# Bijagua District, Upala Canton, Alajuela Province – Population

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

District · Upala Canton 

# Bijagua

Bijagua is a district of Costa Rica in Upala Canton, Alajuela Province. It had an estimated **5,334 people** in 2021 on 187 km² (about 29 per km²). 23 named villages and localities are recorded here, and 79 mapped services such as hospitals, banks and schools.

- 5,334people (2021)
- 187km²
- 79mapped services
- 445 mtypical elevation

## How many people live in Bijagua?

Bijagua had an estimated **5,334 people** in 2021 — 9.7% of Upala Canton, 286th of 472 districts. There are 978 women for every 1,000 men (above the Upala Canton figure of 967). Spread over 187 km², that is about **29 people per km²**, 380th of 472 districts.

20.4% of people are children under 15 and 9.1% are 65 or older; the median age is about 32 years (it is 27 across Upala Canton). For every 100 people of working age (15–64) there are 42 children and older people.

0–4 ****359**

5–9 ****354**

10–14 ****373**

15–19 ****402**

20–24 ****457**

25–29 ****470**

30–34 ****519**

35–39 ****463**

40–44 ****376**

45–49 ****324**

50–54 ****281**

55–59 ****261**

60–64 ****212**

65–69 ****170**

70–74 ****121**

75+ ****192**

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 Bijagua?

Bijagua lies in [Upala Canton](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/alajuela/upala/), [Alajuela Province](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/alajuela/), [Costa Rica](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/). It borders 8 other districts: [Aguas Claras](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/alajuela/upala/aguas-claras/), [Canalete](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/alajuela/upala/canalete/), [Cote](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/alajuela/guatuso/cote/), [Katira](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/alajuela/guatuso/katira/), [La Fortuna](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/guanacaste/bagaces/la-fortuna/), [Palmira](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/guanacaste/canas/palmira/), [Río Naranjo](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/guanacaste/bagaces/rio-naranjo/) and [Upala](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/alajuela/upala/upala/). By area it is the 95th largest of 492 districts in Costa Rica. It covers 11.7% of [Upala Canton](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/alajuela/upala/). The centre of Bijagua is about 139 km in a straight line from San José, the capital. The centre point is at 10.7470° N, 85.0489° 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 Bijagua

OpenStreetMap lists 10 named sights in Bijagua: 7 attractions; 1 waterfall; 1 volcano; 1 national park.

- Bijagua Waterfall · waterfall
- Zona Protectora Miravalles · national park
- 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
- Volcán Montezuma · volcano

### Nearby, outside Bijagua

- Borbollones · attraction, Katira7.7 km
- Los Tenideros río Celeste · viewpoint, Katira7.7 km
- Blue Lagune · attraction, Katira7.7 km
- Catarata Río Celeste · attraction, Katira8.0 km
- tree chocolate tour · attraction, Upala8.1 km
- Sendero La Sorpresa · attraction, Katira8.5 km
- Volcán Tenorio · volcano, Palmira9.6 km
- Cabro Muco · waterfall, La Fortuna10 km
- Tree of Peace · viewpoint, Katira11 km
- Volcán Miravalles · volcano, La Fortuna12 km
- Mirador Jaguar Plataforma · viewpoint, La Fortuna12 km
- Mirador Jaguar · viewpoint, La Fortuna12 km

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: Bijagua

- 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) · Liberia57 km
- La Fortuna Arenal Airport (FON) · La Fortuna60 km

### Nearest railway station

La Pequeña Helvecia (Arenal), about 38 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 05:50, 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.

## Villages and localities in Bijagua

Open gazetteers list **23 villages, towns and localities** in Bijagua. The largest with a recorded population: Bijagua (1,090). Settlements here lie between about 155 m and 563 m above sea level (median 445 m).

- Achiote
- Altamira
- Bijagua
- Carlos Vargas
- Cuesta Los Pichardo
- El Achiote
- El Higuerón
- El Jardín
- El Macho
- El Pilón
- El Retiro
- El Salto
- Higuerón
- La Rejoya
- La Reserva
- Las Florecitas
- Las Flores
- Los Chorros
- Los Ángeles
- Pueblo Nuevo
- San Miguel
- Santo Domingo
- 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 Bijagua

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

### Water

5 rivers and streams.

