galeria namu

On vacation I love to hunt down local crafts and usually buy several things. This store had a lot of things you won't see elsewhere but many are trinkets (and I like stuff to hang on the wall, not get lost in my cluttered shelves). The items are quite expensive, I'd say many items at $100 or more. Since these are handmade the prices are reasonable. However, I found many of unique handcrafted items during my time in costa rica (I did have to look in many stores to find them though). The masks are cool here(I bought a small one) but these are at many stores. So, up to you...My treasures from other stores include a small painting of a beautiful sailfish, feather with toucan hand painted on it, and a monkey and toucan made out of colorful butterfly wings=less than $50.

This fair trade shop is a must to visit while touring San Jose. The staff is extremely well informed about the merchandisr and their makers and enthusiastically speak of them to customers. There is a large selection to choose from including indigenous artwork which is of found often for sale. Enjoythe experience!

Located very close to Old Central Square, this is a great place to purchase authentic, locally-produced goods. The art, jewelry, and hand-crafted item are sold only as Fair Trade, which means the artists get 1/2 of the profits. The owner is very friendly, and you feel good knowing that what you bought is not made in China, and helps the local artists.

We took a Caravan tour to Costa Rica and as with most tours, free time was a premium. We decided the afternoon we arrived to just walk around the block in San Jose and see what was up. It was a Saturday and that meant lots of shoppers! As we headed back to the hotel we thought we'd just check out the street behind the hotel and there we saw the windows of Galeria Namu! I immediately fell in love with just about everything I saw! I have a true love for sloths, so there were several mediums to choose a sloth or two from. I bought a large mask with a sloth, two toucans and 3 other birds and two orchids plus the face of course of the carver. Had to have a smaller one with the bird of Costa Rica, the Quetzal. They are just so colorful and as one piece of wood, amazing!I did go nuts I guess as I also bought a beautiful painting from three different artists, they all have their special focus, it's flowers and birds. Then there's my Madonna and Child as the artist called it....a mom sloth and her baby in a tree. There's the pink backgrounded one with various creatures, a piece of pottery and we when we returned I found more and it was mailed, too. They mail everything home if you want to have it done and it is very reasonable. I did bring a few of the smaller pieces but the paintings of course were mailed and arrived in mint condition.The paintings are very special because usually they're done by more than one artist. A painting group was started by the Peace Corps I want to say. The ladies would paint, some by oil lamp at night after their day was done. It is a fair trade gallery and they do have some stunning basket work as well as tiny carvings from nuts. Their masks are just amazing, some new but some older as they were used in various ceremonies, etc. I have to say some of my favorite things are my leaf cutter ants crafted by "street" people. They have been carrying their leaf pieces on our patio for the last few years now and they never fail to make me smile when I see them! But I do admit, too when I go in the powder room which is travel themed I look up and say Hola to Diego and Luz...my two Howler monkeys with Arenal volcano in the background. Diego was our guide and Luz the artist who painted the Howlers who woke us up in Tortuguero!As we were on a tour and went to both coasts there was very little time for shopping other than vendors having pottery or carvings out at a restaurant or WC stop. I did of course buy from them but Galeria Namu was the only gallery/shop we got to check to really check out. I always check them out on Facebook and I get their e-mails. I'm friends with the owner's son on FB. The owner is British, lived in Canada several years then moved to Costa Rica and opened the galeria. Sadly, I'm running out of wall space but that doesn't mean I still don't enjoy seeing what's new with every e-mail. If you buy what I call folkart when you travel I would definitely suggest you try to get to Galeria Namu! I really can't see how anyone can not find something wonderful as a beautiful memory of an amazing country! (It's on Av. 7 between Calles 5 and 7 behind the Holiday Inn). They're on FB as well as having a website, too!

We followed Fodor's recommendation to stop in at this amazing little gallery during our recent overnight stay in San Jose. The owner gave us a tour of her gallery featuring original native arts upon our arrival. It was better than visiting a local historical museum! The carefully selected items which are for sale in the shop are exquisite. The detailed basket work, original native masks, paintings and hand painted tiles are fabulous.

