Located in San José, Costa Rica, the Pre-Columbian Gold Museum (Museo del Oro Precolombino Álvaro Vargas Echeverría) offers you a fascinating look into ancient craftsmanship. Owned and curated by the Banco Central de Costa Rica, this unique venue sits in an underground subterranean building directly underneath the Plaza de la Cultura. You should visit to explore an extraordinary archaeological collection featuring 3,567 Pre-Columbian artifacts, which includes 1,922 ceramic pieces, 46 stone objects, 4 jade items, and 9 glass or bead objects.
The highlight of the museum is its impressive gold collection dating from 300–400 BC to 1550 AD, comprising 1,586 gold objects. As you wander through the exhibits, you will see how gold served as a powerful symbol of authority in Costa Rican history. What to see includes intricate amulets, earrings, erotic statuettes, and animal figurines depicting frogs, eagles, jaguars, alligators, and deer.
Additionally, you can admire El Guerrero—a life-sized gold warrior figure adorned with gold ornaments—alongside a detailed scale model of a Pre-Columbian village and a replica of a pre-Columbian grave. Your visit also covers the ground-level Museo Numismático and Casa de Moneda, which showcase coins, banknotes, coffee tokens, and Costa Rica's first coin from 1825.
What to see at Pre-Columbian Gold Museum
- Extensive collection of 1,586 Pre-Columbian gold objects dating back to 300–400 BC
- El Guerrero, a striking life-sized gold warrior figure displayed in a glass case
- A replica of a pre-Columbian grave containing 88 gold objects discovered in the 1950s
- Detailed animal figurines depicting frogs, eagles, jaguars, alligators, and deer
- Ground-level coin museum featuring Costa Rica's first coin, the 1825 Media Escudo
Visiting tips
Be sure to head to the ground level of the building to visit the Museo Numismático and Casa de Moneda to see historical banknotes, coffee tokens, and Costa Rica's earliest minted coins.
How long: 1-2 hours · Best time: Early morning
How to get there & what’s nearby
Pre-Columbian Gold Museum is easy to reach on San José’s public transport, and pairs naturally with National Theatre of Costa Rica and Museum of Jade and Pre-Columbian Culture. For where to stay, the weather and full itineraries, see our San José travel guide.
See the full San José travel guide for where to stay, the best time to visit and the top things to do.