What’s open, closed in Costa Rica for the holidays

As Christmas and New Year’s approach, here are the holiday hours that banks, embassies, government offices and private businesses are keeping this year:

BANKS: Banco Improsa (2284-4040) will be closed Dec. 25, 30, 31 and Jan. 1. BAC San José (2295-9595) will be closed Dec. 25-31, Jan.1; offices will close at 3 p.m. on Dec. 24. Banca Promérica (2519-8090, 2505-7000) branches will close at 4 p.m. on Dec. 24 and at 2 p.m. on Dec. 31. Banco de Costa Rica (2287-9000) branches will close on Dec. 25 and Jan. 1. Banco Nacional (2211-2000) will close its offices at 3:45 p.m. on Dec. 24 and 31, and will be closed Dec. 25 and Jan. 1. Banco Popular (2211-7000) will be closed on Dec. 25, 26, 31 and Jan 1. Bancrédito (2550-0202) will close offices at 4 p.m. on Dec. 24 and will be closed Dec. 25-31 and Jan. 1. Davivienda (2287-1111) will be closed Dec. 25, 31 and Jan. 1. Mutual Alajuela (2437-1000) branches will be closed Dec. 25, 31 and most offices will close at 3 p.m. on Dec. 24. Scotiabank (2519-1300) will close Dec 25 and Jan 1.

EMBASSIES: Holiday closures at major embassies are as follows: British Embassy (2258-2025), Dec. 21-25, Jan 1; Canadian Embassy (2242-4400), Dec. 25, 28, Jan. 1; French Embassy (2234-4167), Dec 25, Jan 1; Japanese Embassy (2232-1255), Dec. 25-Jan. 4; U.S. Embassy (2220-3939), Dec. 25 and Jan. 1.

GOVERNMENT OFFICES: Most government offices will close Dec. 21 at 4 p.m. through Jan. 4. The Judicial Investigation Police (OIJ) and Supreme Court will have a limited area open 24 hours a day for emergencies, though 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 (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 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 800-327-6224.

MAIL AND SHIPPING: Aerocasillas (2208-4848) will close at 3 p.m. on Dec. 24 and at 1 p.m. Jan.  31, and all day Dec. 25 and Jan. 1. Correos de Costa Rica (2202-2900) will be closed Dec. 25, 31 and Jan. 1. DHL (2209-0000) will close its offices at noon Dec. 24 and Jan. 31.

MOVIE THEATERS: At Cinemark Escazú (2201-5050) in Multiplaza Escazú and Cinemark del Este (2280-0490) in Multiplaza del Este in Zapote, the last show on Dec. 24 and 31 will be at 3:30 p.m. Cadena de Cines Magaly, which represents most of the country’s movie theaters, will have all its theaters open at a regular schedule. The independent Sala Garbo in San José closes at 9 p.m. on Dec. 24 and 31. Cinépolis theaters in Terramall and Desamparados will close at 9 p.m. Plaza Grecia Cinemas will close at 5 p.m. on Dec. 24 and 31. Multicines Plaza Liberia (2665-1515) in Guanacaste were not available at press time. Nova Cinemas (2299-7666) in Escazú will open at 11 a.m.

MUSEUMS: The Central Bank Museums (also known as the Gold Museum, 2243-4221) underneath Plaza de la Cultura close from Dec. 23 through Jan. 6, and the Children’s Museum (2258-4929) at Ca. 4, Av. 9 will be closed Dec. 24, 25, 31 and Jan. 1. The National Museum (2257-1433) at Ca.17, Av. Central/2, will be closed Dec. 24-25, and Dec. 31 to Jan. 1. The Contemporary Art and Design Museum (2257-9370) at CENAC, Av. 3/5, Ca. 15/17, will close Dec. 19 and reopen Jan. 4. INBioparque (2507-8103) in Santo Domingo de Heredia will be closed Dec. 24-25 and Dec. 31-Jan. 1. The Costa Rican Art Museum will keep regular hours (Tues.-Sun., 9 a.m.-4 p.m.) throughout the holidays.

SUPERMARKETS: Auto Mercado (2257-4242) all its supermarkets keep regular hours (7am-10pm). Walmart (8008000722) stores in Heredia, Escazú, Guadalupe, San Sebastián, Cartago and Curridabat will close at 9 p.m. on Dec. 24, 25 and 31 and Jan. 1, and will be open 8 a.m-10 p.m. Dec. 26-30. Most Más x Menos (2243-7100) supermarkets will be open until 9 p.m. on Dec. 24 and 31; from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Dec. 25 and Jan. 1 (except Cuesta de Moras store, which will be closed, and Jacó store, which will be open 9 a.m.-8 p.m.). Megasuper (2246-0400) will be open until 10 p.m. on Dec. 24 and 31, and 9 a.m-7 p.m. on Dec. 25 and Jan. 1; the store near Mercado Borbón in San José and the store in Jacó will be closed Dec. 25 and Jan. 1. Muñoz y Nanne (2253-4646) in San Pedro will be open 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Dec. 24, 30 and 31, and will close at 6 p.m. on Dec. 29. Palí (2243-7100) stores will be open 8:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m. on Dec. 24, 30 and 31; and 9 a.m.-3 p.m. on 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 the stores will open 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saretto (2228-6703) supermarket in Escazú will be closed Dec. 25 and Jan. 1.

THEATERS: Arlequín (2221-5485) at Ca. 15, Av. 2/6, is closed until Jan. 14. Teatro Torres (2256-4295) at Av. 8, Ca. 11/13, and will be closed Dec. 24 and 31 only. La Esquina Theater (2257-0223) at Av. 1, Ca. 21, Dec. 25-26 and Jan. 1-2. El Triciclo Theater (2222-2624) at Ca. 15, Av. 8/10, will be closed until Jan. 4. La Máscara Theater (2222-4574) at Av. 2, Ca. 13 bis, until Jan. 4

VETERINARIANS: The National University Veterinary Hospital (2260-9234; call before going) in Barreal de Heredia is open 24 hours. 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 will close at noon Dec. 24, and remain closed on Dec. 25 and on Jan 1.