Guide to Religious Diversity, Temples, and Places of Worship in Costa Rica (2026)

1. Episcopal Church and Anglican Tradition

The Costa Rican Episcopal Church has an established historical presence in the provinces of San José, Alajuela, Heredia, and Limón, offering services in both Spanish and English.

Catedral Episcopal El Buen Pastor (Cathedral Church of the Good Shepherd)

• Location: Avenida 4, between Calles 3 and 5, downtown San José (behind Plaza de las Garantías Sociales).
• Official Links: Episcopal Church Directory | View on Google Maps

Other Congregations

The Episcopal Church maintains active congregations in Desamparados, Barrio Cuba, Alajuela, Heredia, Limón Downtown, Siquirres, Batán, Matina, and Guácimo.

2. Lutheran Churches

Costa Rica hosts both local Lutheran communities with a strong social focus and congregations catering to international German-speaking residents.

A. Costa Rican Lutheran Church (ILCO)

• Main Headquarters: Barrio El Carmen de Paso Ancho, San José.
• Official Links: Costa Rican Lutheran Church Website | View on Google Maps
• Communities: Faith communities in La Carpio, Alajuelita, Puriscal, Sarapiquí, Grecia, Guatuso, and Talamanca.

B. German-Speaking Evangelical Lutheran Church (Martin Luther)

• Location: Avenida 25 and Calle 88, Plaza Mayor sector, Pavas / Rohrmoser, San José.
• Description: Services and community activities are conducted primarily in German.
• Official Links: German Lutheran Church Official Site | View on Google Maps

3. Methodist Churches

The Evangelical Methodist Church has decades of deep roots in Costa Rican society with multiple community chapels.

Iglesia Metodista Faro del Este

• Location: San Rafael de Montes de Oca, San José.
• Official Links: Methodist Church of Costa Rica Directory | View on Google Maps
• Other Congregations: Montes de Oca, San Sebastián, Alajuelita, Desamparados, Hatillo, and La Carpio.

4. Baptist Churches

The Baptist movement in Costa Rica is broad and varied, encompassing national, biblical, reformed, fundamental, and independent congregations.

A. Reformed Baptist Church of San José

• Location: Zapote, San José (Ruta 204, 100 meters south of Correos de Costa Rica).
• Official Links: Reformed Baptist Church Website | View on Google Maps

B. First Fundamental Baptist Church of Coronado

• Location: Near Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Vázquez de Coronado, San José.
• Official Links: Fundamental Baptist Church Website | View on Google Maps

C. Association of Confessional Baptist Churches

Facilitates connections with congregations in Grecia, Alajuela downtown, Liberia, Los Lagos de Heredia, and other regions.

5. Seventh-day Adventist Church

The Adventist network in Costa Rica covers schools, health institutions, and hundreds of local congregations nationwide.

• National Directory: Active presence in San José, Alajuela, Cartago, Heredia, Guanacaste, Puntarenas, Limón, and the Southern Zone (including popular expat towns like Atenas, Grecia, Ciudad Quesada, Jacó, Cartago, and San Isidro de El General).
• Official Link: National Seventh-day Adventist Directory

6. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS)

For members of the LDS faith, Costa Rica provides a full network of meetinghouses and a regional temple.

A. San José Costa Rica Temple

• Location: La Ribera de Belén, Heredia (1.2 km west of the Costa Rica Marriott Hotel).
• Official Links: Official San José Temple Info | View on Google Maps
• Access Note: Temples have specific worthiness requirements for interior access. Visitors seeking standard Sunday services should attend local meetinghouses.

B. Local Meetinghouses / Chapels

• Official Locator: Find a Meetinghouse in Costa Rica

7. Jehovah’s Witnesses

Kingdom Halls are located in virtually every district across Costa Rica, offering meetings in Spanish, English, LESCO (Costa Rican Sign Language), and other international languages.

• Official Link: Find a Kingdom Hall in Costa Rica

8. Eastern Orthodox Christianity

Orthodox traditions in Costa Rica serve eastern European, Greek, Russian, and Middle Eastern expats alongside local converts.

A. Our Lady of Vladimir Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate / ROCOR)

• Location: Calle Corazón de Jesús, Vázquez de Coronado, San José.
• Official Link: View on Google Maps

B. Icon of Our Lady of Kazan Orthodox Parish

• Location: Barrio Don Bosco, Las Parcelas de San Miguel, Piedades Sur, San Ramón, Alajuela.
• Official Links: Orthodox Directory Costa Rica | View on Google Maps

C. Orthodox Missions

Missions and periodic liturgical services are held in Curridabat, Limón, and Playas del Coco. Prior confirmation is recommended.

9. Synagogues and Jewish Communities

Costa Rica boasts a mature Jewish infrastructure offering Orthodox, Conservative, Reform, and international hospitality services.

