Where to Live in Costa Rica

Choose Your Location Carefully

Probably the best place to live in is the Central Valley with altitudes ranging from 2500 to 4500 feet above sea level and mountains rising all around. Here temperatures are very agreeable and the climate can be equalled to spring in the United States. More than half of the total population of the country is located in this intermountain valley with the four largest cities being San Jose, Alajuela, Heredia and Cartago. Following are some of the places preferred by foreigners and wealthy nationals.

Escazú

Just a few miles west of San Jose, this area is very exclusive with the high-priced San Rafael, Palma Mallorca, Bello Horizonte, and Trejos Montealegre neighbourhoods. Some of the best condos, finest homes and restaurants are found here. In fact, there's a stretch called la milla de oro (the mile of gold) which speaks for itself. Nearby is the very exclusive Costa Rica Country Club with its excellent golf course and tennis courts and, of course, its high cost of membership.

Guachipelín

Located west of San Rafael de Escazú, in recent years it has undergone very rapid development. There you can find Multiplaza, considered the best mall in the country, as also exclusive stores, fine hotels, and many beautiful homes.

Santa Ana- Ciudad Colón

Farther west of Escazú and Guachipelin, past the El Alto de las Palomas (the Paloma Heights) are first, the town of Santa Ana, located in what is called El Valle del Sol (Sun Valley), and a few more miles further west, the smaller and less developed town of Ciudad Colón. Many foreigners live in this two-town area because of its nice, warmer climate, rural environment and close accessibility to San José.