About Escazu

Ever since Costa Rica became the Valhalla of retirement for North Americans and Europeans many years ago, a home in Escazu has been the favorite for those who wanted the best climate and accessibility to the most amenities. Escazu today offers the ambiance that resembles most to what you are used to. It is a mix of tropical colonial life and modern life of developed countries. If you want a home in an area with all the luxuries of today, to have a great social life, you like shopping, want the schools of your children nearby, want them to be near their friends, and you also want to enjoy the fantastic weather of the tropics, Escazu is right for you.
If you are looking for a quiet place, you want to be on your own, or for any other reason you want to be away from it all, I should refer you to one of my partners. There are many areas that are sufficiently close to the before described without being in the middle of nowhere like Santa Ana, Cariari and Atenas.

 

 

Let me explain a little bit more about Escazu. It's one of those little colonial towns that has grown so much that it has become a mix of both worlds. You can find very old adobe houses, beautiful century old churches, farmers on oxcarts and at the same time many strip malls, the most modern Hospital in the country, the largest shopping mall in Central America and all the bars and restaurants you may wish in a life time. Escazu is also on an educational level the leader; an amazing assortment of private multilingual schools is available.
Escazu is divided into 3 main areas:

San Rafael

San Rafael is where it all happens. It's located in the lower part of Escazu. The old main street has turned into what we call "the golden mile", full of stores, restaurants (anything from typical Costa Rican places to Tony Roma's and McDonald's). Many new strip malls are being built all over the place. There is the old Paco doll factory that was turned into a shopping mall, the brand new Plaza Los Laureles which offers many fine restaurants and the Boulevard Mall that offers restaurants and a World Gym. The old times are gone that you had to shop for weeks to find the right thing, now you have it all whenever you need it.

San Antonio

San Antonio is the quiet area of Escazu. It's located higher up on the mountain, but it's only a couple of minutes from the rest of Escazu. This area is not as developed as the other areas. The rural is mixed with the city. You'll find mansions with shacks as their neighbors. Most foreigners like living here because of the awesome views that most properties have and the cooler temperatures.

Guachipelín

Guachipelín is the newest and most modern part of Escazu. Filled with strip malls, hotels, the famous MultiPlaza shopping mall, the Cima hospital, the PriceSmart (Costco in U.S.) supermarket and many others, there are also many new residential areas offering new homes starting at the $100,000 all the way up to a Million $'s price range.

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My recommendation

I recommend having a good look at Escazu for a home, a business, or land when you are relocating to Costa Rica. Since you’ll find yourself missing friends and family from back home after a while; you’ll like the fact that a home in Escazu makes it easy to find new friends from all over the world. It will make your life here even more interesting than it was before. Back home you wouldn’t have the same opportunities to meet so many interesting people. So, make sure you have the right realtor to show you around. I offer you 26 years of Costa Rica experience and many years of real estate in this country.

Good luck on your search for the home of your dreams!
Ivo Henfling, Escazú Specialist

Our Escazú Office

Ivo Henfling

Dutch owner and president of GoDutch Realty, Ivo Henfling came to Costa Rica in 1980 looking for new horizons. He has had many businesses over the years: window cleaning company, fishing boats, a supply delivery company for beach hotels and a spice wholesale company.

After living a few years in this beautiful country, the real estate deals began coming up. Countrymen and friends of all kinds of nationalities, who were transferred or wanted to leave the country, asked him to take care of their properties or help him sell them.

Since 1997, he has dedicated himself full time to real estate and founding GoDutch Realty in the same year. Now with 4 offices nationwide, GoDutch is one of the largest real estate companies in Costa Rica. This success is based on watching out for our customers, we offer you the best available service, seriousness and punctuality all clients deserve.

Ivo is fluent in English, Spanish and Dutch.