Municipal Crafts Market

The Municipal Crafts Market in San Jose is a covered indoor market dedicated to Costa Rican handmade crafts — and it's open every single day of the year, including public holidays. For traveling families caught in a San Jose rain shower or simply looking for a meaningful souvenir experience, this is one of the best indoor stops in the city center.

The market occupies a dedicated building near the Parque de las Garantías Sociales in downtown San Jose, with stalls packed with colorful indigenous masks, hand-carved oxcarts (a UNESCO-recognized Costa Rican craft), hammock chairs, leather goods, jade jewelry, and coffee products. Everything is predominantly Costa Rican-made, which sets it apart from outdoor souvenir vendors who often stock mass-produced imports.

For kids, the market functions as a treasure hunt. The dense rows of stalls, vibrant colors, and variety of unusual objects (painted wooden toucans! miniature volcanoes!

sloth plush toys made from recycled fabric! ) keep them engaged in a way that standard shopping rarely does. Let kids browse with a small budget to pick their own souvenir — the decision-making process usually generates great conversations about what they've seen and experienced in Costa Rica.

Prices are generally reasonable and bargaining is accepted; a polite counter-offer is standard practice.