San José Central Market, Indoor retail market in downtown San José, Costa Rica.
San José Central Market is a large covered shopping space occupying an entire city block with over 200 shops and stalls connected by passages and corridors. The stalls sell fresh produce, meat, fish, vegetables, herbs, and local goods that fill the space with daily movement and commerce.
The market opened in 1880 as San José grew from a small settlement into Costa Rica's capital city. It was built to serve as a central trading hub for the expanding urban population.
Small food stalls inside serve authentic Costa Rican dishes like gallo pinto and casado that reflect generations of local cooking traditions. You can watch and taste how everyday meals are prepared and eaten by people from the neighborhood.
The market is open Monday through Saturday with main entrances on Avenida Central and nearby streets. It gets crowded during the day, so keep your belongings secure and be aware of your surroundings.
La Sorbetera de Lolo Mora, a small shop inside the market, has made ice cream using the same century-old recipe and techniques since it was founded. This shop is known for its singular flavor that comes from following the original formula exactly.
Location: San José
GPS coordinates: 9.93471,-84.08202
Latest update: December 6, 2025 17:41
Costa Rica spans 19,700 square miles (51,100 square kilometers) between the Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea, offering photographers a concentration of varied landscapes within a compact area. The country maintains over 30 national parks and protected areas, including Arenal Volcano, whose near-perfect cone rises 5,479 feet (1,670 meters) above surrounding rainforest, and Monteverde Cloud Forest, where mist drifts through canopy vegetation supporting rare species such as the resplendent quetzal. Rio Celeste flows through Tenorio Volcano National Park, displaying its characteristic turquoise color from volcanic minerals, while Tabacon Hot Springs delivers naturally heated water from underground sources. Coastal regions present diverse subjects, from the beaches of Manuel Antonio National Park, where white-faced capuchin monkeys move through trees, to Cahuita National Park on the Caribbean coast with its coral reefs. The Nicoya Peninsula and Papagayo Peninsula provide access to Tamarindo Beach and Santa Teresa Beach, while the southern zone includes Marino Ballena National Park, named for its whale-shaped sandbar visible at low tide. Tortuga Island, off the coast of Puntarenas, serves as a day-trip destination. Inland, San Jose Central Market documents daily commerce, the National Theater displays neoclassical architecture from 1897, and Guayabo National Monument preserves pre-Columbian ruins. Cerro Chirripó rises to 12,533 feet (3,820 meters) as the country's highest point, offering views of both oceans in clear conditions.
National Theatre of Costa Rica
580 m
La Sabana Metropolitan Park
2.3 km
National Museum of Costa Rica
1.2 km
Pre-Columbian Gold Museum
601 m
Parque de Diversiones
5.7 km
Metropolitan Cathedral of San José
418 m
Melico Salazar Theatre
317 m
Castillo Azul
1.2 km
Parque del Este
8 km
Post Bulding Central Office
236 m
Torres Paseo Colón
971 m
Costa Rican Center of Science and Culture
733 m
Costa Rican Center of Science and Culture
750 m
Castillo del Moro
746 m
Parque España
925 m
Plaza Cleto González Víquez
1.4 km
BN Arena
2.9 km
Steinvorth Building
409 m
Museum of Contemporary Art and Design
1.1 km
Biblioteca Nacional Miguel Obregon Lizano
1.2 km
Bocaraca
5.8 km
Maroy Building
648 m
Omar Mosque and Islamic Center of Costa Rica
2.6 km
Herdocia building
282 m
Vistas de Nunciatura
3.3 km
Torre Latitud Los Yoses
2.1 km
Luis Olle Building
366 m
Spirogyra Butterfly Farm Park Garden
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