# Upala Canton, Alajuela Province – Population, Districts & Map

> Source: https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/alajuela/upala/

Canton · Alajuela Province 

# Upala Canton

Upala Canton is a canton of Costa Rica in Alajuela Province. It had an estimated **54,766 people** in 2021 on 1,592 km² (about 34 per km²). It is divided into 8 districts. 191 named villages and localities are recorded here, and 302 mapped services such as hospitals, banks and schools.

- 54,766people (2021)
- 1,592km²
- 8districts
- 302mapped services

## How many people live in Upala Canton?

Upala Canton had an estimated **54,766 people** in 2021 — 5.3% of Alajuela Province, 33rd of 83 cantons. There are 967 women for every 1,000 men (close to the Alajuela Province figure of 973). Spread over 1,592 km², that is about **34 people per km²**, 68th of 83 cantons.

26.0% of people are children under 15 and 7.6% are 65 or older; the median age is about 27 years (it is 32 across Alajuela Province). For every 100 people of working age (15–64) there are 51 children and older people.

0–4 ****4,515**

5–9 ****4,631**

10–14 ****5,115**

15–19 ****5,572**

20–24 ****5,189**

25–29 ****4,788**

30–34 ****4,204**

35–39 ****3,980**

40–44 ****3,303**

45–49 ****2,760**

50–54 ****2,387**

55–59 ****2,272**

60–64 ****1,907**

65–69 ****1,476**

70–74 ****1,060**

75+ ****1,607**

Source: [Costa Rica National Statistics Office (NSO) via OCHA HDX, population 2021 (COD-PS, CC BY-IGO)](https://data.humdata.org/dataset/cod-ps-cri).

## Where is Upala Canton?

Upala Canton lies in [Alajuela Province](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/alajuela/), [Costa Rica](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/). It borders 6 other cantons: [Bagaces Canton](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/guanacaste/bagaces/), [Cañas Canton](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/guanacaste/canas/), [Guatuso Canton](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/alajuela/guatuso/), [La Cruz Canton](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/guanacaste/la-cruz/), [Liberia Canton](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/guanacaste/liberia/) and [Los Chiles Canton](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/alajuela/los-chiles/). By area it is the 10th largest of 84 cantons in Costa Rica. It covers 16.3% of [Alajuela Province](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/alajuela/). The centre of Upala Canton is about 156 km in a straight line from San José, the capital. It is about 139 km from Alajuela, the main town of Alajuela Province. The centre point is at 10.8681° N, 85.1444° W.

Source: [Costa Rica National Statistics Office (NSO) via OCHA HDX, administrative boundaries (COD-AB, CC BY-IGO)](https://data.humdata.org/dataset/cod-ab-cri).

## Things to see in and around Upala Canton

OpenStreetMap lists 28 named sights in Upala Canton: 18 attractions; 6 volcanos; 2 viewpoints; 1 waterfall; 1 national park.

- Bijagua Waterfall · waterfall
- Zona Protectora Miravalles · national park
- Mirador Cráter Von Seebach · viewpoint
- Mirador del Crater · viewpoint
- Bijagua Ranas · attraction
- Frog's Paradise · attraction
- Laberinto Rio Celeste · attraction
- Lago Tortuga · attraction
- Paraíso Natural Bijagua · attraction
- Park Entrance Rio Celeste · attraction
- Tapir Valley Nature Reserve · attraction
- bajante al río · attraction
- caminata la catwedral · attraction
- catarata La Catedral · attraction
- ceiba arbol · attraction
- ingreso al rio · attraction
- rii · attraction
- rio · attraction
- ruta · attraction
- salida · attraction
- salisa · attraction
- tree chocolate tour · attraction
- Cono 5 · volcano
- Cráter Von Seebach · volcano
- Volcán Cacao · volcano
- Volcán Montezuma · volcano
- Volcán Rincón de la Vieja · volcano
- Volcán Santa María · volcano

Source: [© OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), Geofabrik extract — named settlements](https://www.openstreetmap.org/copyright).

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

## Know before you go: Upala Canton

- Time zoneUTC−6, no daylight saving · America/Costa_Rica
- CurrencyColon (CRC)
- Country calling code+506
- LanguagesSpanish, English
- Plug typesType A, B · 120 V
- Driving sideRight
- Postcode format5 digits (#####)

### Nearest airports

- Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport (LIR) · Liberia53 km
- La Fortuna Arenal Airport (FON) · La Fortuna76 km

### Daylight

Days are longest in Jun (about 12.8 hours, sunrise around 05:17) and shortest in Dec (about 11.5 hours, sunrise around 05:50, sunset around 17:20).

Source: [GeoNames country and time-zone files (CC BY 4.0)](https://www.geonames.org/); [Wikidata (CC0) — plug types, mains voltage, driving side; retrieved 2026-11-03](https://www.wikidata.org/); [OurAirports (public domain)](https://ourairports.com/data/).

