The Mercado Nacional de Artesanía (The National Market of Handcrafts) is a trendy market for cottage industry products in San Jose. This market has a fantastic display of local handicrafts and artwork at bargain prices. It also exhibits and sells paintings, sculptures, wood works, ceramics, textiles and other articles.

The Canapi is a state-owned shop for local products and souvenirs. They offer a great spectrum of leather, wood, pottery and textile products at reasonable prices, that represent all the regions of the country. They have some products from other Latin American countries as well.

The Avenida Central is a pedestrian mall where all sorts of interesting shopping can be found. Even if you are not a huge shopping fan, the walk alone down the avenue, without the hustle and bustle of traffic all around, is a nice change. For those who do like to shop, this area is full of rather inexpensive clothing and souvenirs to take home. Depending on a day, there may also be street vendors and folks selling non-local items. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, so just enjoy the outing.

A word of caution however, there may be products for sale that are not friendly to the planet. Please be sensitive to the fact that endangered species may be used in products that are for sale here. While international laws are very specific, enforcement in the shops can be very lenient. Enough said, however, do be sure to bring a camera with you, as along the route, there are several colorful sculptures of cows which do make great Earth friendly photos.

The market is open from approximately 8 am to 6 pm every day except Sunday. Some stores are closed for the lunch hour, others are not, so the best advice is to go early and thus have the opportunity to explore the shops that you want to before they close for lunch.

The Libreria Lehmann S.A. is a major book shop in San Jose. All the well known international newspapers and magazines can be found here. Also it’s a good spot for buying detailed maps of Costa Rica. The books sold here are in English, Spanish, French and German.

The Malety is the shop to stop by, if you are looking to purchase leather goods in San Jose. All of the goods are locally made leather products including purses, bags, wallets, etc. The quality of the leather is very good and there is a large selection of some unique designs.

The Mercado Central is a fun market spot in the center of San José. The market encompasses one entire block. The market itself is a long time fixture of the area having been started in 1880. There are stall after stall of almost anything you can think of to purchase.

The isles are narrow and can become very crowded at times, but the atmosphere is still delightful. If you are staying in San José and have cooking facilities, a trip here is a must. There are fresh fish, fresh flowers, and delicious freshly ground coffee to purchase along with local bread, fruits and vegetables. Add a nice beer, and you have prepared an incredible meal from local products. Need a great souvenir to take home, how about some coffee beans? Be sure to take some of the coffee home for yourself as well as any coffee aficionados on your list. The best advice is to buy whole beans and grind them yourself as the local grind is too fine for most coffee pots. There are also freshly prepared meals here for those who would rather sightsee and shop than cook.

The market is open from dawn to dusk daily. Be sure to have a map of the surrounding area with you in the market, as it is very congested and it is easy to get lost while wandering and exit from a totally different spot from where you entered the market place. Be sure to keep track of your belongings as this crowded area is a haven for the shadier side of society.

The Mercado Borbón is yet another interesting market worth visiting while roaming on the streets of San Jose. It’s an all-in-one place; you can have a traditional meal, buy some crafts, clothes, etc. You can find a bargain on everything here, as long as you know how to haggle.