
This upscale neighborhood, located 6 km (3.7 miles) from downtown San José, is filled with great hotels. Arriving from the highway, the main entrance to Escazú is marked by a giant Walmart. But don’t let that fool you. This is the most exclusive neighborhood in Costa Rica, home to a mix of rich Ticos and expats.
Escazú (pop. 62,000) has an architectural style that I like to call “Miami without Zoning,” which blends upscale shopping centers with a crumbling infrastructure. Set back from the highway is “downtown” Escazú, which is referred to as San Rafael de Escazú. This area is centered around a congested Y-intersection next to Scotiabank. If you head into the dramatic hills above downtown, you’ll pass the traditional neighborhoods of Escazú Centro and San Antonio de Escazú, which have somehow managed to escape the recent development craze.
= Recommended
= Good Value
= Rated 4 or 5 “Green Leaves” by Costa Rica’s Certification for Sustainable Tourism Program

Escazú Hotels – Luxury
Real Intercontinental
Casa Cristal Boutique Hotel
Escazú Hotels – Moderately Priced
Alta las Palomas
Casa Reflejos
Posada El Quijote
Out of Bounds Hotel
Costa Verde Inn
Holiday Inn Express
Aparthotel Don Francisco
Casa Isabella Costa Rica
Courtyard by Marriot Escazú
Residence Inn by Marriott
Tierra Magica
Wyndham Garden
Escazú Hotels – Budget
Luxury Living for Peanuts
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