The Art City Tour (ACT) will continue its 2026 season with the event “Chepe bajo la lluvia” (“San José in the Rain”), an initiative aimed at bringing the public closer to San José’s art and urban culture during the rainy season.
The event will take place on May 14 starting at 5:00 p.m. and will bring together 14 cultural venues distributed across three circuits: the Costa Rican Tourism Institute’s (ICT) “Redescubrí San José” (“Rediscover San José”) Route, the INS Group Route, and the Escalante Route. The event will include activities such as swing criollo (Costa Rican swing dance), audiovisual improvisation, immersive experiences, exhibitions, tastings, guided tours, talks, and fairs.
The organizers announced that participation is free but requires prior registration. The registration link will be available starting Sunday, May 10, at noon on the official Chepe bajo la lluvia website. A total of 3,000 spots will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. Additionally, individuals under 18 must also register to participate.
“A typical day in the capital’s downtown during the rainy season means walking quickly between umbrellas and taking shortcuts to reach our destinations sooner. In this second edition of the year, we invite you to wrap yourselves in the cultural offerings of the fourteen venues participating in the Art City Tour and experience this side of the city,” said Henry Bastos, director of GAM Cultural and Art City Tour.
According to the organization, the event aims to attract new audiences to San José and improve access to cultural experiences through public-private partnerships. This year’s event features the ICT and the INS.
Among the participating venues is the Alliance Française, which will offer a themed experience on the history and evolution of puff pastry. Also participating is the Art Gallery of the Costa Rican Social Security Fund, located in the Laureano Echandi Vicente Building, with the exhibition Diario Urbano (“Urban Diary”) by artist Randall Chaves.
Likewise, the Jade Museum will host Ante el Abismo (“Facing the Abyss”), an immersive experience designed by the National University centered on the work of Chilean artist Julio Escámez.
The Central Bank Museums will also be part of the tour with the exhibitions Los territorios que habitamos (“The Territories We Inhabit”) and Giorgio Timms: Reflejos en ojos ajenos (“Reflections in Others’ Eyes”).
In addition, venues such as Eñe, Teor/ética (“Theory/Ethics”), Amón Solar, La Gráfica Arte Escénico (“La Gráfica Performing Arts”), the San José Cultural Center, the Sophia Wanamaker Gallery at the Costa Rican-North American Cultural Center, Arte in arrivo (“Art in Arrival”), and Casa Teodorico, located in Los Yoses, will participate.
Ireth Rodríguez, head of the ICT’s Department of Promotion and Development of the Vacation Segment, noted that “for the ICT, it is strategic to once again join the Art City Tour, an initiative that reinforces our commitment to positioning San José as a destination offering unique experiences, history, and culture.”
