ARTS & CRAFTS STORES & SUPPLIES - Where to find Art Supplies in Costa Rica

WHERE TO FIND ART SUPPLIES
in Costa Rica

Finding Art Supplies in Costa Rica is quite the challenge and usually LOTS more expensive than most of us are used to so if you're an artistic type, this IS one thing you may want to bring with you when you move to Costa Rica - or have people bring from the U.S. and Canada as you can find LOTS of things online for LOTS cheaper!!

With that said - at least here are some places you can find them:

ESCAZU - San Rafael

ART DEPOT

Art Depot seems to be one of the BEST stores in Costa Rica for Art supplies!!  They have many thing for arts and crafts. They offer information on art classes also.  Prices are not cheap though (art supplies in Costa Rica aren't cheap period!)

DELIVERY•EXPRESS

They'll even DELIVER•EXPRESS things to you so you don't need to come all the way into the city as you can order online!!  If you're in the GAM - Metropolitan Central Valley area it's delivered to your door.  All other areas it's sent via "Encomienda" which goes by bus to your area.  Order it in the morning and you should have it the next day at the latest (depending on bus frequency).  They can even send it via NatureAir flight if you NEED it FAST!!

HOURS:

Monday-Friday•Lunes-Viernes - 10am-7pm.  Saturday•Sábados - 10am-6pm.

NEW LOCATION:
ESCAZU - ON Calle Vieja (the old road between Santa Ana & San Jose)
Centro Comercial Plaza Natura #5
300 meters Oeste•West of Paco Plaza on the South side of the street -
2 doors from AM/PM - Across from World Gym

(facebook.com/ArtDepotSA  •  ArtDepotCR.net  •  2-289-7249 • 2-288-2593 • 2228-7278-fax your order  •  ArtDepotSA@gmail.com
tell Ana you found her via Vicki's Blog)


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GUILA

(2-236-1010  •  facebook.com/GrupoGuila  •  GrupoGuila.com)

HOURS:

Monday-Friday•Lunes-Viernes – 8am-6pm. Saturday•Sábados – 9am-5pm 

 

LOCATIONS:

Cartago  (2-251-1010 • LocalCartago@GrupoGuila.com)

DIRECTIONS: Diagonal al Colegio San Luis Gonzaga.

Desamparados  (2-218-1010  •  LocalDesamparados@GrupoGuila.com)
DIRECTIONS: Del Mall MultiCentro 100 meters este•East

Guadalupe  (2-285-0101  •  LocalGuadalupe@GrupoGuila.com)
DIRECTIONS:  50 meters al este•East of the AyA tanks

Moravia (OFFICE)  (2-236-1010 • LocalMoravia@GrupoGuila.com)
DIRECTIONS: 200 meters sur•South of Colegio Saint Francis

San Jose-Sabana Este•East - Paseo Colon  (2-221-1010 • LocalSabana@GrupoGuila.com)
DIRECTIONS:  200 meters Sur•South of the Toyota building on Paseo Colón. 

San Pedro  (2-224-1010 • LocalSanPedro@GrupoGuila.com)
DIRECTIONS: 200 meters Este•East and•y 200 Meters Norte of the catholic church

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SOL NACIENTE

Things for PARTY (neon, wigs, masks, lights).  Gardening items (including SEEDS, bulbs, substrates, pots, trays for germination, gardening tools & accessories).  SCRAPBOOKING.  FLORAL Arrangement things.  HOLIDAY ITEMS.  BASKETS.  DECORATIVE items.  Used to be in Centro Escazu.  They also have HOBBIE CLASSES.

HOURS:
Daily - 9am-6pm
LOCATION: 
LINDORA  -  1.7 Km north and 300 west of AutoMercado Lindora
TIBAS  -  700 meters East of the Mc Donalds.
facebook.com/SolNacienteCR  •  SolNaciente.com  •  2-293-0808  •  contactenos@SolNaciente.com


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HEREDIA

DIRECTIONS:

There's an art supply store across from the University

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TIBAS

ATAIA fairly good store with half decent prices carrying Art Supplies, Surveying, Architecture and Engineering Supplies
Artículos para Arte Topografía, Arquitectura e Ingeniería

