Banks: BAC San José(2295-9595) will be closed Dec. 25 to 27 and Dec. 30 to Jan. 4. Banca Promérica (2519-8090, 2258-2212) branches will be closed Dec. 25 and Jan. 1. On Dec. 26, the branch in Escazú (Cedral) will open 10 a.m.-1 p.m., while offices in Pavas, Heredia, Alajuela, San José, San Francisco and Plaza del Sol, Curridabat, will open 9 a.m.-noon. On Dec. 27 and Jan. 2 and 3, only the Novacentro and Zapote branches will open, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. On Dec. 31, all offices will close at 2 p.m. Banco de Costa Rica (2287-9000) branches will be open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Dec. 24, and closed Dec. 25 to 27 and Dec. 31 to Jan. 3. Banco Nacional (2211-2000) will be closed Dec. 25 to 27 and Dec. 31 to Jan. 3. Banco Popular (2211-7000) will be closed from noon Dec. 24 through Dec. 28 and from Dec. 31 to Jan. 4. Bancrédito (2550-0202) will be closed Dec. 25 to 27 and Jan. 1 to 3. HSBC (2287-1111) will be closed Dec. 25 and Jan. 1. Mutual Alajuela (2437-1000) will close most of its offices at 4 p.m. Dec. 24 through Dec. 27, and Dec. 31 to Jan. 2. Scotiabank (2210-4000) will be closed from 3 p.m. Dec. 24 through Dec. 26, Dec. 31 and Jan. 1; some branches may effect additional closures.
Embassies: Holiday closures at major embassies are as follows: British Embassy (2258-2025), Dec. 25, Dec. 28 and Jan. 1; Canadian Embassy (2242-4400), Dec. 25, Dec. 28 and Jan. 1; French Embassy (2234-4167), Dec. 25 and Jan. 1; Japanese Embassy (2232-3787), Dec. 23 and 25 and Dec. 29 to Jan. 3; U.S. Embassy (2220-3939), Dec. 25 and Jan. 1. Government Offices: Most government offices will be closed Dec. 18 through Jan. 4. 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. For any emergency, 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 Los Angeles (2262-3111) in Heredia.
Mail and Shipping: Aerocasillas (2208-4848) will close at 3 p.m. Dec. 24 and 31 and all day Dec. 25 and Jan. 1. Correos de Costa Rica (2202-2900) will close at noon Dec. 24 and 31, and all day Dec. 25 and Jan. 1. DHL (2209-0000) will close its offices Dec. 25 and Jan. 1. 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 p.m. Cadena de Cines Magaly, which represents most of the country’s movie theaters, will have last shows at 4 p.m. on those days. The independent Sala Garbo in San José will have its last show at 7 p.m. Dec. 25 and Jan. 1. Cinépolis theaters in Terramall and Desamparados will keep normal hours. Multicines Plaza Liberia had not yet defined its holiday schedule at the time of writing.
Museums: The Central Bank Museums (also known as the GoldMuseum, 2243-4202) underneath Plaza de la Cultura will be closed Dec. 24 to 25 and Dec. 31 to Jan. 3. The Children’s Museum (2258-4929) at Ca. 4, Av. 9, and the National Museum (2257-1433)at Ca.17, Av. Central/2, will be closed Dec. 24 to 25 and Dec. 31 to Jan. 1. The Contemporary Art and DesignMuseum(2257-9370) at CENAC, Av. 3/5, Ca. 15/17, will close Dec. 18 and reopen Jan. 4. INBioparque (2507-8107) in Santo Domingo de Heredia will be closed Dec. 24 to 25 and Dec. 31 to Jan. 1.
Supermarkets: Auto Mercado (2257-4242) had not yet defined its holiday schedule at the time of writing. Hipermás (2286-0033) stores in Heredia, Escazú, Guadalupe,San Sebastián, Cartago and Curridabat will be open 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. until Dec. 20, 8 a.m. to midnight Dec. 22, and 24 hours Dec. 23; they will close at 8 p.m. Dec. 24, 25 and 31 and Jan. 1. Most Más x Menos (2243-7100) supermarkets will be open until 9 p.m. Dec. 24, and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Dec. 25; stores in Alajuela, Hatillo, Guadalupe and San José’s Cuesta de Moras will be closed Dec. 25 and Jan. 1. The store in Jacó will be open until 11 p.m. Dec. 26 to 30. Megasuper (2246-0400) will be open until 10 p.m. Dec. 24 and 31, and 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Dec. 25 and Jan. 1, depending on the store; only the store close to Mercado Borbón in San José will be closed on Dec. 25 and Jan. 1. Muñoz y Nanne (2253-4646) in San Pedro will be operating normally, Monday to Saturday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Sundays, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Palí (2243-7100) stores will be open until 8 p.m. Dec. 24 and 31, and 9 a.m. to 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. Saretto (2228-6703) in Escazú will be closed Dec. 25 and Jan. 1.
Theaters: Arlequín (2221-5485) at Ca. 15, Av. 2/6, is closed until Jan. 15. Sala de la Calle 15 (2223-7482) at Av. 2, Ca. 15, currently showing “Chico loco” at 8 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays, will close Dec. 24 to 25 and Dec. 31 to Jan. 1. Teatro Torres (2256-4295) at Av. 8, Ca. 11/13, is showing “Defendiendo al cavernícola” and “Monólogos de la vagina,” and will be closed Dec. 24 and 31 only.
Veterinarians: The National University Veterinary Hospital (2260-9234; call before going) in Barreal de Heredia is open 24 hours; if you speak only English, ask for Dr. Morales. Dr. Bitter’s clinics (2227-5017) 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, reopen Dec. 28 to 30 and close again Dec. 31 to Jan. 4.
–Sonia Cordero
