At the heart of San José, stands an architectural monument that not only bears witness to Costa Rican history, but is also a guardian of the evolution of communication: the Costa Rican Post Philatelic Museum.

Built in 1917 by the prestigious company The English Construction Company Ltd, under the direction of the Catalan architect Luis Llach Llagostera, this building rises majestically thanks to the technique of reinforced concrete and iron. The design, combining academicist historicism and Art Nouveau elements, makes it an exceptional architectural jewel in the Costa Rican urban setting.

Declared an Architectural Historical Heritage of the nation in 1980, this building with its imposing monumental façade houses the Philatelic Museum, an institution founded in 1985 that plays a crucial role in the preservation and dissemination of Costa Rica’s postal and philatelic history.

The museum’s mission goes beyond simply exhibiting stamps. It houses a valuable collection of Costa Rican and international stamps, as well as artifacts related to the country’s postal service. Through this collection, visitors can discover the evolution of communication through correspondence and postage stamps, understanding the historical and cultural importance that these objects represent.

Besides preserving historical objects and documents, the Philatelic Museum educates the community about the importance of written communication and the value of postage stamps as artistic expressions. With various exhibitions and events since its inauguration, the museum offers a unique look at the history of the world through postage stamps.

Philatelic Museum
Philatelic Museum

The Collection of the Costa Rican Post Philatelic Museum

From its beginning in 1985, the Costa Rican Post Philatelic Museum has hosted several events and exhibitions. The museum is dedicated to preserving and exhibiting postage stamps from around the world, as well as from Costa Rica and the Americas. Exhibits are open to the general public and feature a wide variety of stamps and illustrations in different techniques.

Some of the exhibits include:

World Hall: This exhibit features stamps from different countries depicting constellations, planets and famous astronauts.

Calypso Hall: It exhibits musical instruments characteristic of Calypso, as well as stamps depicting the ships that brought the first African descendants to Costa Rica and photos of the city of Limón in the early 20th century.


Costa Rica Room: Presents stamps from the 1960s and 1970s depicting important events in Costa Rica’s history, such as the Olympic Games and the visit of J.F. Kennedy.


Children’s Room: A section featuring stamps with popular characters from Star Wars, Narnia and Disney movies.

Besides, the museum offers guided tours that take visitors on a journey through the history of the country and different nations in Africa, America, Europe, Asia and Oceania. During the tour, visitors can interact with real telegraphs, use early 20th century magnetic telephones and learn more about the world of postal services in each exhibit room.

Visitors can schedule a guided tour by contacting the museum at least five days in advance through the following media:

Phone: (506) 2223-6918 extensions 204 / 205
Email: [email protected]

The museum is located on the second floor of the San Jose Central Post Office and is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 11:50 a.m. and from 1:00 p.m. to 4:50 p.m. The entrance fee is ₡740, which includes a postcard that can be sent anywhere in the world.