DELIVERY•EXPRESS

They'll even DELIVER•EXPRESS things to you so you don't need to come all the way into the city as you can order online and they'll bus it to you.HOURS:

Monday-Friday•Lunes-Viernes - 8am-6pm.  Saturday•Sábados - 9am-1pmLOCATION:

TIBAS - 100 metros Sur•South y 50 Este•East of the church•de la iglesia de Tibás

facebook.com/AtaiCR  •  AtaiCR.com  •  2-235-4795 • 2-241-2903 • 2-240-2684  • 
AtaiTibas@gmail.com

 

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SAN JOSE

ARTEA
BIG Art Supply and Technical Supplies Chain but on the more $$$$$ side.
HOURS•HORARIO (same for all stores):

Monday-Friday•Lunes-Viernes - 8am-6pm.  Saturday•Sábados - 9am-4pm

CARTAGO

2-551-1010  •  localcartago@arteacr.com
Dirección:

Diagonal al Colegio San Luis Gonzaga.
 

DESAMPARADOS
2-218-1010  •  localdesamparados@arteacr.com

Dirección:

Del Mall Multicentro 100 mts al este.

GUADALUPE
2-285-0101  •  localguadalupe@arteacr.com
Dirección:

De los tanques del AyA, 50 mts al este. Ipís

LAGUNILLA
2-260-1816  •  locallagunilla@arteacr.com •  ploteolagunilla@arteacr.com
Dirección:

De la sede de la U.N.A, 200 metros al Este

SAN JOSE - SABANA ESTE•EAST
2-221-1010  •  Localsabana@arteacr.com
Dirección:

De la Toyota, Paseo Colón 200 mts Sur.

SAN PEDRO
2-224-1010  •  localsanpedro@arteacr.com
Dirección:

De la Iglesia Católica 200 Este y 200 Norte
(hmmm - is this the same

facebook.com/ArteaCR  •  ArteaCR.com  •  2-238-1387  •  academia@arteacr.com

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UNIVERSAL
More of an Office Supply Store•Chain but they have ART SUPPLIES also

They have lots of canvases at lower prices and LOTS MORE!

LOCATIONS:

Cariari

(2-239-2414)

HOURS: 

Daily 10am-8pm. 
DIRECTIONS: 

 Plaza Real Cariari

Cartago - Perez Zeledon

(2-772-6770)

Desamparados (2-234-8070)

HOURS: 

Daily 10am-9pm.

LOCATION: 

MultiPlaza Este

Guadalupe

(2-234-0314)

HOURS: 

 Daily 10am-8pm. 
DIRECTIONS: 

400 mts. East of the catholic church

Heredia

(2-263-7070)

HOURS: 

Mon.-Sat. 9am-8pm, Sun. 10am-7pm.
DIRECTIONS:

Plaza Bratsi – 100mts East of Mall Paseo Las Flores

Liberia

(2-665-1212)

HOURS: 

10am-8pm.

DIRECTIONS: 

Mall Centro Plaza – 1 km before the entrance to Liberia.

"Lindora"•Pozos de Santa Ana

(2-282-0091)

HOURS: 

Daily 10am-8pm.
DIRECTIONS: 

Plaza Lindora

San Jose – Sabana Sur/South

(2-296-1010)

HOURS: 

Daily 9am-8pm.

DIRECTIONS: 

 SouthEast corner of La Sabana across from McDonald's

San Jose – Downtown

(2-222-2222)

HOURS:

Mon.-Fri. 8:30am-7pm, Sat. 9am-6:30pm, Sun. 9am-5pm.

DIRECTIONS: 

Avenida Central on the Pedestrian Walk•Boulevard/Calle 0-1.

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JIMENEZ Y TANZI Office Supply Store+

(http://JITan.co.cr  •  2-216-1642 • 2-216-1000)

They carry some artist supplies from all over the world. SCRAPBOOKING supplies.  We have oil paints, acrylics and water colors of brands like Schmincke, Pébéo, and Grumbacher Academy watercolor paints. Fredrix and Pébeo Canvas, easels, etc. Art Fabriano papers, and others. Brushes from Conda and several art and crafts supplies like textile inks, stain glass paints, etc...  Art Department - 2-216-1106

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LIBRERIA LEHMANN

http://LibreriaLehmann.com   /  facebook.com/LibreriaLehmannCR  /  2-522-4848  /  Servicio@LibreriaLehmann.com

Some Arts and Crafts supplies and also NEW BOOKS (mainly in Spanish but a few newer release books in English).