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.

## Districts of Upala Canton

District People per km² Area km² Localities Services 

[Upala](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/alajuela/upala/upala/) 16,554 111 149 37 94 

[San José O Pizote](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/alajuela/upala/san-jose-o-pizote/) 8,723 31 285 39 24 

[Aguas Claras](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/alajuela/upala/aguas-claras/) 5,692 14 408 26 35 

[Delicias](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/alajuela/upala/delicias/) 5,428 55 98 19 16 

[Bijagua](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/alajuela/upala/bijagua/) 5,334 29 187 23 79 

[Canalete](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/alajuela/upala/canalete/) 4,987 47 106 19 21 

[Yolillal](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/alajuela/upala/yolillal/) 4,078 29 140 25 16 

[Dos Ríos](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/alajuela/upala/dos-rios/) 3,970 18 219 15 17 

Source: [Costa Rica National Statistics Office (NSO) via OCHA HDX, administrative boundaries (COD-AB, CC BY-IGO)](https://data.humdata.org/dataset/cod-ab-cri); [Costa Rica National Statistics Office (NSO) via OCHA HDX, population 2021 (COD-PS, CC BY-IGO)](https://data.humdata.org/dataset/cod-ps-cri).

## Villages and localities in Upala Canton

Open gazetteers list **191 villages, towns and localities** in Upala Canton. The largest with a recorded population: San José (31,430), Upala (4,185) and Bijagua (1,090). Settlements here lie between about 32 m and 696 m above sea level (median 66 m).

- Achiote
- Aguas Claras
- Altamira
- América
- Argelia
- Betania
- Bijagua
- Birmania
- Brasilia
- Briceño
- Buena Vista
- Buenavista
- Buenos Aires
- Cabeza de León
- Camelias
- Campo Verde
- Canalete
- Carlos Vargas
- Carmen
- Cartago Norte
- Cartago Sur
- Cartagos
- Casa Quemada
- Caño Blanco
- Caño Rito
- Chimurria Abajo
- Chimurria Arriba
- Chimurria Arriba (Santa Rosa)
- Chupulún
- Cinco Esquinas
- Colonia Blanca
- Colonia Jesús María
- Colonia La Libertad
- Colonia Puntarenas
- Colonia San José
- Colonia Valle Verde
- Comunales
- Concha
- Copey
- Cuatro Bocas
- Cuatro Cruces
- Cuesta Los Pichardo
- Delicias
- Don Chu
- Dos Ríos
- Dr. Ricardo Moreno Cañas
- El Achiote
- El Anzuelo
- El Carmen
- El Chacalín
- El Delirio
- El Encanto
- El Fósforo
- El Golfo
- El Higuerón
- El Jardín
- El Macho
- El Mango
- El Pilón
- El Pinol
- El Porvenir
- El Progreso
- El Real
- El Recreo
- El Retiro
- El Roble
- El Rosario
- El Salto
- El Socorro
- Emilio Sáenz
- Flores
- Fátima
- Gavilán
- Guacalito
- Guayabal
- Guayabal (El Carmen)
- Guinea
- Heliconias
- Higuerón
- Ingenieros
- Jabalina
- Jobo
- Jomusa
- Jácamo
- LA CRUZ DE NAZARETH
- La Ceiba
- La Chepa
- La Colonia
- La Corteza
- La Cruz
- La Gloria
- La Maravilla
- La Palmera
- La Perla
- La Puebla
- La Rejoya
- La Reserva
- La Tigra
- La Unión
- La Victoria
- La Virgen
- Las Armenias
- Las Brisas
- Las Florecitas
- Las Flores
- Las Marías
- Las Milpas
- Las Palmas
- Las Parcelas
- Las Pavas
- Latas
- Llano Azul
- Loma Blanca
- Los Cartagos
- Los Chorros
- Los Comandos
- Los Jazmín
- Los Jaznines B
- Los Laureles
- Los Ledezma
- Los Ranchos
- Los Reyes
- Los Sauces
- Los Tijos
- Los Ángeles
- Líbano
- Manzanal
- Maravilla
- Miravalles
- Montecristo
- Moreno Cañas
- México
- NAZARETH NORTE
- NAZARETH SUR
- Nazareno
- Nazaret
- Nazareth
- Nueva Gloria
- Paraíso
- Parcelas de Armenia
- Parcelas del Salto
- Pastate
- Pata de Gallo
- Pavas
- Petrona Cárcamo
- Pizotillo
- Popoyoapa
- Porvenir
- Pueblo Nuevo
- Quebrada Grande
- Quebradón
- Recreo
- Rosario
- Río Negro
- San Antonio
- San Bosco
- San Cristóbal
- San Fernando
- San Gabriel
- San Isidro
- San Isidro de Zapote
- San Jorge
- San José
- San Judas
- San Luis
- San Martín
- San Miguel
- San Pedro
- San Ramón
- Santa Adela
- Santa Cecilia
- Santa Clara
- Santa Clara Sur
- Santa Lucía
- Santa Rita
- Santo Domingo
- Upala
- Valle Bonito
- Venecia
- Verbena
- Verdún
- Victoria
- Villa Fletes
- Villa Hermosa
- Villa Nueva
- Virgen
- Volcán
- Vuelta San Pedro
- Yolillal
- Yolillal (San Antonio)
- Zapote

