Central Valley

San Jose and Its Neighborhoods

The value of land in the western suburbs, with the aid of all the new malls, shopping centers, movie theaters and restaurants, has soared in the past ten years. The completion of the Santa Ana Highway has made access into this area more convenient than most of the other suburbs surrounding San Jose. Costa Rica's finest private hospital is located on this highway. The proximity of the international airport also benefits the western area. And for some residents, it means being 30-45 minutes closer to the beach.

North of San Jose

Barrio Amon, Otoya, Aranjuez . . . these neighborhoods are located on the north side of downtown and are the historical side of town. Many of the old coffee baron's mansions have been converted for use as hotels, restaurants, shops and offices. You can still find many "Handyman's Specials" and this area is valued for its proximity to downtown San José. You will find that parking is at a premium in this area, but any business relying on walk-in traffic or tourism can do well. This area is a haven for bed & breakfasts, making it popular among better informed and more adventurous tourists.

West of San Jose

La Sabana, Pavas & Rohrmoser . . . although these three are distinct districts, they all lie on the Western side of downtown and feature the same conveniences and attraction. Neighborhoods here are upper middle and upper class. They are located conveniently to get downtown, to get out to the malls, shops and restaurants in Escazu/Santa Ana, and to get out to the airport. The very essence of central location! Housing options in this area range from brand spanking new ultramodern condominiums to more staid older mansions and homes, many of which are being converted to offices. There are many fine restaurants and shops in this area, as well as some of the best schools. Tree-lined boulevards and quiet side streets give these neighborhoods a nice residential feel of stability and prosperity. Property values tend to be very stable, with a slight upward trend.

Escazu . . . has always been the "hot spot" for foreign residence. The US Ambassador has his residence here, as well as many other diplomatic officials. As time marches on however, the vacant land and coffee farms in this area have nearly disappeared, replaced by modern urbanizations, condominiums and attractive commercial centers. The Escazu area is still some of the most popular and valuable real estate to be found around San Jose.

The quaint town of Escazù is located 6 kilometers (3.7 miles) to the west of downtown San Josè. A 4-lane highway from downtown San José makes Escazu a 15-30 minute drive, depending on traffic and is only 30 minutes from the airport in Alajuela. From San Rafael, on the valley floor, to the mountains of San Antonio the elevation goes from 1,100 meters to 2,300 meters (almost a mile).

This area has multiple attractions: an agreeable climate, natural beauty and views, and many modern conveniences and services. Some of the best schools are close by and land prices are at a premium. The original town is where you'll find charming old adobe houses, the old church, Town Square, and the city government building. This is a good area for commercial property, apartments or to purchase an older home in need of renovating. Parking is at a premium and a plethora of one-way streets can make following directions a bit of an adventure.

San Rafael is Escazú's "main drag", with many strip malls, supermarkets, restaurants and many upscale services that can be hard to find in some other areas of the country. This is a great location for any business venture and is the access point to the highway. Prices here are higher than in other areas of Escazú, because of this commercial nature.

San Antonio de Escazu . . . San Antonio is up the mountain from the center and is the more traditional side of town. Here you can still find coffee fields and plantations, as well as vegetables and sugar cane farms. Among these lovely farms, you will see many new beautiful homes, built to take advantage of the spectacular views and the mild weather. Traffic patterns and the climb make this more out of the way than other parts of Escazú, but the views and country ambiance make it worthwhile for those having chosen San Antonio. Not to mention that prices are lower here than in other parts of Escazú.

Trejos Montealegre & Bello Horizonte . . . these are the closest residential areas to the highway access, and traditionally the most exclusive areas. Here you will find very nice older homes and traces of many of Costa Rica's wealthiest families. While not a bargain hunter's delight, you can often find lower priced homes here, due to their smaller size and age of the homes in these neighborhoods.

Guachepelín . . . until recently, this was just an unknown, hard-to-pronounce neighborhood on the outskirts of Escazú. With the addition of an ultramodern hospital, exclusive shopping centers, and it's own exit ramp to the highway; this area is now one of the most popular choices for new arrivals. Very close to Escazú center and only 10 minutes from downtown San José, you'll find excellent and plentiful choices for shopping, schools, things-to-do-and-see, and restaurants. Property values are likely to rise faster here than in other areas of Escazú in the near future.

Santa Ana . . . has now become as popular as Escazu with the foreign population living in Costa Rica. Land prices have rocketed in this delightful valley only 20 minutes by car from San Jose. Sitting slightly lower in elevation, this valley enjoys slightly warmer weather than San Jose. As with Escazu, the coffee fields are being replaced with some luxurious residential communities.

Santa Ana's location and climate make it ideal for two kinds of people: Sunset Lovers and Sun Worshipers. If you hate rain and love a red sky at night, Santa Ana is the place for you. You'll like Santa Ana because it's close to all the conveniences of Escazú, but it's more laid-back and not as pricey. It's dry and warm, but in the right kind of building air conditioning is still not mandatory. Mediterranean and Southwest styles are in vogue here because of the similarities in climate. You can find very nice homes at reasonable prices and because of urban development and new office parks in the area; you are assured of a quickly rising property value. Horse lovers also flock to this area because there are two riding clubs within a short distance of town and each other.

Pozos de Santa Ana, Piedades and Río Oro . . . these areas are perfect if you want to be within cruising distance of the city and still enjoy the dry climate. There has been a recent spurt in development by way of several new office complexes, so now is a great time to buy land for development: houses, apartments, condominiums and commercial centers are all needed. The climate and lack of views needing to be taken advantage of makes this area great for interior gardens, outdoor living and lovely "poolscaping".

Ciudad & Villa Colon . . . are now starting to see new development in the real estate market for those wishing to get "away" from the steadily growing Santa Ana area. The Auto-pista doesn't quite make it to Villa Colon but access is still convenient. Prices in this area are increasing with its popularity and the commercialization inching its way further and further west.

This sleepy little hamlet is quickly becoming a bedroom community. Many people who work here find the commute a breeze, and the pastoral setting well worth it. And the time to buy is now, because after a 20-year expropriation effort, the highway department finally has land and money to extend this highway all the way to the beach. That will position Ciudad Colon at a perfect point for either the city or the beach. There are some houses for sale in this area, but the majority is land ripe for development or investment. This area is also popular for quintas, which are small country estates or retreats. If you want to be closer to the beach when the road opens, Puriscal is a quaint town on the beach side of Ciudad Colon. Conversely, if you want to be closer to the city, El Rodeo is on the San José side of Ciudad Colon. Buy whatever you like, but get it fast because prices are rising quickly.

East of San Jose

On the east side of San José, there is a wide variety of neighborhoods and districts. From flashy Mall San Pedro to Moravia's High Schools to cow town Coronado, the east side offers you culture, nightlife, greenery, and (best of all) lower prices. Just as the western suburbs offer close access to the west side of downtown and a head start to the Pacific, the eastern suburbs offer great access to north and east downtown and a head start to the Caribbean Coast.