Things to Do in Escazú, Costa Rica
Explore Escazú - Equal parts colonial hill town and suburban bubble, wrapped in cool breezes that smell of eucalyptus and fresh coffee.
Explore ActivitiesDiscover Escazú
Escazú spills down the capital’s western slope; dawn fog clings to coffee-brown hills and woodsmoke drifts from open-hearth bakeries. Streets twist and climb like crumpled paper, past salmon-pink houses capped with terracotta and gates threaded with bougainvillea. Church bells spar with the soft thwack of tennis balls on country-club courts, while roadside batidos sharpened with sour guava sell for less than the bus fare downtown. Three moods share the same postcode. Downtown Escazú—around Avenida Escazú and Calle Fallas—buzzes with office crowds knocking back espresso in cubbyhole cafés that reek of dark roast and caramelizing sugar. Five minutes uphill, San Rafael eases into village rhythm: cicadas drone, tree roots crack the asphalt, and weekend stalls sell strawberries still wearing mountain dew. Slide west to Bello Horizonte and you’re in gated-condo country, where guards salute SUVs and chlorine drifts from infinity pools at dusk.
Why Visit Escazú?
Atmosphere
Equal parts colonial hill town and suburban bubble, wrapped in cool breezes that smell of eucalyptus and fresh coffee.
Price Level
$$
Safety
good
Perfect For
Escazú is ideal for these types of travelers
Top Attractions in Escazú
Don't miss these Escazú highlights
Iglesia de San Miguel Arcángel
Whitewashed twin towers rise above the central square; inside, cedar pews are polished smooth by two centuries of kneeling. Sunlight slips through cobalt glass, splashing the stone floor with shifting blocks of color.
Tip: Come at 6 p.m. Sunday when the bell ringer still climbs the stone staircase to haul the rope by hand.
Multiplaza Escazú
A gleaming mall scented faintly of cinnamon rolls and new leather, escalators murmuring beneath sculpted skylights. Families drift between Zara and the indie Costa Rican bookstore stocking hand-bound poetry chapbooks.
Tip: Grab parking on the north deck; the southern lot bottlenecks after 5 p.m.
Parque La Sabana overlook trail
A twenty-minute climb from Calle Vieja lands you on a ridge where the valley floor unrolls like rumpled green felt. Swifts whistle overhead and the air drops a solid three degrees.
Tip: Start just after sunrise to watch San José’s lights click off block by block.
Centro de Conservación Santa Ana
A compact, thoughtful museum inside a converted coffee mill; cacao beans crunch underfoot on the tactile floor, and a hint of fermenting fruit drifts from the butterfly enclosure.
Tip: Ask for the 10 a.m. guided tour—guides let careful kids cradle a live blue morpho.
Plaza Tempo
An open-air food court wedged between office blocks, Edison bulbs glowing amber at dusk. Smoke from grilled chorizo drifts over communal tables where laptop workers sit elbow-to-elbow with toddlers licking ice cream.
Tip: The churros rellenos stand opens at 7 p.m.; they’re gone fast on Thursdays.
Where to Eat in Escazú
Taste the best of Escazú's culinary scene
Café Mundo
Modern Costa Rican café
Specialty: Café chorreado paired with yuca hash and soft-boiled eggs; brunch lands at $8-12.
Taco Bar Escazú
Gourmet taco counter
Specialty: Cochinita pibil taco with pickled red onion and habanero salsa, three for $6.
La Casona de Laly
Traditional soda
Specialty: Casado with slow-cooked olla de carne and sweet plantains, the plate weighs in around $5.
Sakura Sushi
Japanese-Peruvian fusion
Specialty: Acevichado roll capped with torched tuna and passion-fruit glaze, about $10-14.
Manekí
Tiny bakery
Specialty: Guava-cheese pastelitos warm from the oven, two for a dollar.
Escazú After Dark
Experience the nightlife scene
Stiefel Pub
A German-run beer hall pouring Bavarian pilsner while the TV flickers Bundesliga highlights.
Laid-back expats, craft brews
Jazz Café Escazú
A low-lit room with a baby-grand piano and tables so tight you’ll catch the bassist’s cologne.
Date-night jazz, cover charge nights
Antik
Rooftop bar atop Avenida Escazú with string lights and gin cocktails.
Weekend salsa, dress shoes required
Getting Around Escazú
Blue buses marked “Escazú-Estación” depart San José’s Coca-Cola terminal every 15 minutes until 10 p.m.; the ride clocks 25 minutes and costs pocket change. Inside Escazú, shared taxis called portones ply fixed routes for about half a dollar—hop in, tap the roof to jump out. Uber runs fine, though drivers often bail at rush hour; on foot, the twenty-minute uphill walk between San Rafael and downtown smells of pine and diesel from passing trucks.
Where to Stay in Escazú
Recommended accommodations in the area
Hotel Casa Luna
Boutique
$100-140
Posada El Quijote
Mid-range
$70-90
Airbnb in San Rafael
Budget
$30-50
Sheraton Escazú
Luxury
$150-220
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Explore Escazú Your Way
From Iglesia de San Miguel Arcángel to hidden gems, Escazú offers something for everyone. Book your activities now and experience the best of this district.
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