Santa Ana

Santa Ana is residential and cheaper than the tourist center, with a 10-15 minute walk to Parque Central. Good for budget travelers and language students, but less English and not much nightlife.

Santa Ana is southeast of the center - more residential and quieter, but still a 10-15 minute walk to Parque Central. You'll see more local life here: families at corner stores, kids in school uniforms, fewer tour groups. The neighborhood is centered around Templo de Santa Ana church. Accommodation costs less than in Centro Histórico, and restaurants charge local prices instead of tourist prices. Most people speak Spanish since fewer visitors come here, which is useful if you're in language school. The downsides are distance from the main tourist area and less English spoken. Use tuk-tuks or Uber at night - the streets get quiet and the lighting isn't as good as the colonial center. It's safe but you need to pay more attention than in the heavily policed tourist zone.