; Calle Central btwn Avs Central & 1; Mon-Sat) Welcome to the number-one tourist trap in Chepe! What you give up in authenticity, however, you’ll make up for in convenience. Various stalls spread out over two floors stock T-shirts, banana-leaf paper journals and tree-frog stickers. Shop around as some quality crafts can be found.
Mercado Central (Map; Avs Central & 1 btwn Calles 6 & 8; 6am-6pm Mon-Sat) The bustling Central Market is the best place in the city for, well, just about anything you’d want. This is the cheapest place to buy a hammock (Hecho en Nicaragua) or a pura vida T-shirt (Made in China), or a vast assortment of forgettable knickknacks. For something decidedly more Costa Rican, export-quality coffee beans can be bought at a fraction of the price you’ll pay in tourist shops.
Mercado Artesanal (Crafts Market; Map; Plaza de la Democracia; Avs Central & 2 btwn Calles 13 & 15; midmorning-sunset) A touristy open-air market that sells everything from handcrafted jewelry and Bob Marley T-shirts to elaborate woodwork and Guatemalan sarongs.
Rincón del Habano (Map; Calle 7 btwn Avs Central & 1; 9am-6:30pm Mon-Fri, 9:30am-5:30pm Sat) You’ll find a wide selection of cigars in this tiny decade-old shop that sells stogies from all over, including brands from Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Nicaragua and Cuba.
Sol Maya (Map; 2221-0864; cnr Paseo Colón & Calle 20; Sun-Fri) A simple corner shop in La Sabana carries fabric from all over the world, including a decent selection of hand-loomed Guatemalan textiles. Prices are reasonable.
For the country’s finest woodcrafts, it is absolutely worth the trip to visit the Biesanz Woodworks workshop in Escazú (see boxed text).
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GETTING THERE & AWAY
San José is the country’s transportation hub, and it’s likely that you’ll pass through the capital a number of times throughout your travels (whether you want to or not).
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Air
There are two airports serving