Dinosaurs to Butterflies: What We Learned and What to Expect at Costa Rica’s Natural Science Museum

Since we had a few extra days in San Jose, Costa Rica, we decided to venture off the beaten path and check out a museum that doesn’t make it onto most travel itineraries. Oh sure the locals know about it and local families and schools love to take the kids there but it’s kind of hidden in an industrial-looking compound behind a gate. Nestled at the bottom of the Sabana neighborhood, near La Sabana Metropolitan Park (home to the National Stadium), the Costa Rica Natural Science Museum is a hidden gem* waiting for you to explore their collections of natural world specimens, such as birds, mammals, plants, rocks, minerals, and fossils.

*We truly hate the phrase “hidden gem” and feel it is over used because seriously, in this day how many spots are still ‘hidden’, but this one time it’s totally applies!)

Fun Fact: Translating the names of place in other counties can be confusing; we’ve seen this one called “La Salle Natural Sciences Museum”, “Natural Science Museum La Salle”, “Museo de Ciencias Naturales La Salle”, “Museo de Ciencias Naturales La Salle Museum” and more

For nature lovers, this place is a goldmine. Did you know Costa Rica hosts nearly 6% of the world’s plant and animal species? The Natural Science Museum, or Museo La Salle as it’s officially known, offers insight into this incredible natural wealth. According to their website, they’ve got over 65,000 specimens on display – that’s one of the biggest natural history collections in all of Central America!

Getting there

Now, finding this place can be a bit tricky. It’s in the same industrial-looking compound as the Department of Agriculture (check out our activity video on YouTube for a visual), so you might end up scratching your head when you arrive at the gate. Trust us, Google Maps is your best friend here.

Quick heads up: We visited in February 2024, so prices and exhibits might have shuffled around a bit since then. It’s always a good idea to swing by the official museum website for the latest info before you head out. You know how these things go – better safe than sorry!

We posted info about how to get there, what hours they are open, ticket costs etc in “Our 3-Day San Jose Itinerary: Museums, Art, and Culture” post!

What will you see at the National Science Museum?

When you enter the Costa Rica Natural Science Museum you are greeted by an atrium type lobby with models of several dinosaurs. Around that are displays of rocks, minerals and fossils.

In separate corridors off the main area there are displays featuring mammals, birds and fish as well as a fairly large room dedicated almost exclusively to butterflies. Man, they love their butterflies in Costa Rica. 

Each hallway exhibit has a different focus – Ornithology, Mammals, Fish and Amphibians………. Hundreds of examples are presented of various members of that ‘family’ of creature inside the Costa Rica Natural Science Museum

They have thoughtfully put tracks on the floor that will lead you around the entire Costa Rica Natural Science Museum using the most logical and efficient route. Start out by staying to your left. The tracks change, they start as dinosaur tracks but at one point they’re bird tracks.

If you go with kids to the Costa Rica Natural Science Museum ask them how many types of tracks do you see as we toured the exhibits?

The Costa Rica Natural Science Museum’s exhibit halls are filled with taxidermy work dating back to the early 1960’s. The animals are grouped together fairly logically – the emu is nowhere near the parrots, for example. Nor is the brown bear in the same case as the hyenas. There are over 50,000 taxidermy works here from fish to birds to mammals

The butterfly exhibit was almost exhausting to me. There are so many examples on display – over 8,000 –  that I reached a point of not even wanting to see another butterfly. However, I don’t see as many shades of colors as some folks so what looks like 18 blue butterflies to me looks like 6 groups of 3 differently blue butterflies to someone else.

Prefer to watch videos? Here’s a few we filmed while in San Jose Costa Rica

What else is there to see in San Jose Costa Rica besides the Costa Rica Natural Science Museum?

If you’re looking to make the most of your time in San Jose, don’t miss our other posts! We’ve got you covered with “Our 3-Day San Jose Itinerary: Museums, Art, and Culture” for a whirlwind tour of the city’s highlights. For those watching their wallets, check out “San Jose on Foot: 11 Budget-Friendly Things to do in San Jose, Costa Rica“. And if you’re a fan of the performing arts and grand buildings, our post on the “Teatro Nacional de Costa Rica” is a must-read. These guides, along with this Natural Science Museum adventure, will help you uncover the best of what San Jose has to offer. Whether you’re into nature, culture, or just wandering the streets, we’ve got a little something for everyone.

Fun Things to Do in San Jose, Costa Rica