Costa Rica (Lonely Planet, 9th Edition) - Matthew Firestone [77]
Un Lugar (Map; Calle 33 btwn Avs 11 & 13) This small wood-lined bar serves as a neighborhood hangout that draws artsy types and young professionals for cold beer and bocas (₡1800 to ₡3300). This is a good spot for solo women travelers.
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Entertainment
Multicines San Pedro (Map; 2283-5715/6; www.ccmcinemas.com; 2nd fl, Mall San Pedro; admission US$4) This popular multiplex has 10 screens showing the latest Hollywood flicks.
For live theater, there are a couple of choices in the area. Teatro Eugene O’Neill (Map; 2207-7554; www.cccncr.com; Calle 37, north of Av Central, Los Yoses) has performances sponsored by the Centro Cultural Costarricense Norteamericano (Costa Rican–North American Cultural Center). On the east side of the UCR campus is the Teatro Bellas Artes (2207-4327; www.teatro.ucr.ac.cr), which has a wide variety of programming, including works produced by the university’s fine-arts department.
Jazz Café (Map; 2253-8933; www.jazzcafecostarica.com; 6pm-2am) is the destination in San José for live music, with a different band every night. Countless performers have taken to the stage here, including legendary Cuban bandleader Chucho Valdés and Colombian pop star Juanes. Admission charges vary, but plan on spending about ₡4000 to see local groups. It’s 50m east of the Antiguo Banco Popular.
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Shopping
Mall San Pedro (Map; 2283-7516; northwest of Fuente de la Hispanidad, Los Yoses) This busy four-story mall comes chock-full of clothing shops, a food court, a video arcade and even an Apple computer store.
Outlet Mall (Map; cnr Av Central & Calle Central, San Pedro) Smaller and more economical is this spot right across from the Iglesia de San Pedro.
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Getting There & Away
From the Plaza de la Cultura in San José, take any bus marked ‘Mall San Pedro.’ A taxi ride from downtown will cost about ₡2000, depending on traffic. To get into San José, take one of the buses that make stops all along Av Central heading west into the city.
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ESCAZÚ
You can find an unusual juxtaposition of gringo expats, moneyed aristocrats and old-world Tico village life in this sprawling suburb that climbs a steep hillside overlooking San José and Heredia. The area is really made up of three adjoining neighborhoods: San Rafael de Escazú, Escazú Centro and San Antonio de Escazú, each of which has its own unique character.
At the bottom of the hill is San Rafael, which is one part Costa Rica, two parts USA, dotted with strip malls, top-end car dealerships, tract housing and chain restaurants. Escazú Centro retains an unhurried Tico ambience, where narrow streets are cluttered with shops, sodas and old-world country taverns. At the top of the hill, the area around San Antonio remains almost entirely residential, a mix of humble rural homes, sprawling estates and a handful of hotels with spectacular views. The further you get up the hill, the more scarce public transportation becomes, so it’s best to have a car.
Escazú’s proximity to Pavas and Alajuela makes it a convenient place to stay if you want to be near San José’s airports.
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Information
Banco de Costa Rica ATM (Map; Av Central btwn Calles Central & 1, Escazú Centro) A 24-hour ATM on various international networks, including Cirrus.
Driftwood Books (Map; 2nd fl, cnr Calle 2 & Av Central, Escazú Centro; 3-6pm Mon-Fri) On the northwest corner of the park, this tiny 2nd-story shop sells used English-language books and displays a collection of vintage bells.
Hospital CIMA (off Map; 2208-1000, for emergencies 2208-1144; www.hospitalcima.com) Medical care – emergency or otherwise. The hospital is 500m west of the Próspero Fernández tollbooth in the area of Guachipelín, on the west side of Escazú. Affiliated with Baylor University Medical Center in the USA, it is one of the most modern hospitals in the greater San José metropolitan area.
Librería Internacional (Map; www.libreriainternacional.com; 10am-8pm Mon-Sat,