Government Offices
Most government offices will be closed Dec. 22 through Jan. 2. The Judicial Investigation Police (OIJ) and Supreme Court will have a limited area open 24 hours a day for emergencies and urgent proceedings, though all administrative areas will be closed.
Hospitals and Pharmacies
Rest assured that hospital emergency rooms will remain open 24 hours a day. The Red Cross (128) and National Insurance Institute (INS) (800-800-8000) also attend emergencies at all hours.
Those who overeat at Christmas dinner can get their Alka-Seltzer and more 24-7 over the holidays at Clínica Biblica drugstore and emergency room (522-1000), in downtown San José; Clínica Católica drugstore and emergency room (283-6616), in the suburb of Guadalupe, northeast of San José; and Farmacia Sucre Los Angeles (262-3111), across from the Más x Menos in Heredia, north of San José.
Banks
Most banks had not established their holiday schedules at press time; however, they are usually closed Dec. 25 and Jan. 1, and some may effect additional closures. Call your bank to confirm its holiday hours: BAC San José (295-9797); Banca Promérica (296-4848); Banco Cuscatlán (299-0200); Banco de Costa Rica (287-9000); Banco Interfin (210-4000); Banco Nacional (211-2000); Banco Popular (211-7000); Bancrédito (550-0202); BANEX (287-1111); Mutual Alajuela (437-1000); Scotiabank (800-1SCOTIA).
Embassies
Holiday closures at major embassies are as follows: British Embassy (258-2025), Dec. 25-27 and Jan. 1-2; Canadian Embassy (242-4400), Dec. 26-27 and Jan. 1; French Embassy (234-4167), no closures; Japanese Embassy (232-3787), Dec. 25 and Dec. 29 through Jan. 3; U.S. Embassy (220-3939), Dec. 25 and Jan. 1.
Supermarkets
Muñoz y Nanne (253-4646) in San Pedro, east of San José, will be operating normally. Saretto (228-6703) in the western suburb of Escazú and PriceSmart (283-9464, 262-6365) stores in Escazú, Heredia and the southeastern district of Zapote will be closed Dec. 25 and Jan. 1.
Most Más x Menos (243-7100) supermarkets will be open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Dec. 25 and Jan. 1, except stores in Alajuela, northwest of San José, Cuesta de Moras in downtown San José and Guadalupe, which will be closed on those holidays. Hipermás (286-0033) in San Sebastián, south of San José, and Heredia will be open 24 hours Dec. 22-23, closing at 10 p.m. Dec. 24, and 8 a.m. to midnight through Dec. 31, closing at 9 p.m. Jan. 1. Palí (243-7100) stores will be open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. during December, except Dec. 24 and 31, when they will close at 7 p.m.
Megasuper (246-0400) supermarkets are open every day through December from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., except for stores in Moravia, northeast of San José; Parque de la Paz, southeast of San José; and the southern suburb of Desamparados, which are open 8 a.m. to midnight.
AutoMercado (257-4242) had not yet defined its holiday schedule at press time.
Mail and Shipping
Aerocasillas (208-4848), DHL (210-3939) and Correos de Costa Rica (202-2900) will be closed Dec. 25 and Jan. 1.
Movie Theaters
At Cinemark Escazú (201-5050) in Multiplaza Escazú and Cinemark del Este (280-0490) in Multiplaza del Este in Zapote, the last show on Dec. 24 and 31 will be at 4 p.m. Cadena de Cines Magaly (CCM) theaters, which represent most of the country’s movie theaters, will have last shows at 7 p.m. on those days.
