A new interactive application allows tourists to conduct their own guided tours at the Central Bank’s Pre-Columbian Gold Museum and Numismatic Museum in downtown San José.
The app offers audio information in Spanish, English and French, and also allows access to photos and videos of all permanent and temporary exhibits at the museums located under Plaza de la Cultura in the Costa Rican capital.
“It will allow visitors to tour the museums at their own pace, without interruptions and without a tour guide,” museums director Virginia Vargas said.
The application was developed by local company Smart Audio Tours, and allows users to post comments and create favorites lists that can be shared on social networks and via email.
Currently, tourists can use the application on devices that can be rented at the museums for ₡3,500 ($7) for adults and ₡3,000 (₡6) for seniors and kids under 18.
The device also displays a user-friendly interface that facilitates use by people with reading or writing disabilities.
A version of the app for smartphones with Android and iOS operating systems is currently under development, and the company expects to offer it in more languages at a second stage of the project.
Central Bank museums are open daily from 9:15 a.m.-5 p.m., and entry is ₡1,500 ($3) for nationals and ₡5,500 ($11) for foreign tourists.
Students and children under 12 enter for free. On Wednesdays, admission is free for Ticos and residents presenting their ID cards (cédulas).