LOCATIONS:  
•    San Jose - Avenida Central between Calles 1 and 3
•    San Pedro: Contiguo church•next to the catholic church

LEHMANN:
•    Rohrmoser  - Plaza Mayor
•    Barrio Dent  - Centro Comercial Plaza Carolina - in front of the Bandera Rotonda

LEHMAX:
•    Tres Ríos  -  Plaza Musical - Carretera vieja.
•    Lindora/Pozos de Santa Ana  -  Plaza Momentum.
•    Tibas  -  25 meters Sur Esquina South/East of the church

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 EPA

The Home Depot of Costa Rica - a hardware store has some artist supply things in the Paint Department - They mainly just have paint things like "Americana Paint" in tubes (a country paint) and some of those small bottles, glaze, some sort of spray on the paint (hey - I'm not an artist!!), brushes and stencils.

HOURS:
All stores - Daily - 7am-9pm

BELEN  -  Diagonal a Real Cariari sobre autopista General CañasCURRIDABAT  -  2-224-4110on the east side of San Jose - beside the Indoor Club and before the Ford and BMW

ESCAZU  -  2-588-1122On the North side of Autopista Prospero Fernandez– the exit JUST past the main Escazu exit.

TIBAS  
300 metros oeste•West del cruce de Llorente

facebook.com/EPACostaRica  •  EPA.co.cr  •  800-372-8253

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PEQUENO MUNDO
The larger PEQUENO MUNDO's have some cheapo (quality and prices) art supplies including sometimes CANVAS.
I did a DETAILED thing on my blog on Pequeño Mundo at:
LivingLifeInCostaRica.blogspot.com/2014/08/PequenoMundoCR.html 


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WALMART

WalMart carries a light amount of Art Supplies and at half decent prices (for Costa Rica)

HOURS:

All stores are open - Sunday-Thursday•Domingo-Jueves  - 8am-10pm.  Friday-Saturday•ViernaSabado - 8am-11pm.

 LOCATIONS:

Alajuela  (2441-8533 • 2441-8508)  - Dirección: 400 Mts South of Hospital San Rafael de Alajuela on Radial Francisco J. Orlich  •  400 Mts sur del Hospital San Rafael de Alajuela sobre la Radial Francisco J. Orlich en el sentido San José
Cartago (2-553-4820) -  Cartago De la Basilica de los Angeles 800 metros camino a paraiso frente a la Bomba los Angeles

Curridabat - Autopista Florencio del Castillo, Kilometro 2, frente a escuela Josefina Jurado OR - 1 KM este de Bomba la Galera carretera a Tres Ríos (2-272-1994)


Escazu (2-288-4270 • 2-288-4103) - JUST off the first Escazu Pista exit. Frente al Centro Comercial Trejos Monte Alegre

Guadalupe - (2-283-7170)  -  Frente a la Rotonda de la Antigua Fabrica Gallito • Antiguo Gallito, contiguo a la intersección de los semáforos

Heredia (2-262-5353) - Carretera Heredia Frente Colegio Santa Cecilia - 400 West•Oeste del e)stadio Rosalbal Cordero sobre carretera principal hacia Alajuela 

San Sebastián: Carretera de Circunvalacion, frente a la rotonda de San Sebastián (2-286-0033)
Tibás (4-031-9220 • 4031-9221 • 4031-9222)

facebook.com/WalmartCostaRica  •  800-8000SAC  •  sac@wal-mart.com

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PINTURA SUR Paint Stores

They carry some art supplies - some locations have more than others

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JULIE HILL CREATED A GREAT SITE with a MAP of points of reference in San Jose:

JulieAndRickInCostaRica.blogspot.com/2010/11/san-jose-tour-art-supplies.html

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CANVASES • BASTIDORES

FRAMED
(many of the art supply stores seem to have framed canvases)
The larger PEQUENO MUNDO's have some art supplies including sometimes CANVAS'
Universal (see above) has some of the cheaper prices


