District · San Ramón Canton
# Peñas Blancas

Peñas Blancas is a district of Costa Rica in San Ramón Canton, Alajuela Province. It had an estimated 12,212 people in 2021 on 247 km² (about 49 per km²). 33 named villages and localities are recorded here, and 88 mapped services such as hospitals, banks and schools.
- 12,212 people (2021)
- 247 km²
- 88 mapped services
- 264 m typical elevation

## How many people live in Peñas Blancas?

Peñas Blancas had an estimated 12,212 people in 2021 — 12.9% of San Ramón Canton, 135th of 472 districts. There are 981 women for every 1,000 men (below the San Ramón Canton figure of 991). Spread over 247 km², that is about 49 people per km², 332nd of 472 districts.

22.8% of people are children under 15 and 8.3% are 65 or older; the median age is about 29 years (it is 33 across San Ramón Canton). For every 100 people of working age (15–64) there are 45 children and older people.
- 0–4 918
- 5–9 949
- 10–14 918
- 15–19 1,006
- 20–24 1,290
- 25–29 1,387
- 30–34 1,022
- 35–39 799
- 40–44 673
- 45–49 597
- 50–54 596
- 55–59 563
- 60–64 483
- 65–69 376
- 70–74 249
- 75+ 386

Source: Costa Rica National Statistics Office (NSO) via OCHA HDX, population 2021 (COD-PS, CC BY-IGO).

## Where is Peñas Blancas?

Peñas Blancas lies in San Ramón Canton, Alajuela Province, Costa Rica. It borders 9 other districts: Cabeceras, Florencia, Guacimal, La Fortuna, La Tigra, Monteverde, San Lorenzo, Tilarán and Tronadora. By area it is the 58th largest of 492 districts in Costa Rica. It covers 24.2% of San Ramón Canton. The centre of Peñas Blancas is about 83 km in a straight line from San José, the capital. The centre point is at 10.3630° N, 84.6999° W.

Source: Costa Rica National Statistics Office (NSO) via OCHA HDX, administrative boundaries (COD-AB, CC BY-IGO).

## Things to see in and around Peñas Blancas

OpenStreetMap lists 20 named sights in Peñas Blancas: 10 attractions; 6 waterfalls; 3 viewpoints; 1 zoo.
- Cascada Basalticas · waterfall
- Cascada de Paso · waterfall
- Cascada el Puente · waterfall
- Cascada Árboles de Caoba · waterfall
- Catarata · waterfall
- El Canto Waterfall · waterfall
- Bamboo Tower · viewpoint
- Mirador el Nido del Arenal · viewpoint
- Viewpoint (especially good at sunset) · viewpoint
- Casa Cañón Desafío Adventures Cañoning Rapelling · attraction
- Cañoning Desafio House · attraction
- Destinytourscr · attraction
- Eco Garden Arenal · attraction
- El Bosque de Tío Victor · attraction
- Finca Paraíso Orgánico · attraction
- Granja Eco Turistica Victoria · attraction
- Plataforma #2 Lost Cañoning 40 metros · attraction
- Plataforma Shanti Peace Paz · attraction
- Two little monkeys chocolate workshop · attraction
- Butterfly Conservatory · zoo

### Nearby, outside Peñas Blancas
- Sky Adventures Arenal Park · attraction, La Fortuna 7.9 km
- Museum and Coffee Bar · museum, La Fortuna 8.2 km
- las casonas · viewpoint, La Fortuna 8.3 km
- Observatory Deck · viewpoint, La Fortuna 8.4 km
- Cascada y pozas · waterfall, La Fortuna 8.5 km
- Observation deck de Volcán Arenal · viewpoint, La Fortuna 8.8 km
- Cerro Chato · volcano, La Fortuna 9.0 km
- Observation deck de Volcán Arenal · viewpoint, La Fortuna 9.0 km
- Waterfall Río Fortuna · waterfall, La Fortuna 9.1 km
- Rio Fortuna Waterfall viewpoint · viewpoint, La Fortuna 9.4 km
- Meeting Spot · attraction, La Fortuna 9.6 km
- ceibo tree · attraction, La Fortuna 9.8 km

Source: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), Geofabrik extract — named settlements.

