Escazu

Escazu is the Beverly Hills of Costa Rica. This upscale community  is experiencing a huge building boom including the additions of an Imax Theater, Hard Rock Cafe, and other well known international chains. The hill-side community is located 7 miles west of San Jose and contains a little of the old, a lot of the new, is extravagant in some areas while others have a simple old world feel. You will find Costa Rica's best shopping, dining, golf, tennis, music, and accommodations in Escazu.

There are a lot of things to do in Escazu. A favorite activity of shoppers is to visit the Multiplaza Mall to fill your bags with delightful quality gifts or souvenirs. Take pottery classes the Costa Rican way in Plaza Colonial and have lunch at one of the many cafes in the vicinity. Take riding lessons at La Caralla Riding Academy so you are prepared for those horseback riding tours you plan to take. Visit some of the most traditional roadside stores in the neighboring town of Santa Ana to pick up a few colorful artifacts found in Costa Rica. Take in some of the live music presented for nighttime entertainment at one of the many venues in the area. Hangout at the popular Cafe Urbano Bar and take in the busy streets and mixture of sights or pick up a great Cuban cigar at Cafe Havana while you enjoy a robust cup of coffee.
Dance until 2:30 in the morning at places like La Estrategia del Caracol or La Patagonia's Disco weekends or choose one of the hundreds of restaurants and plan a romantic evening over a delicious meal and wine.

Escazu has also helped put Costa Rica on the medical tourism map. Cima is a world class hospital that draws medical tourist from all over the world to receive treatment from relatively inexpensive yet experienced doctors that have been trained in some of the best medical colleges in the world.