Santo Domingo de Heredia

Santo Domingo de Heredia

The town of Santo Domingo de Heredia is a quiet town ideal for those who want some privacy and seclusion, while at the same time require easy access to a metropolitan city like San Jose. Lying on the outskirts of Heredia province within minutes north San Jose the capital of Costa Rica, Santo Domingo de Heredia is a charming colonial town, with friendly locals and beautiful surrounding landscapes.

Located midway between the city of Heredia and San Jose, this small town is quaint and picturesque, with lovely old colonial homes and buildings that have been restored to their former glory. A truly charming area, Santo Domingo de Heredia is a delightful place set amidst a number of coffee plantations in the lush and verdant Central Valley of Costa Rica.

The main focal point of this town is its Spanish architecture and historic designs. However, the best part of living in Santo Domingo de Heredia is that it is only a 15-minute car drive to downtown San Jose. Many well to do Costa Rican families who do business in San Jose reside in Santo Domingo, this town is set in a small intimate manner with a lovely church nearby.

Beyond Escazu: Santa Ana and Ciudad Colon

Santa Ana

Santa Ana is just a short 5 minute drive from Escazu.  The neighborhoods of Santa Ana range from Santa Ana Centro which is a traditional Costa Rican town and has a colonial feel to it, with some houses still contructed of adobe.  The neighborhood of Lindora is probably the most expensive and exclusive neighborhood of Santa Ana.  Lindora has many exclusive gated communities with exquisite homes.  There are many high-end restaurants also available in Lindora.  The supermarket in Lindora also caters to the community by offering many products that are imported.

Ciudad Colon

Ciudad Colon is about 5 minutes from Santa Ana and 10 minutes from Escazu.  It is very convenient to the shoppping at Multiplaza in Escazu.  Multiplaza is a large and modern shopping mall with 2 levels and a multi-screen theater.  Multiplaza rivals any large and modern shopping mall worldwide.  Ciudad Colon started as a small country town but has been steadily growing.  It is now a town with many residential communities.  Ciudad Colon is ideal for those who don't want to be to close to the city but want the convenience of having a big city nearby.

For current housing prices please visit Economicos:  http://www.economicos.com/web/home.php

The San Jose suburb of Escazu

Church and Park Escazu Centro, Costa Rica

Escazu

Escazu is a great place to live and be away from the hustle and bustle of San Jose. This is one of the more upscale areas of San Jose. Ideal for those who want to close to San Jose but not to close, Escazu is about 10 minutes to San Jose and less than an hour to the Pacific beach area of Jaco. Escazu is a quiet, beautiful and secure suburb with all the comforts of home.

A colonial town, Escazu is a great suburb and is just 7 km west of downtown San Jose. Spread out over a hillside over looking San Jose and Heredia, Escazu is made up of 3 adjoining neighborhoods; San Antonio de Escazu, Escazu Centro and San Rafael de Escazu. With the largest population of expatriates settling down here (mostly North Americans), this part of the city is a quite exclusive.

Easily accessible from all highways that lead to Costa Rica’s most popular attractions, Escazu is just a 10 minute drive downtown San Jose. Here one can find a number of movie theaters and most movies are in English with Spanish subtitles. There are also many fine restaurants and dining areas in this part of town, with an excellent nightlife. Escazu is a modern thriving city unto itself with many banks, pharmacies, shops, grocery stores and even an 18-hole championship golf course can be found here, along with one of the biggest and most modern shopping malls in Central America, Multi Plaza. The US ambassador to Costa Rica even resides in Escazu.

A great alternative location to living downtown mainly because many of the people here speak English, Escazu still retains some of its local flavor. Visit Escazu Centro to get a feel for the laidback Tico lifestyle here with its small narrow streets, quaint ambiance and colorful sodas or local restaurants. The area around San Rafael de Escazu is mostly residential with a much higher living standard.

More about Coronado, Costa Rica

Coronado

Church downtown
Coronado, Costa Rica

On the east side of San José we find a little town that resembles the foggy cities described in fairy tales.  Coronado is well known for “Las Nubes” (the clouds), a beautiful forest of mountains and farms that make an amazing location for hiking and mountain biking. Like in any small town in Costa Rica, the church is the most impressive building of the area, an old construction that reminds the towers of European castles it is of neo-gothic architecture, you can easily spot beautiful well marked pictures of saints in the windows. The weather is cooler with more rain than San José, for this reason its vegetation is full and one of the most amazing greens seen in the San José area. It is quite an adventure to go tour around the tree lined roads, dairy farms are all over the place and you might even get a taste of the tasty Coronado cheese, very famous in Costa Rica. Once you arrive at the steep hills of the Coronado Mountains, you will get an incredible view of all San José downtown, which takes the entire trip to a whole other level.





Los Juncos just outside

 Coronado, Costa Rica



Up in the clouds in the small settlement of Vásquez de Coronado, like in a spiritual ascension, one of the most attractive churches in Costa Rica was built. Its construction started in 1862 on the ancient temple of the community. Looking for the best place, the initial temple, inspired by the Renaissance era, was built in the central point of the valley, where the city is settled. The neighbors collaborated with help and donations for the construction. On January 1, 1882 it was given Parish status, and it’s baptized under the name of San Isidro Labrador.



It has great ecological attraction, beautiful views for the enjoyment of peace and tranquility. An area with a great wealth of flora and fauna with over 100 species of plants (among them, ferns, and mosses). The most common mammal is the sloth. It is easy to observe the majority of birds. There are 107 species of birds registered in the country.

San José Neighborhoods of Guadalupe, Moravia, and Coronado

Leaving San José heading northeast you will go through Guadalupe, Moravia, and Coronado.

Guadalupe

This city is right next to San José and is a busy city.  This city has many different neighborhoods and a variety of restaurants and shopping available.  The more desirable neighborhoods to live in in Guadalupe are El Carmen, El Alto, and Sabanilla (just outside of Guadalupe).

Moravia



The Church and Park
Downtown Moravia, Costa Rica

 Moravia is really a typical Costa Rican town with a sense of community.  Living in Moravia you feel that you are part of the community.  In the center of town there is a church and a park which is typical of many towns of Costa Rica.  There is a variety of shopping and restaurants available in Moravia and nearby.  This is a good town for those who want to be close to San José but don't want to feel they are in the city.  San José is 10 minutes away by car and 20 minutes by bus.

Coronado



Church and Park
Downtown Coronado, Costa Rica



If you continue following the road up from Moravia for about 10 minutes you will arrive in Coronado.  In Coronado you are at a higher altitude so it is a little cooler.  Coronado is a little more suburban and in the center of town is a magnificent neo-gothical church and in front of the church is the park.  There are a few supermarkets and restaurants in Coronado.  This tends to be a quiet and peaceful town.

The cost to buy a home in these areas can cost a little less than Los Yoses and San Pedro.  You may find housing prices starting between 40,000,000 to 50,000,000 colones.  Rentals may also be a little less expensive.  The best advice is to go to http://www.nacion.com/ and visit the classifieds for current prices.