Elevé Guide

What you can see from Elevé: volcanoes, San José, Atenas and the airport

Some views are pretty, and some make you stay a little longer. From Elevé, high above Atenas, the whole Central Valley opens up: the volcanoes, the city of San José, the Atenas valley and, in the distance, the airport.

What you will see, from left to right

• Volcanoes: you can see them far off over the valley.

• San José: its lights come on at dusk and fill the horizon.

• Atenas: the valley and the hills around it.

• The airport: visible by day and by night; after dark, the lights of the planes join those of the valley.

The best time

Sunset in Atenas runs from 4:45 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Arrive a little early so you have time to sit down, order a drink and watch the sky change. When it gets dark, the city lights begin to appear: two different views of the same place.

Day and night: two different views

By day you see the valley, the mountains and the volcanoes in the distance. At night everything changes: the moon and the stars appear over the valley, and the lights of San José and the airport come on along the horizon. It is the same place, but it feels different, which is why it is worth coming for both.

How to enjoy it most

• Book ahead if you want a terrace table at sunset.

• Bring a light jacket: it gets cooler at altitude when the sun goes down.

• If the day is cloudy, do not write it off: clouds and rain make for different skies and sometimes a rainbow.

• Stay for dinner: the night view, with the lights of the valley, is part of the experience.

Elevé

Elevé is an independent restaurant located at Barons Resort in Atenas. We serve classic and international cuisine with local ingredients, cocktails and wine. We are open Monday to Saturday from 1:00 to 8:45 p.m. and Sundays from 12:00 to 7:45 p.m. Reservations by WhatsApp: 8827-7698.

Living in Atenas, Costa Rica: a Practical Guide from Inside

Atenas sits on the western edge of Costa Rica's Central Valley, in the province of Alajuela. People thinking about moving, spending seasons here or simply getting to know the area tend to ask the same questions: how far is everything, what is daily life like and what is nearby. This guide answers with figures measured in October 2026 and is clear about what each person should confirm on their own.

Atenas in numbers

• The canton of Atenas had 30,021 residents in the 2022 census (INEC), spread across eight districts. The central district is the largest, with 7,809 people.

• 18.4% of residents (5,530 people) are 60 or older.

• Downtown Atenas is about 700 meters (2,300 ft) above sea level. Elevation varies widely across the canton.

Real drive times

Driving times from Elevé (Sabana Larga), measured on Google Maps without traffic. Rush hour can add time.

• Downtown Atenas (supermarkets, municipal market): 6 to 8 minutes.

• Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO): 35 minutes (about 40 on a Friday at 5 p.m.).

• Downtown Alajuela: 37 minutes.

• Downtown San José: 43 minutes.

• Santa Ana (Forum, Walmart, Auto Mercado): 30 to 33 minutes.

• Escazú (Multiplaza, PriceSmart): 35 minutes.

• Jacó or Herradura beaches: 1 hour 21 minutes.

Health care

Atenas has a CCSS (public system) health area for primary care. There is no hospital in the canton: Hospital San Rafael de Alajuela is 35 minutes from Elevé, and which hospital serves each person is determined by the CCSS. For private care, Escazú has Hospital CIMA (36 minutes from Elevé) and Centro Médico La California, and Clínica Bíblica has a presence in Santa Ana. Before choosing a neighborhood, confirm services and hours directly with each provider.

Everyday shopping and services

Downtown Atenas has the Municipal Market, the Coopeatenas supermarket, a Maxi Palí and other local shops, all about 6 to 8 minutes from Elevé. For larger shopping trips, Santa Ana and Escazú have malls and chains such as Walmart, Auto Mercado, PriceSmart and Más x Menos, 30 to 38 minutes away.

Community and daily life

Atenas blends small-town life with easy access to the rest of the Central Valley. You notice it at the table: at Elevé we talk every week with local families, residents from other countries and visitors who come to get to know Atenas before deciding where to settle. The terrace, the view and a good conversation are often the best place to start.

Before you buy or rent

This guide is informational and is not legal or real estate advice. If you plan to buy, rent or apply for residency, consult an attorney and notary, verify the property with the Registro Nacional, ask the Municipalidad de Atenas about utilities and zoning, and check immigration requirements with the Dirección General de Migración y Extranjería.

See Atenas from above

If you are exploring the area, come see the valley from Elevé. We are open Monday to Saturday from 1:00 p.m. to 8:45 p.m. and Sunday from 12:00 p.m. to 7:45 p.m.; sunset is between 4:45 and 6:00 p.m. You will find us at Residencial Vista Atenas, Jesús, Sabana Larga, Atenas, Alajuela (Barons Resort), an independent restaurant serving classic and international cuisine with local ingredients. Reservations by WhatsApp: 8827-7698.

Sources: Google Maps (October 2026); INEC 2022 census; CCSS and El Financiero (September 3, 2026).

Andrew Partain, RE/MAX Costa Rica

The People Who Make a Place Feel Like Home

By Joxan Obando Sánchez, owner of Restaurante Elevé in Atenas, Costa Rica.

About two years ago, I arrived in Atenas, Costa Rica, beginning a new chapter in a place I was still getting to know. Like anyone settling into a new community, I gradually discovered the town, its surroundings and, most importantly, its people.

One of the people I have been fortunate enough to meet is Andrew Partain.

Over time, we have developed a relationship built on mutual respect and admiration. Andrew works in real estate, but what I want to share here has less to do with properties and more to do with the person I have come to know.

Some people are remembered for what they do. Others are remembered for how they make you feel. To me, Andrew belongs in the second category.

When you arrive somewhere new, it means a lot to meet people who make you feel welcome, treat you with respect and allow a genuine relationship to develop. Those seemingly small things can gradually turn an unfamiliar place into somewhere that feels like home.

That is something I value about my experience with Andrew.

I have also come to appreciate the regard many people have for him and the reputation he has built through his work. I cannot speak on behalf of his clients, but I can share my own experience and explain why I am happy to recommend him when someone asks me about a real estate professional in Atenas.

There are not many people I would recommend without hesitation. Andrew is one of them.

If you are looking at properties in Atenas, Alajuela, or considering making Costa Rica your home, you can learn more about his professional background here: https://www.remax-costa-rica.com/real-estate-agents/andrew-partain/

Beyond his profession, though, what matters most to me is much simpler: I am glad our paths crossed and that I got to know a good person.

When we look back on what it means to arrive somewhere new, it is often not the houses, landscapes or streets that stay with us the most. It is the people we meet along the way.

For me, Andrew is certainly one of those people.

Joxan Obando Sánchez

Owner, Restaurante Elevé

Atenas, Alajuela, Costa Rica

Personal opinion of Joxan. Restaurante Elevé has no commercial relationship with, and receives no commission from, Andrew Partain.

Elevé is an independent restaurant at Barons Resort, Sabana Larga, Jesús, Atenas, Alajuela, in Costa Rica’s Central Valley, about 35 minutes from Juan Santamaría International Airport. Reservations by WhatsApp: 8827-7698.

Spanish version: see the Guía Elevé page.