Named attractions, museums, viewpoints, historic sites and natural features mapped in OpenStreetMap. Places of worship are not listed.

## Know before you go: Peñas Blancas
- Time zone UTC−6, no daylight saving · America/Costa_Rica
- Currency Colon (CRC)
- Country calling code +506
- Languages Spanish, English
- Plug types Type A, B · 120 V
- Driving side Right
- Postcode format 5 digits (#####)

### Nearest airports
- La Fortuna Arenal Airport (FON) · La Fortuna 18 km
- Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) · San José (Alajuela) 68 km

### Nearest railway station

Rondorama (Arenal), about 19 km from the centre.

### Daylight

Days are longest in Jun (about 12.7 hours, sunrise around 05:17) and shortest in Dec (about 11.5 hours, sunrise around 05:48, sunset around 17:19).

Source: GeoNames country and time-zone files (CC BY 4.0); Wikidata (CC0) — plug types, mains voltage, driving side; retrieved 2026-11-03; OurAirports (public domain).

Airports with scheduled passenger flights; straight-line distances. Daylight is calculated for the 15th of each month in local standard time. Check entry and visa rules with official government sources before travelling.

## Villages and localities in Peñas Blancas

Open gazetteers list 33 villages, towns and localities in Peñas Blancas. The largest with a recorded population: Poco Sol (2,947). Settlements here lie between about 105 m and 625 m above sea level (median 264 m).
- Abanico
- Altos de La Altura
- Cairo
- Castillo Nuevo
- Chachagua
- Colonia Trinidad
- El Banco
- El Bosque
- El Carmen
- El Castillo
- El Naranjal
- Jauri
- La Altura
- La Amistad
- La Cruz
- La Pechuga
- Las Delicias
- Linda Vista
- Llano Trepo
- Los Diamantes
- Los Laureles
- Poco Sol
- Proyecto Milenio
- San Bosco
- San Carlos
- San Francisco
- San Francisco (Burrito)
- San Isidro
- San Juan
- San Pedro
- San Rafael
- Sector Ángeles
- Tesoro Escondido

Source: GeoNames (CC BY 4.0) — settlements, natural and historic features; © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), Geofabrik extract — named settlements.

## Landscape and landmarks of Peñas Blancas

Named natural and historic features inside Peñas Blancas, from the GeoNames gazetteer.

### Water

18 rivers and streams; 1 lake.
- Laguna Poco Sol
- Quebrada Alcantarilla
- Quebrada Cacao
- Quebrada Chachagüita
- Quebrada Cristinas
- Quebrada Elisa
- Quebrada Grande
- Quebrada Paja
- Quebrada Picueca
- Quebrada Piedra
- Quebrada Piedrita
- Quebrada Salitral
- Quebrada Targuasal
- Río Agua Gata
- Río Aguas Gatas
- Río Burrito
- Río Burro
- Río Caño Negro
- Río Chachagua

### Hills and mountains

1 mountain; 1 hill.
- Cerro Amigos · 1,806 m
- Cerro Los Perdidos · 1,198 m

Source: GeoNames (CC BY 4.0) — settlements, natural and historic features.

Places of worship are not listed. Elevations are from the GeoNames terrain model and are approximate.

## Weather in Peñas Blancas and the best time to visit

Using the climate of San Ramón Canton, the warmest month is Apr (average 30 °C) and the coolest is Dec (28 °C), after allowing for this place being about 804 m lower than the climate reference point (about 6.5 °C per 1,000 m). About 1,793 mm of rain falls in a year; the wettest month is Oct (301 mm) and the driest Feb (22 mm). The most comfortable months for a visit are December to January.
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
| Month | Average °C | Rain mm |
| Jan | 28 | 38 |
| Feb | 29 | 22 |
| Mar | 30 | 29 |
| Apr | 30 | 76 |
| May | 30 | 220 |
| Jun | 29 | 209 |
| Jul | 29 | 184 |
| Aug | 29 | 198 |
| Sep | 28 | 256 |
| Oct | 28 | 301 |
| Nov | 28 | 188 |
| Dec | 28 | 70 |

Source: NASA POWER climatology, retrieved 2026-10-29.