UNSTRETCHED
Barcal ____?
(2-225-1633)
LOCATION: Paso de la vaca, Calle 8 Avienda (thanx WONDERFUL Fabric Artist Sharon Vandenberg)

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EASELS

Demitaller 
(facebook.com/pages/Demitaller/169412179778365  /  Demitaller.com / 8-374-8286 / 2-290-6364 / BernalCastro@live.com)
Bernal Castro - I met Bernal at the BIG Escazu Art Festival.  He makes easels, canvas and other art supply things (since he makes them - I'll bet he can make CUSTOM MADE Easels to YOUR specifications/needs!!) 
(tell him Vicki - the big red haired gal Connected you!!)
LOCATION:  Rohrmoser•Pavas - 75 meters Sur•South of Pizza Hut (call for appointment)

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SCRAP BOOKING

The Stamping House
facebook.com/pages/The-Stamping-House/124241001093035  •  TheStampingHouse-en.weebly.com  •  8-921-5900  •  TheStampingHouse@yahoo.com 
LOCATION:  Desamparados


SOL NACIENTE

Things for PARTY (neon, wigs, masks, lights).  Gardening items (including SEEDS, bulbs, substrates, pots, trays for germination, gardening tools & accessories).  SCRAPBOOKING.  FLORAL Arrangement things.  DECORATIVE items.  Used to be in Centro Escazu

HOURS:
Daily - 9am-6pm
LOCATION: 
LINDORA  -  1.7 Km north and 300 west of AutoMercado Lindora
TIBAS  -  700 meters East of the Mc Donalds.
facebook.com/SolNacienteCR  •  SolNaciente.com  •  2-293-0808  •  contactenos@SolNaciente.com

Some Notions•"Pasamaneria" stores carry Scrapbooking Supplies.
MY FAV is:

PASAMANERIA LUISA  

(facebook.com/Pasamaneria.Luisa  •  2-228-4186 • 8-355-6504-Daniel [in case you don't speak Spanish])

MY FAV place to go for things like thread, zippers, elastic, etc. SOOOO CHEAP!!! 
Send HUGS from me (Vicki) to owner Luisa who's a sweetie and her son Daniel is a real cutie sweetie AND he speaks GOOD English (making life easier!!)

HOURS:

Monday-Friday - 8am-noon & 1-6pm.  Saturdays - 8:30am-noon.

LOCATION:

Escazu (Centro)
On the road going UP/South the hill from the Scotia Split, go to the stop light - where you HAVE to turn Right (Fresh Market is on the left - where Toyco’s Factory USED to be), then LEFT at the 2nd street (at Casona de Laly), go up/South 1-1/2 blocks & they’re on the right (50 meters before the light/catholic church).

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WHERE TO FIND OTHER ART•CREATIVE RELATED POSTS OF MINE:

ARTS & CRAFTS - ART SUPPLIES in Costa Rica
LivingLifeInCostaRica.blogspot.com/2007/11/resources-where-to-find-art-supplies.html


ART CLASSES in Costa Rica:
LivingLifeInCostaRica.blogspot.com/2007/11/resources-art-classes.html

 

STAINED GLASS•MOSAIC • GLASS SUPPLIES:

LivingLifeInCostaRica.blogspot.com/2013/03/StainedGlassCostaRica.html

BEADING•GEMSTONE RESOURCES go to
LivingLifeInCostaRica.blogspot.com/2008/10/beads-gemstones-beading-supplies-in.html

LAMPS • LAMP SHADES • LAMP REPAIR • LAMP SHADE REPAIR • LIGHTING ACCESSORIES in Costa Rica
go to:
LivingLifeInCostaRica.blogspot.com/2011/05/lamps-lamp-shades.html

 FABRIC STORES • OUTDOOR FABRIC • UPHOLSTERY FABRIC • SILKS & SPECIALTY FABRICS • NOTIONS STORES • TIENDA DE TELAS • TELA DE LA TAPICERÍA • EXTERIOR TEJIDO • SEDAS Y TEJIDOS ESPECIALES • PASAMANERIA in Costa Rica
go to:
LivingLifeInCostaRica.blogspot.com/2014/04/FabricStoresInCR.html

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LivingLifeInCostaRica.blogspot.com/2007/11/resources-where-to-find-art-supplies.html

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