Things To Do in Escazu & Santa Ana
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Escazu & Santa Ana Attractions
Escazú and Santa Ana have few traditional tourism attractions, but both offer easy access to the attractions and activities offered up in San José and elsewhere around the Central Valley.
One of the exceptions to the above rule is the Refugio Animal (tel. 2282-4614), a family-run animal rescue and wildlife exhibition. In addition to a few dozen snakes, both venomous and nonvenomous, the center has a few animals, including a crocodile, iguanas, and a spider monkey. It’s open from 9am to 4:30pm, Tuesday to Sunday, and admission is $30 for adults; $15 for children 3 through 12; and $25 for seniors and students with valid ID.
Another worthy local site is Butterfly Kingdom (tel. 2288-6667), a butterfly farm that does short educational tours and also exports butterfly pupae. It’s open daily from 9am-3pm, and admission is C3,500 for adults, C2,500 for children 3 to 12.
If you are in downtown Santa Ana, do take a few minutes to visit the town’s main cathedral (see above) a lovely old stone church, with thick wooden beams, colorful stained-glass windows, and a red-clay tile roof.
Oxcart Derby
This area’s agricultural heritage shines each year on El Día del Boyero (Oxcart Drivers’ Day), which is celebrated on the second Sunday of March. The small town of San Antonio de Escazú is the center of the celebrations, with a street fair, and a large collection of colorfully painted ox-drawn carts parading through the streets.
Escazu & Santa Ana Shopping
One of the country’s best and largest megamalls, Multiplaza Escazú, is located along the Próspero Fernández Highway (CR27), just west of downtown Escazú. In the same general area, you’ll find two other smaller malls, Avenida Escazú and Plaza Itskatzú, each of which has an attractive mix of high-end shops, boutiques, restaurants, and art galleries.
- Arts & Crafts
Biesanz Woodworks
Biesanz makes a wide range of high-quality wood items, including bowls, jewelry boxes, humidors, and some wonderful sets of chopsticks. The company is actively involved in local reforestation. - Galleries
Galería 11–12
This outstanding gallery handles high-end Costa Rican art, from neoclassical painters such as Teodorico Quirós to modern masters such as Francisco Amighetti and Paco Zuñiga, as well as current stars such as Rafa Fernández, Rodolfo Stanley, Fernando Carballo, and Fabio Herrera.
Escazu & Santa Ana Nightlife
Escazú has a handful of popular bars and clubs, many frequented by the Central Valley’s well-heeled urban youth. The most popular is the Jazz Café Escazú ★★ (tel. 2288-4740; Próspero Fernández Hwy), a top spot for live music. If a high-level act is visiting from the United States, Europe, or South America, they will certainly play here.
For an excellent cocktail and a nice view, there’s the 8vo Bar (tel. 7219-4767) on the top floor of the Sheraton Hotel near the Escazú Multiplaza. On weekends it stays open until 2am.
