In Downtown San José, there are buildings that are deemed heritage buildings by the Centro de Investigación y Conservación del Patrimonio Cultural, many of which are closed and access to which is  controlled by the agency. Within these buildings lies a vast interesting history and culture of Costa Rica through the years.

Many people pass by these buildings completely unaware of the designation and history behind them. Therein lies a missed opportunity to pass on the niche histories of San José to future generations. History and Culture as tools for mobilizing people - both physically and as a society is where Hidden Heritage tries to act.

Hidden heritage is a service concept which is envisioned as a collaborative effort between the tourism industry and the Ministerio de Cultura y Juventud that offers tourists and visitors downtown exclusive access to these hidden heritage buildings. The activities range from a scavenger hunt to guided tours with access being agreed upon by the tour operator and the ministry.

WIth this service, users have the opportunity to learn stories that are hyper-specific to the sites, which hopefully results in an experience that leaves them rooted to the city for a while.