Things to do in Malpais
Explore top experiences
Top 10 attractions in Malpais
Playa Mar Azul
Malpais · 1km from downtown
Playa Cabo Blanco
Cobano · 5.4km from Malpais
Miguel’s Saddle
Cobano · 11.9km from Malpais
Playa Ventanitas
Malpais · 2.3km from downtown
La Selva Cerveza Artesanal Brewery
Cobano · 6km from Malpais
Tambor Beach
Tambor · 20.2km from Malpais
Playa Cocal
Cobano · 7.6km from Malpais
Playa suecos
Malpais · 763m from downtown
National Museum of Costa Rica
National Museum of Costa Rica is located in the heart of San Jose, next to Plaza de la Democracia. The yellow fortress-like building is a piece of history in itself: the outer walls still bear bullet marks from the 1948 civil war. On December 1 of that same year, José Figueres Ferrer famously swung a sledgehammer against the western wall of the barracks to announce the abolition of the army. Later, the barracks were officially converted into a museum, transforming from a military fortress into a cultural space. The visit begins at the butterfly garden near the entrance. The central courtyard displays several Diquis stone spheres; these perfectly round prehistoric stone spheres are highly recognizable artifacts of Costa Rica, and their discovery sites were inscribed on the World Heritage List in 2014. The museum's exhibitions follow a chronological timeline: the Pre-Columbian hall uses hundreds of artifacts, such as pottery, jade carvings, and grinding stones, to tell the story of the life and beliefs of the inhabitants before the arrival of the Spanish; the Gold Hall displays animal-shaped gold ornaments and miniature shaman figures; the Colonial and Republican History halls use old photographs and artifacts to show how coffee, bananas, and the railway changed the country; in the exhibition area converted from old prison cells, graffiti carved by prisoners in the 1930s and 1940s still remains on the walls. After viewing the exhibitions, you might want to head to the second-floor terrace and the central courtyard to overlook downtown San Jose.Costa Rica · San Jose
Poás Volcano National Park
Poás Volcano National Parkfeatures the active Poás Volcano as its centerpiece, with an elevation of approx. 2,700m, and the summit houses a massive main crater. Standing at the viewing platform, you can look down at the volcanic lake named 'Laguna Caliente': its surface shimmers with a mix of milky white and blue-green hues, constantly churning with sulfurous smoke, with liquid sulfur settled at the bottom. In stark contrast to the scorching main crater is Botos Lake on the south side: it lies quietly in a crater that has been dormant for thousands of years, with cool, emerald-green water surrounded by cloud forests. Along the forest trail to the lake, hummingbirds and toucans often flit through branches draped in moss and epiphytes, and you may occasionally encounter resplendent quetzals and Poás magnolias.Costa Rica · Poas
Experiences you can't miss in Malpais
Featured Day tours in Malpais
View all Day tours
Free cancellation
Book now for tomorrow
5% off
Limited-time sale
FromKRW 152,776KRW 160,817
4.4/5
· 128 reviewsFree cancellation
Book now for tomorrow
FromKRW 50,317
4.8/5
· 23 reviewsFree cancellation
Book now for tomorrow
FromKRW 132,411
4.9/5
· 279 reviewsFree cancellation
Book now for tomorrow
98.2% of travelers recommend
FromKRW 119,170
4.8/5
· 136 reviewsFree cancellation
Book now for tomorrow
94.1% of travelers recommend
FromKRW 263,498
4.7/5
· 6 reviewsFree cancellation
Book now for tomorrow
FromKRW 185,905
Featured Water activities in Malpais
View all Water activities
5.0/5
· 13 reviewsFree cancellation
Book now for tomorrow
FromKRW 3,389,715
FromKRW 152,273
Free cancellation
Book now for tomorrow
5% off
Limited-time sale
FromKRW 86,698KRW 91,262
Free cancellation
Book now for tomorrow
FromKRW 158,893
Free cancellation
Book now for tomorrow
FromKRW 165,514
What travellers say about Malpais
099***5014 August 2022
5.0
The overall environment is good, the facilities are complete, and it also meets the epidemic prevention standards. It's good
National Museum of Costa Rica