Source: [GeoNames (CC BY 4.0) — settlements, natural and historic features](https://www.geonames.org/); [© OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), Geofabrik extract — named settlements](https://www.openstreetmap.org/copyright).

## Landscape and landmarks of Upala Canton

Named natural and historic features inside Upala Canton, from the GeoNames gazetteer.

### Water

69 rivers and streams.

- Caño Aguas Negras
- Caño Blanco
- Caño Chacalín
- Caño Domínguez
- Caño El Fósforo
- Caño Negro
- Caño Niño
- Caño San Antonio
- Estero La Tigra
- Quebrada Achiote
- Quebrada Arena
- Quebrada Arena
- Quebrada Argentina
- Quebrada Brava
- Quebrada Chepa
- Quebrada Chico Luis
- Quebrada Culebra
- Quebrada Danta
- Quebrada El Cerro
- Quebrada El Macho
- Quebrada El Quebradón
- Quebrada El Roble
- Quebrada Frijoles
- Quebrada Guacalito

…and 45 more.

### Coast and islands

1 lagoon.

- Laguna Camelias

### Hills and mountains

3 mountains; 3 hills.

- Cerro Montezuma · 1,483 m
- Cerro Chato · 1,111 m
- Cerro Gallo · 752 m
- Cerros La Montañosa · 689 m
- Cerro Olla de Carne · 423 m
- Cerro La Campana · 125 m

### Forests and nature

1 park.

- Parque Nacional Volcan Tenorio

### Getting around

1 airport; 1 airfield.

- El Sota
- Upala Airport

Source: [GeoNames (CC BY 4.0) — settlements, natural and historic features](https://www.geonames.org/).

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

## Weather in Upala Canton and the best time to visit

In Upala Canton, the warmest month is Apr (average 28 °C) and the coolest is Dec (25 °C). About 1,467 mm of rain falls in a year; the wettest month is Oct (297 mm) and the driest Feb (9 mm). The most comfortable months for a visit are **December to March**.

- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec

Month Average °C Rain mm 

Jan 25 16 

Feb 26 9 

Mar 27 11 

Apr 28 37 

May 28 185 

Jun 26 179 

Jul 26 134 

Aug 26 179 

Sep 26 256 

Oct 26 297 

Nov 25 137 

Dec 25 27 

Source: [NASA POWER climatology, retrieved 2026-10-29](https://power.larc.nasa.gov/).

## Hospitals, banks and other services in Upala Canton

Places mapped inside Upala Canton in open map data, by type — each number opens the full list with locations.

- Hospitals6
- Banks7
- Petrol pumps6
- Hotels55
- Shopping malls1
- Schools118
- Colleges and universities3
- Pharmacies5
- Restaurants81
- Police stations16
- Dental clinics4

Source: [Overture Maps places (CDLA-Permissive-2.0) and © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL)](https://overturemaps.org/).

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

## Quick answers

- Where is Upala Canton?In Alajuela Province, Costa Rica
- What is the population of Upala Canton?54,766 (2021 estimate)
- What is the median age in Upala Canton?About 27 years (2021 estimate)
- What is the population density of Upala Canton?About 34 people per km²
- What borders Upala Canton?Bagaces Canton, Cañas Canton, Guatuso Canton, La Cruz Canton, Liberia Canton and Los Chiles Canton
- What is there to see in Upala Canton?Bijagua Ranas, Bijagua Waterfall, Cono 5, Cráter Von Seebach
- What time zone is Upala Canton in?UTC−6
- What currency is used in Upala Canton?Colon (CRC)
- What language is spoken in Upala Canton?Spanish, English (main languages nationally)
- How many villages are in Upala Canton?191 named settlements (GeoNames, OpenStreetMap)
- What is the elevation of Upala Canton?Settlements lie between 32 m and 696 m
- What is the highest point in Upala Canton?Cerro Montezuma (1,483 m, GeoNames elevation model)
- What is the best time to visit Upala Canton?December to March
- How many hospitals are in Upala Canton?6 mapped
- How many banks are in Upala Canton?7 mapped
- How many petrol pumps are in Upala Canton?6 mapped
- What is the P-code of Upala Canton?CR213 (OCHA common operational dataset)