- Quebrada El Macho
- Quebrada Pichardo
- Quebrada Zapotillo
- Río Bijagua
- Río Oro

### Hills and mountains

2 hills.

- Cerro Montezuma · 1,483 m
- Cerro Olla de Carne · 423 m

### Forests and nature

1 park.

- Parque Nacional Volcan Tenorio

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 Bijagua and the best time to visit

Using the climate of Upala Canton, the warmest month is Apr (average 26 °C) and the coolest is Dec (23 °C), after allowing for this place being about 379 m higher than the climate reference point (about 6.5 °C per 1,000 m). 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 April**.

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

Month Average °C Rain mm 

Jan 23 16 

Feb 24 9 

Mar 25 11 

Apr 26 37 

May 25 185 

Jun 24 179 

Jul 24 134 

Aug 24 179 

Sep 24 256 

Oct 23 297 

Nov 23 137 

Dec 23 27 

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

## Nearest hospital, bank and fuel from Bijagua

Need Nearest mapped Distance 

Hospital Hospital Upala · Upala 17 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=10.89731&mlon=-85.02430#map=17/10.89731/-85.02430) 

Bank Banco Nacional · Bijagua 2.3 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=10.72860&mlon=-85.05919#map=17/10.72860/-85.05919) 

Petrol pump Gasolinera Bijagua · Bijagua 0.9 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=10.73915&mlon=-85.04567#map=17/10.73915/-85.04567) 

Hotel Origins Luxury Lodges · Bijagua 0.4 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=10.74667&mlon=-85.05263#map=17/10.74667/-85.05263) 

Mall El Mercado Upala · Upala 17 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=10.89790&mlon=-85.01640#map=17/10.89790/-85.01640) 

School Escuela El Jardín · Bijagua 1.8 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=10.74223&mlon=-85.06475#map=17/10.74223/-85.06475) 

College UNED - Centro Universitario Upala · Upala 17 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=10.89874&mlon=-85.02395#map=17/10.89874/-85.02395) 

Police station Delegación Policial de Bijagua · Bijagua 2.3 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=10.72855&mlon=-85.05929#map=17/10.72855/-85.05929) 

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

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

## Hospitals, banks and other services in Bijagua

Places mapped inside Bijagua in open map data, by type.

- Banks1
- Petrol pumps1
- Hotels30
- Schools12
- Pharmacies1
- Restaurants33
- Police stations1

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.

## Other districts in Upala Canton

- Aguas Claras
- Canalete
- Delicias
- Dos Ríos
- San José O Pizote
- Upala
- Yolillal

## Quick answers

- Where is Bijagua?In Upala Canton, Alajuela Province, Costa Rica
- What is the population of Bijagua?5,334 (2021 estimate)
- What is the median age in Bijagua?About 32 years (2021 estimate)
- What is the population density of Bijagua?About 29 people per km²
- What borders Bijagua?Aguas Claras, Canalete, Cote, Katira, La Fortuna, Palmira, Río Naranjo and Upala
- What is there to see in Bijagua?Bijagua Ranas, Bijagua Waterfall, Frog's Paradise, Laberinto Rio Celeste
- What time zone is Bijagua in?UTC−6
- What currency is used in Bijagua?Colon (CRC)
- What language is spoken in Bijagua?Spanish, English (main languages nationally)
- How many villages are in Bijagua?23 named settlements (GeoNames, OpenStreetMap)
- What is the elevation of Bijagua?Settlements lie between 155 m and 563 m
- What is the highest point in Bijagua?Cerro Montezuma (1,483 m, GeoNames elevation model)
- What is the best time to visit Bijagua?December to April
- Where is the nearest hospital to Bijagua?Hospital Upala, about 17 km from the centre
- Where is the nearest bank to Bijagua?Banco Nacional, about 2.3 km from the centre
- Where is the nearest petrol pump to Bijagua?Gasolinera Bijagua, about 0.9 km from the centre
- How many banks are in Bijagua?1 mapped
- How many petrol pumps are in Bijagua?1 mapped
- What is the P-code of Bijagua?CR21304 (OCHA common operational dataset)