A. Centro Israelita Sionista de Costa Rica (Orthodox Community)

• Location: Pavas Industrial Zone, San José (next to AyA headquarters).
• Description: Features the Shaarei Zion Synagogue, the Jewish Community Museum, sports facilities, and Kosher dining.
• Official Links: Centro Israelita Official Site | View on Google Maps
• Security Note: Advance security clearance, ID verification, and pre-arranged appointments are required for visits.

B. B’nei Israel Congregation (Progressive / Reform Community)

• Location: Sabana West, San José.
• Description: Inclusive congregation offering trilingual services in Spanish, English, and Hebrew.
• Official Links: Congregación B’nei Israel Official Site | View on Google Maps

C. Chabad Lubavitch Costa Rica

• Main Headquarters: Northwest entrance of Escazú Village (opposite Walmart parking entrance), Escazú.
• Coastal / Tourist Centers: Hospitality and Kosher assistance in Jacó, Tamarindo, and Santa Teresa.
• Official Links: Chabad Costa Rica | Chabad Centers in Costa Rica | View on Google Maps

10. Islam and Mosques

Mosque of Omar (Islamic Cultural Center of Costa Rica)

• Location: Montelimar sector, between Calle Blancos and Guadalupe, Goicoechea, San José.
• Description: The primary gathering point for Friday congregational prayers (Juma’ah) and Eid celebrations.
• Official Link: View on Google Maps
• Recommendation: Visitors should confirm gathering schedules via maps or community channels prior to traveling.

11. Buddhist Centers

Several Buddhist schools flourish in Costa Rica, including Karma Kagyu, Zen, Mahayana, and Nichiren traditions.

A. Diamond Way Buddhist Center (Karma Kagyu)

• Location: House 1080, Calle 33 (between Avenidas 10 & 12), Los Yoses, San Pedro, San José. (Also features a study group in San Mateo, Alajuela).
• Official Links: Diamond Way San José | View on Google Maps

B. Soka Gakkai International Costa Rica (Nichiren Buddhism)

• Location: East side of ICE Main Building, Sabana North, San José.
• Official Links: Soka Gakkai Costa Rica | View on Google Maps

C. Casa Zen Costa Rica

• Location: Santo Domingo de Heredia.
• Description: Dedicated to Zazen practice, mindfulness workshops, and silent retreats.

12. Hinduism and Hare Krishna Tradition

ISKCON Costa Rica (International Society for Krishna Consciousness)

• Location: Barrio Escalante, San José (200m east and 25m south of Santa Teresita Church).
• Description: Guided meditation, kirtan (devotional chanting), Vedic literature study, and vegetarian cuisine.
• Official Links: ISKCON Official Profile | View on Google Maps

13. Bahá’í Community

National Bahá’í Center of Costa Rica

• Location: Avenida 7, between Calles 56 and 60, Sabana North, San José.
• Description: Hosts devotional gatherings, children’s classes, and community empowerment activities.
• Official Links: Bahá’í Community Costa Rica | Contact & Location Details | View on Google Maps

14. Quaker Community in Monteverde

Monteverde Friends Meeting House

• Location: 300 meters south of the Monteverde Cheese Factory, Monteverde, Puntarenas.
• Description: Historic pacifist Quaker community founded in the 1950s. Silent unprogrammed worship meetings welcome all visitors.
• Official Links: Monteverde Friends Meeting | Directions & Schedule | View on Google Maps

15. Indigenous Traditions and Ancestral Spiritualities

Costa Rica is home to sacred ancestral worldviews of the Bribri, Cabécar, Boruca, Maleku, Chorotega, Huetar, and Teribe peoples, as well as Afro-descendant spiritual traditions along the Caribbean coast.

🛑 Visitor Code of Ethics:
Indigenous ancestral spaces are not commercial tourist attractions. To engage respectfully:
1. Always connect through organizations managed directly by the indigenous community.
2. Seek explicit permission before entering territory or photographing sacred spaces.
3. Refrain from publishing exact GPS coordinates of private sacred sites online.
4. Hire authorized local community guides for cultural visits.

16. Private Practices & The Official Registry

Practitioners of Sikhism, Jainism, Taoism, Shintoism, African religions, and Spiritualism reside in Costa Rica, though public temples with exterior signage may not always exist. Many gather in private residences or cultural associations.

To verify the legal registration of any religious body, consult the official Registry of Religious Entities at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Worship of Costa Rica.

📍 Real Estate & Location Guide: Where to Buy Property?

The highest concentration of international places of worship is in the Greater Metropolitan Area (GAM) and select coastal towns. Keep this geographic breakdown in mind when choosing your neighborhood:

💡 Expat Checklist Before Buying Real Estate

• Peak Travel Times: Test your drive to your place of worship during peak gathering hours (e.g., Friday sunset or Sunday mornings).
• Service Language: Confirm whether services are held in English, German, Hebrew, Spanish, or your native language.
• Youth Programs: Verify if local congregations offer Sunday school, youth groups, or childcare.
• Specialized Diets: If your lifestyle requires Kosher, Halal, or strict vegetarian/vegan products, ensure nearby specialty markets are accessible.
• Security Protocols: Check if your preferred center requires advance security registration before your first visit.