Escazu, Costa Rica

Oct. 21, 2007 12 AM PT

Population: 55,000

Weather: Temperatures in the 70s most of the year

Getting there: Flights from L.A. to San Jose, the capital, take six hours.

Healthcare: Excellent; CIMA Hospital is one of Central America’s best.

What $250,000 will buy: A 2,700-square-foot, 3-bed, 2 1/2 -bath condo

Pros
* Good services and shopping

* Wide range of housing

* Large expat support network

* Many locals speak English

Cons
* Too urban, “gringo-ized” for some

* Terrible traffic

* Burglary is common

* Pricier than most of the country

Resources
* Tico Times, weekly newspaper: www.ticotimes.net* A.M. Costa Rica, online news: www.amcostarica.com

* The Assn. of Residents of Costa Rica, expat group: www.arcr.net

* Costa Rica Living, message board: https://groups.yahoo.com/group

* “The Golden Door to Retirement and Living in Costa Rica,” book by Christopher Howard