Natural Science Museum La Salle — Attraction in Mata Redonda

Amazing collection of species and rocks/minerals. -Located in San jose at the South west corrner of the Sabana park. You enter through security gate and walk to end of road and turn right. Security gaurds will give directions. Entrance fee when you get to the door is cheap, 2000 colones. There is a suggested path to follow (probilly so guests are moving in the same direction), just follow the foot prints on the ground.

-This place must have over a million specimens, every room/display case/wall is packed with jars and specimens. At first it doesnt look that big, but each hallway off the main square is huge with tones of displays.

Wide variaty from rocks/minerals/ to sea crabs, snakes, reptiles, fish, water mammals, every kind of bug possible with alot of butterflies, human fetus, every kind of bird from small to toucan to Emu, Land mammals and rodents, even dinosaurs. This has it all.

-There is outside seating area

-Depending how interested you are in looking closely at each species or just some, you could spend 20 min with quick walk/glance or 20 hours looking at each one. Lots to see. They all have a species name, and translated to English if in another language, but not alot of other info.

-Was not very busy when i went there, say maybe 3 other groups/couples/familys walking. Oct 2022

-You are allowed to take pictures but no flash photography and no touching things(alto they are mostly all behind glass)

-Hall and display lights are on sensors, when no one is around the lights turn off and they respond to motion to turn back on. So when you walk up the display lights turn on.

I am glad i did this museum at the beginning of my 2 weeks in costa rica as it helped me identify some birds and bugs later on. I recommend it, i think you can get tour guide also, but i was fine walking around looking for myself.

Like this review below if...

A GREAT, small, no frills museum that has EVERYTHING ... from shells & fossils to dinosaurs ... from the nicest & most beautiful butterfly collection to alligators & crocs ... AND ... EVERYTHING ELSE from aardvarks ... to even a whale!

While a few of the taxidermied exhibits are showing a little age ... The sheer magnitude of this collection in the relatively small footprint is mind boggling! It was well thought out & executed appropriately.

The museum self tour price is ridiculously low!

And while the staff was not bilingual, they were EXTREMELY conscientious & invaluable in helping with an after hours transportation dilemma ... even refusing to leave until their guests were on their way!

Well done! ... Our hats are off to you ......

Interesting museum in a not that pretty location but with a great variety of species and exhibits and a fair price. You should go there if you want to see some exhibits and stuffed animals but don't expect more.

Was there for 2 hours, but I walked very slowly through the exhibition. The entrance was 2.000 CRC for adults and 1.500 CRC for children. The exhibition presents a wide variety. From stuffed birds and other animals, butterflies, dinosaur replicas, rocks to corals. There are nearly no information signs for detailed description and the few ones are only on spanish. The design of the exhibition and the location is simple and nothing special. At the entrance you have to pass a barrier. You get the Wifi-Password if you ask...