Costa Rica Shopping – Shops, Stores, Best Buys & Insider Tips

Costa Rica Shopping

Many visit Costa Rica seeking fun, adventure, and great food. However, the lush rainforest-filled country that is one of the world’s top three surfing destinations also has many places to shop for local, historical, cultural, and novelty pieces.

Gift Shops

Almost all the hotels in Costa Rica have a gift shop selling folk art, clothing, novelty items, souvenirs, coffee, and chocolate. The museum gift shop at the Gold Museum is open to the public and carries pre-Columbian art inspired jewelry and handmade arts and crafts from Costa Rica’s indigenous regions. Most gift shops sell similar items, so look for the best price before purchasing. The streets of Moravia in San Jose are filled with souvenir shops and are the best place to find the wooden carriage of coffee that is symbolic of Costa Rica’s coffee culture.

Shopping in Quepos

Manuel Antonio, home to the national park, has several shops lining the road leading to the park with many more found outside of Playa Espadilla Norte. Aside from water, juices, and fruits, these shops sell different Pareos styles, including sarongs, hand-made ceramics, woodcrafts, sculptures, paper, kitchen items, music, jewelry, postcards, and novelty gifts like t-shirts and magnets. Some stores offer great prices while others specialize in rare, quality products like Mot Mot Gallery with its beautiful wood sculptures.

For a unique experience check out Amy’s workshop above the Café Del Mar where she makes hand-painted t-shirts, beach bags, and canvases. Purchase one already complete or request something special on demand.

Other Places to Shop

Jaco shopping offers many surf stores, clothing shops, and unique souvenir finds and art pieces. Other places to visit for unique and novelty finds include Arenal, Tortuguero, Sarachi, and Nosara.

Editor’s note: The information contained on this page was compiled using real traveler reviews about Costa Rica shopping.