Founded in 1561 by Spanish Conquistador, Juan de Cavallón, and formerly known as Castillo de Garcimuñoz., Santa Ana was the first Spanish settlement in Costa Rica’s Central Valley. Traditionally known as a home to a small community of onion farmers (who bear the nickname “cebolleros”), this quaint and charming valley, located just 8 miles west of the capital city of San Jose, has a reputation for a warm and pleasant climate, fertile soil, a friendly local population, as well as an abundance of fabulous real estate and reasonably priced condos. Among Santa Ana’s main attractions are its agricultural and handicraft industries. The valley is well known for its fine, handmade ceramic pottery, not to mention to being a great place to find locally grown onions, organic garlic and some of the region’s most delicious natural honey. Condo owners can enjoy the convenience of living relatively near the big city, without getting caught up in all the hustle and bustle. Santa Ana still affords condo buyers all the simple pleasures of small town life, including a local farmer’s market every Sunday morning, and a yearly town festival complete with street vendors, rides, masquerades, a marching band, concerts, bingo and other games and activities. Santa Ana’s annual equestrian festival is a spectacular event, attracting visitors and riders from around the country. “So what makes this quaint little village one of the hottest condo and real estate development spots in Costa Rica?” you may be tempted to ask. Don’t be fooled by its small town façade and rural mystique, apart from an outstanding climate, and convenient location, Santa Ana is also home to one of the fastest growing business and commercial districts in the greater metropolitan area. Some of the major multinational companies currently operating in and around the Santa Ana area include Hewlett Packard, Procter and Gamble, Maersk Sealand, and Oracle. In addition, Costa Rica’s National Stock Exchange is located in Forum Business Park in Pozos de Santa Ana. Over the past few years 4 major shopping centers have been built here with one new project under construction. This commercial boom affords local condo and home owners the opportunity to access a variety of products and services right in their own back yards. A host of businesses ranging from auto parts dealers and hardware retailers to retail clothing outlets and cosmetic supplies have opened their doors in recent months. For those looking to get out of the condo and enjoy a night on the town, there is also a large variety of local restaurants, which offer everything from Sushi to Mexican cuisine, as well as an assortment of bars, clubs and other hot spots to choose from. One of the reasons that private investors and condo developers alike are scrambling to get their hands on a piece of real estate in Santa Ana, is the that the overwhelming development trend over the past few years in Costa Rica’s Central Valley has been, and continues to be, westward movement. While traditional suburbs like Rohrmoser and Sabana Sur , which lie on the very fringes of San Jose, have lost their appeal due to older construction and rising safety concerns stemming largely from their proximity from the city’s hub, condo and commercial real estate development alike have moved out west in search of cleaner air, a warmer climate and a safer environment. This trend has given rise to a wide range of state of the art condominiums and private housing developments of every type and price range, as well as wealth of surrounding infrastructure. All of these features and more, make Santa Ana the place to shop for a condo in Costa Rica’s Central Valley. |