## Nearest hospital, bank and fuel from Peñas Blancas
| Need | Nearest mapped | Distance | |
| Hospital | CM Sanar Fortuna · La Fortuna | 14 km | Map |
| Bank | Coocique · La Tigra | 13 km | Map |
| ATM | ATM Banco Costa Rica · La Fortuna | 14 km | Map |
| Petrol pump | Estación de Servicio Chachagua · Peñas Blancas | 12 km | Map |
| Hotel | Sunset Hotel Monteverde · San Lorenzo | 6.8 km | Map |
| Mall | Comercial Oriental del Norte · La Tigra | 13 km | Map |
| School | Escuela San Miguel · La Tigra | 7.6 km | Map |
| College | Instituto Nacional de Aprendizaje La Fortuna · La Fortuna | 13 km | Map |
| Police station | Delegación Policía de Tránsito La Fortuna · La Fortuna | 13 km | Map |

Source: Overture Maps places (CDLA-Permissive-2.0) and © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).

Straight-line distance from the centre of the division, within 40 km.

## Hospitals, banks and other services in Peñas Blancas

Places mapped inside Peñas Blancas in open map data, by type.
- Petrol pumps 1
- Hotels 42
- Schools 19
- Pharmacies 1
- Restaurants 24
- Police stations 1

Source: Overture Maps places (CDLA-Permissive-2.0) and © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).

Coverage depends on what has been mapped; contact details are not shown.

## Other districts in San Ramón Canton
- Alfaro
- Concepción
- Piedades Norte
- Piedades Sur
- San Isidro
- San Juan
- San Lorenzo
- San Rafael
- San Ramón
- Santiago
- Volio
- Zapotal
- Ángeles

## Quick answers
- Where is Peñas Blancas? In San Ramón Canton, Alajuela Province, Costa Rica
- What is the population of Peñas Blancas? 12,212 (2021 estimate)
- What is the median age in Peñas Blancas? About 29 years (2021 estimate)
- What is the population density of Peñas Blancas? About 49 people per km²
- What borders Peñas Blancas? Cabeceras, Florencia, Guacimal, La Fortuna, La Tigra, Monteverde, San Lorenzo, Tilarán and Tronadora
- What is there to see in Peñas Blancas? Bamboo Tower, Butterfly Conservatory, Casa Cañón Desafío Adventures Cañoning Rapelling, Cascada Basalticas
- What time zone is Peñas Blancas in? UTC−6
- What currency is used in Peñas Blancas? Colon (CRC)
- What language is spoken in Peñas Blancas? Spanish, English (main languages nationally)
- How many villages are in Peñas Blancas? 33 named settlements (GeoNames, OpenStreetMap)
- What is the elevation of Peñas Blancas? Settlements lie between 105 m and 625 m
- What is the highest point in Peñas Blancas? Cerro Amigos (1,806 m, GeoNames elevation model)
- What is the best time to visit Peñas Blancas? December to January
- Where is the nearest hospital to Peñas Blancas? CM Sanar Fortuna, about 14 km from the centre
- Where is the nearest bank to Peñas Blancas? Coocique, about 13 km from the centre
- Where is the nearest ATM to Peñas Blancas? ATM Banco Costa Rica, about 14 km from the centre
- Where is the nearest petrol pump to Peñas Blancas? Estación de Servicio Chachagua, about 12 km from the centre
- How many petrol pumps are in Peñas Blancas? 1 mapped
- What is the P-code of Peñas Blancas? CR20213 (OCHA common operational dataset)

At a glance
- Type: District
- Area: 246.8 km²
- P-code: CR20213
- Canton: San Ramón Canton

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Canonical: https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/alajuela/san-ramon/penas-blancas/ · Updated 2026-11-03 · Data: national censuses and statistics offices (sources named in each section); © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL); Overture Maps; GeoNames; NASA POWER.