We took time to find this gem of a gallery and were so delighted with what we encountered. Its location is several blocks from the Avenida Central and behind the Holiday Inn. I viewed the website before going and was absolutely excited to see all of the offerings in person. I was determined to leave the store with some treats created by local artisans...and, fair trade at that! They had many items including lovely woven baskets, jade jewelry and masks. I loved the pottery and jade. This is well worth a visit particularly as the souvenir shops just don't seem to have quality products from local artisans.

Galeria Namu is probably the finest artisanal shop in town, with 80% of arts from Costa Rica and the rest from Panama and Honduras. It is pricy but worth it if you wish for quality!

Glad we decided to visit Galeria Namu our first day in Costa Rica. Expected more of an art gallery but it has an interesting collection of pieces by indigenous artisans. Did not see another store like this on our tour. Picked up some jewelry at a very reasonable price.

We had to search to find their location but it was well worth the effort. They have an amazing display of indigenous art pieces. The masks and the carved wood bowls were our favorites. I collect masks from our travels and my husband brought me one from his trip to Costa Rica nine years ago. The quality of the shop has not changed over the years. They provide you with documentation about the art pieces. This is the best place to shop in San Jose.

The proprietress has a magnificent collection of fine indigenous artworks - yet you don't need to spend a fortune! Great for gifts (the kind you plan to give away but somehow end up keeping...). The owner is enthusiastic and knowledgeable. A must.

Strolling around the city one evening, Nicky and I stumbled upon a little gem of a shop called Galeria Namu. A magnificent native mask in the window drew us inside where a hundred more equally mysterious and artful masks dazzled us; they are Namu's specialty. The chatty and delightful gallery owner, Ainsling French, is on a mission to introduce genuine local folk art to the world. She knows nearly every conceivable fact about her intriguing inventory and tells terrific stories about their meaning and makers. Amoung the things we bought was a tiny tree frog carved from a large local nut. Though quite small, this colorful, hand-painted and carved mini-sculpture catches the eye of our visitors and starts conversations. There is so much more to Ainsling and Galeria Namu than its collection of treasures; Ainsling's humanity, fair trade business dealings, and insightful curation are unmatched. Her stock comprises the most delightful art gifts you will find anywhere. What a wonderful alternative to vacation chachkis

Good selection of indigenous arts and crafts and knowledgeable staff. Good place for picking up gifts and souvenirs at a variety of price points. Fair trade practices.

Namu has a wonderful variety of art objects and an admirable mission of supporting local artists. It was hard to choose from among the many beautiful pieces I wanted to take home. This gallery is a gem.

We visited this gallery on our first trip to Costa Rica in 2003 and again this fall. It remains a very special place with a passion for genuine art from Costa Rica and other Central American countries. They know everything about the artists, the origin of the pieces they have as well as the different types of art that they sell. They were so very helpful as we made our selections and a huge thank you to Conall too as we inadvertently missed including a piece in our purchase and needed to buy it after our trip and have it shipped to Canada - it just wasn't a piece we were willing to be without.We now have a dozen pieces of art - paintings, etchings, carvings - at home after the trip and prominently displayed. We saw many fewer galleries on this trip and several places where we made purchases the last time are no longer open. We were so pleased that Galeria Namu was still there, still dedicated to preserving the contributions of many artists, and still teaching tourists what this area has to offer artistically. It's a great place to learn, to collect a few pieces to bring home and for us, a wonderful place for our children to experience art and make their own selections to bring home.

We visit this store every time we are in San Jose. What a gem... Beautiful arts and crafts by indigenous people from Costa Rica and Panama. The only place to find such an array of local art, and fair-trade to boot!The owners of the store are wonderful, and so knowledgeable about what they sell. It is tough to walk away empty-handed... :-).A great spot to buy gifts.