Museo de Ciencias Naturales La Salle, San Jose

Museo de Ciencias Naturales La Salle, San Jose

La Salle Museum of Natural Sciences (Museo de Ciencias Naturales La Salle) is a national museum of Costa Rica located in the Mata Redonda district, Barrio La Salle. The museum is a non-profit Civil Association with cultural and public interest and is part of the pedagogical structure of La Salle University and La Salle College. The museum was founded in 1960 by brother Eduardo Fernández Bárcena and is renowned for its numerous copies of great historical and scientific value, making it one of the most complete museums in Latin America.

The museum houses an impressive collection of over 70,000 pieces on display, including sections on paleontology, geology, malacology, ornithology, entomology, marine and freshwater fish, reptiles, mammals, and different species preserved in liquids.

The paleontology section boasts magnificent replicas of large dinosaurs and fossil specimens of primitive animals. The geology section includes fossil specimens, rocks, and minerals. The malacology section has a collection of shells and mollusks.

The ornithology section has the most varied bird collection. The entomology section boasts the largest collection of butterflies in the country. The museum's collection of marine and freshwater fish, reptiles (including crocodiles, iguanas, turtles, and snakes), and mammals is also impressive.

The museum's extensive collection includes numerous copies of great historical and scientific value, one of the most complete in Latin America. The museum is a great place to learn about the natural history of Costa Rica and the world.

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in San Jose. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

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Museo de Ciencias Naturales La Salle on Map

Sight Name: Museo de Ciencias Naturales La Salle
Sight Location: San Jose, Costa Rica (See walking tours in San Jose)
Sight Type: Museum/Gallery

Walking Tours in San Jose, Costa Rica

Create Your Own Walk in San Jose

Create Your Own Walk in San Jose

Creating your own self-guided walk in San Jose is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Shopping and Food Walking Tour

Shopping and Food Walking Tour

Walking the pedestrian-friendly promenades of Costa Rica's capital – San Jose – is a great way to experience the local culture. Despite an occasional rainstorm, the country's tropical weather makes outdoor shopping an undeniably fun experience. The downtown part of San Jose has no shortage of department stores, traditional marketplaces and souvenir shops selling handcrafts.

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Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.1 Km or 0.7 Miles
San Jose Introduction Walking Tour

San Jose Introduction Walking Tour

The history of San Jose, the capital city of Costa Rica, is that of growth and transformation. Founded in 1736 by the Spanish colonial administration (Cabildo de León) to concentrate the scattered inhabitants of the area, San Jose lacked formal city status until 1812. Surprisingly, but only two years later, the status was revoked. However, in 1820, it was reinstated, and San Jose became Costa...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.2 Km or 2 Miles
Historical Buildings Tour

Historical Buildings Tour

What's known today as San Jose, the capital of Costa Rica, came into being as a small settlement during the Spanish invasion, circa the mid-16th century. From a town of little importance, San Jose eventually evolved into a densely-populated cosmopolitan city, built mostly with proceeds from coffee trade.

The historic architecture of San Jose is a mix of European and Latin American styles...  view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.7 Km or 1.1 Miles

Useful Travel Guides for Planning Your Trip


17 Uniquely Costa Rican Things to Buy in San Jose

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