Santa Ana, Costa Rica

Santa Ana has recently experienced a commercial and real estate development boom, which has made this the place of choice for small commercial centers, medical and dental facilities, private schools, office buildings, coffee shops, gourmet restaurants and upscale grocery stores.

The area combines all the advantages of a convenient modern day lifestyle with the comforts of peaceful country living. The climate is dry, comfortable and generally warmer than neighboring Escazú.

The beautifully situated town of Santa Ana is just 13 km’s from the capital city of San Jose and nestled in the valley of the foothills between Escazú and Puriscal. This Costa Rican town has maintained much of its traditional flavor with small shops, sodas, bars and restaurants that offer local and international cuisine. On Sundays there is a large vegetable & fruit market, where nearby farmers bring tantalizing fresh produce and visitors can indulge their senses in the bounty of colors and flavors.

Among the fastest growing suburbs in the province of San Jose, the town of Santa Ana is connected to Escazu and Cuidad Colon by the old road called “Calle Veija” and also the newer highway which has brought the Central Valley together. Just 15 minutes away in Escazu are the renowned CIMA Hosptial and Medical Tower, Plaza Roble and Forum office buildings, luxury hotels, and plenty of shopping options including PriceSmart (Costco), Office Depot and HiperMas (Wal-Mart) and MultiPlaza Mall – the biggest mall in Costa Rica with over 100 businesses, departments stores, financial institutions, restaurants, a large food court and movie theatre that shows movies in English.

Boasting many of the country’s finer residential communities such as Valle del Sol, Lindora, and the Eco-Residential Villa Real – this area is very popular with foreign expatriates and executive families. There are plenty of recreational options including two golf courses in the area (Valle del Sol and the CR Country Club), and also two equestrian centers (Centro Equestre Valle Yos-Yo and La Caraiia Riding Academy).

Nearby tourist attractions include the Simón Bolivar Park, a mineral spring in Salitral with reknowned health qualities, and a scenic watefall called Catarata del Brasil. In Santa Ana centro, like most Costa Rican districts, is a soccer field and park with a church opposite it, creating the perfect setting to enjoy a quiet morning break or afternoon stroll.

Golfers in Santa Ana have access to the Parque Valle del Sol golf course located in Lindora, Santa Ana. It is the first and the only professional golf course in Costa Rica open to the public in the Central Valley. The 18-hole championship golf course was designed by Tracy May in 1994 to be challenging and fair under most conditions and downright tough when the strong winds come down from the surrounding mountains.

The new Municipal Building of Culture houses the Municipal School of Integrated Arts (locally known as the EMAI for its Spanish acronym) which excels in its music program. It also features an art gallery, an auditorium, multipurpose rooms, municipal office spaces and a variety of murals adorning its contemporary facade.

Santa Ana is famous for its ceramics and has more than 100 shops that have unique items for purchase.