BANKS: BAC San José (2295-9595), closed Dec. 25 and Dec. 30-Jan. 1. Open Dec. 24 until 1 pm. Banco Proamérica (2519-8090, 2258-2212) open Dec. 24 until 3 p.m., closed Dec. 25 and Dec. 30-Jan. 1; normal business hours over the holiday period. Banco de Costa Rica (2287-9000) branches will be closed at 4 p.m., Dec. 24, and will be closed Dec. 30-31. Banco Nacional (2212-2000) branches will close at 3:45 p.m., Dec. 24 and will be closed Dec. 30-31. Banco Popular (2211-7000) will close Dec. 24 and 31. Mutual Alajuela (2437-1000) open until 3 p.m. on Dec. 24, closed Dec. 25 and 31. Scotiabank (2210-4000) open until 3 p.m. on Dec. 24, closed Dec. 25 and Jan. 1. DAVIVIENDA (2287-1111) call for holiday business hours.
EMBASSIES: Holiday closures at major embassies are as follows: British Embassy (2258-2025) closed Dec 24-26 and Jan. 1. Canadian Embassy (2242-4400) closes Dec. 24 at noon, through Dec. 27, also closed Jan. 1. French Embassy (2234-4167) closed Dec. 24-25, 31 and Jan 1. Japanese Embassy (2232-3787) closed Dec. 25 and Dec. 29-Jan. 3. U.S. Embassy (2220-3939) closed Dec. 24-25, Jan. 1.
Government offices: Most government offices will be closed Dec. 23-Jan. 2. The Judicial Investigation Police (OIJ) and Supreme Court will have a limited area open 24 hours a day for emergencies, although all administrative areas will be closed. For emergencies, dial 911.
Hospitals and Pharmacies: Rest assured that hospital emergency rooms will remain open 24 hours a day. The Red Cross (tel. 128) and National Insurance Institute (800-800-8000) also attend emergencies at all hours. Those who over-eat Christmas dinner can find Alka-Seltzer and more 24-7 over the holidays at Clínica Bíblica Hospital drugstore and emergency room (2522-1000) in downtown San José, La Católica Hospital drugstore and emergency room (2246-3000) in Guadalupe and Farmacia Sucre Los Angeles (2262-3111) in Heredia.
Mail and Shipping: Aerocasillas (2208-4848) and DHL (2209-0000) will be open during normal business hours, except Dec. 25 and Jan. 1. Correos de Costa Rica (2202-2900) will be closed Dec. 25-Jan. 1.
Movie Theaters: Most theaters throughout the country report no closures during the holidays this year. CitiCinemas Grecia (2444-1779) and CitiCinemas Jacó (2643-2100) will close at 7 pm. on Dec. 24 and 31.
Museums: The Central Bank Museums (home to the Gold Museum, 2243-4202) underneath Plaza de la Cultura and the Children’s Museum (2258-4929) at Ca. 4, Av 9 will be closed Dec. 24-25 and 31 and Jan. 1. The National Museum (2257-1433) at Ca. 17, Av. Central will be closed Dec. 23-26 and Dec. 31-Jan.3 The Contemporary Art and Design Museum (2257-9370) at CENAC, Av 3/5, Ca. 15/17 will close Dec. 24 and reopen Jan. 7. INBioparque (2507-8107) in Santo Domingo de Heredia will be open Dec. 26, 9 a.m.- 5:30 pm. and will be closed Dec. 24-25, 31 and Jan. 1.
Supermarkets: Most Auto Mercado (2257-4242) stores will be open 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Dec. 25 and 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Dec. 31 except Herradura, Tamarindo and Coco, which will be open 9 a.m.-10 p.m. Dec. 25 and 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Jan 1. Walmart (2286-0033) stores in Heredia, Escazú, Guadalupe, San Sebastián, Cartago and Curridabat will close at 9 pm. Dec. 24, and remain closed Dec. 25, 31 and Jan. 1. Stores will be open 8 a.m.-10 p.m. Dec 26-30. Most Mas x Menos (2243-7100) supermarkets will be open until 9 pm. Dec. 24 and 31 and from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Dec. 25 and Jan. 1. MegaSuper (2246-0400) will be open until 10 pm. Dec. 24 and 31, and 9 a.m. -7 p.m. Dec. 25 and Jan. 1. Muñoz y Nanne (2253-4646) in San Pedro will be open 8 a.m.-10 p.m. Dec. 24, 30 and 31 and will close at 6 p.m. Dec. 29. Pali (2243-7100) stores will be open 8:30 a.m.-7:30pm. Dec. 24, 30 and 31 and 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Dec 25 and Jan 1. PriceSmart stores in Escazú (2288-0008), Heredia (2262-4848) Zapote (2283-9464) and Tibás (2297-2343) will be closed Dec. 25 and Jan. 1; on Dec. 24 and 31, stores will open 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saretto (2228-6703) supermarket in Escazú will be closed Dec. 25 and Jan. 1 and will maintain regular business hours all other days.
Theaters: Arlequín (2221-5485) at Ca. 15, Av. 2/6, is closed until Jan. 11. Teatro Torres (2256-4295 at Av. 8, Ca 11/13, closed Dec. 24 and 31 with the play Divorciados y Angelicas. La Esquina Theater (2257-0223) at Av. 1. Ca 21, reopens Jan 5. El Triciclo Theater (2222-2624) Ca 15, Av 8/10, will be closed until Jan. 6. La Máscara Theater (2222-4574) at Av. 2, Ca 13 bis, reopens Jan. 14.
Veterinarians: The National University Veterinary Hospital (2260-9234) in Barreal de Heredia will be open 24 hours and requests that visitors send and email to hospitalespeciesmenores@gmail.com before arriving, unless it’s an emergency! Dr. Bitter’s clinics (2227-5017, 2228-1753 in San José and Escazú will be closed Dec. 25 and Jan. 1. Dr. Adrián Molina (2228-1909, 2288-1716, emergency 2225-2500) in Escazú closed Dec. 24-25, 31, Jan. 1-2.
