# Zarcero Canton, Alajuela Province – Population & Districts

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

Canton · Alajuela Province 

# Zarcero Canton

Zarcero Canton is a canton of Costa Rica in Alajuela Province. It had an estimated **14,489 people** in 2021 on 157 km² (about 92 per km²). It is divided into 7 districts. 45 named villages and localities are recorded here, and 76 mapped services such as hospitals, banks and schools.

- 14,489people (2021)
- 157km²
- 7districts
- 76mapped services

## How many people live in Zarcero Canton?

Zarcero Canton had an estimated **14,489 people** in 2021 — 1.4% of Alajuela Province, 74th of 83 cantons. There are 950 women for every 1,000 men (below the Alajuela Province figure of 973). Spread over 157 km², that is about **92 people per km²**, 40th of 83 cantons.

22.1% of people are children under 15 and 8.6% are 65 or older; the median age is about 31 years (it is 32 across Alajuela Province). For every 100 people of working age (15–64) there are 44 children and older people.

0–4 ****1,051**

5–9 ****1,072**

10–14 ****1,074**

15–19 ****1,027**

20–24 ****1,249**

25–29 ****1,435**

30–34 ****1,409**

35–39 ****1,142**

40–44 ****917**

45–49 ****761**

50–54 ****786**

55–59 ****720**

60–64 ****603**

65–69 ****443**

70–74 ****314**

75+ ****486**

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 Zarcero Canton?

Zarcero Canton lies in [Alajuela Province](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/alajuela/), [Costa Rica](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/). It borders 4 other cantons: [Naranjo Canton](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/alajuela/naranjo/), [San Carlos Canton](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/alajuela/san-carlos/), [San Ramón Canton](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/alajuela/san-ramon/) and [Sarchí Canton](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/alajuela/sarchi/). By area it is the 54th largest of 84 cantons in Costa Rica. It covers 1.6% of [Alajuela Province](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/alajuela/). The centre of Zarcero Canton is about 47 km in a straight line from San José, the capital. It is about 31 km from Alajuela, the main town of Alajuela Province. The centre point is at 10.2188° N, 84.4072° 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).

## Know before you go: Zarcero 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

- Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) · San José (Alajuela)33 km
- La Fortuna Arenal Airport (FON) · La Fortuna34 km

### Nearest railway station

Hospital Alajuela (Alajuela), about 32 km from the centre.

### Daylight

Days are longest in Jun (about 12.7 hours, sunrise around 05:16) and shortest in Dec (about 11.5 hours, sunrise around 05:46, sunset around 17:18).

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 Zarcero Canton

District People per km² Area km² Localities Services 

[Zarcero](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/alajuela/zarcero/zarcero/) 4,378 370 12 13 42 

[Brisas](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/alajuela/zarcero/brisas/) 2,505 140 18 8 6 

[Laguna](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/alajuela/zarcero/laguna/) 2,011 86 23 5 11 

[Palmira](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/alajuela/zarcero/palmira/) 1,691 55 31 5 4 

[Tapesco](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/alajuela/zarcero/tapesco/) 1,563 245 6.4 4 4 

[Guadalupe](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/alajuela/zarcero/guadalupe/) 1,409 62 23 5 3 

[Zapote](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/alajuela/zarcero/zapote/) 932 21 45 5 6 

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 Zarcero Canton

Open gazetteers list **45 villages, towns and localities** in Zarcero Canton. The largest with a recorded population: Zarcero (3,559) and Laguna (670). Settlements here lie between about 971 m and 2,066 m above sea level (median 1,687 m).

- Anateri
- Bajo Los López
- Bajo Pacayal
- Bellavista
- Bolaños
- Brisa
- Cabañas
- Cantarrana
- Cantarranas
- Chicho
- El Invu
- Espino
- Guadalupe
- La Brisa
- La Catarata
- La Legua
- La Peña (El Carmen)
- La Verbena
- Labrador
- Laguna
- Lajas
- Legua
- Los Alpes
- Los Murillo
- Los Ángeles
- Morelos
- Máquina
- Palmira
- Parcelas de Palmira
- Peña
- Picada
- Pueblo Nuevo (Picada)
- Quina
- San Juan de Lajas
- San Luis
- San Martín
- San Pablo
- Santa Elena
- Santa Rosa
- Santa Teresita
- Santísima Trinidad
- Tapesco
- Viento Fresco
- Zapote
- Zarcero

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 Zarcero Canton

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

### Water

22 rivers and streams.

- Quebrada Barquero
- Quebrada Buena Vista
- Quebrada Danta
- Quebrada Laguna
- Quebrada Los Peréz
- Quebrada Miranda
- Quebrada Ojo de Agua
- Quebrada Pino
- Quebrada Pinol
- Quebrada Santa Rosa
- Quebrada Saíno
- Quebrada Tapezco
- Quebrada Túnel
- Quebrada Yeguas
- Quebrada Zapote
- Río Catarata
- Río Espino
- Río Jilguero
- Río Pinol
- Río Tapesco
- Río Zarcero
- Yurro Seco

### Hills and mountains

4 mountains; 2 valleys.

- Cerro Pelón · 2,311 m
- Cerro El Siete · 2,247 m
- Cerro Barquero · 2,115 m
- Bajo La Vieja · 2,081 m
- Cerro Camacho · 2,033 m
- Bajo Pacayal · 1,836 m

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 Zarcero Canton and the best time to visit

In Zarcero Canton, the warmest month is Apr (average 25 °C) and the coolest is Dec (22 °C). 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 April**.

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

Month Average °C Rain mm 

Jan 23 38 

Feb 24 22 

Mar 25 29 

Apr 25 76 

May 24 220 

Jun 24 209 

Jul 23 184 

Aug 23 198 

Sep 23 256 

Oct 23 301 

Nov 22 188 

Dec 22 70 

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

## Hospitals, banks and other services in Zarcero Canton

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

- Hospitals1
- Banks5
- Petrol pumps1
- Hotels4
- Schools22
- Pharmacies3
- Restaurants38
- Police stations1
- Dental clinics1

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 Zarcero Canton?In Alajuela Province, Costa Rica
- What is the population of Zarcero Canton?14,489 (2021 estimate)
- What is the median age in Zarcero Canton?About 31 years (2021 estimate)
- What is the population density of Zarcero Canton?About 92 people per km²
- What borders Zarcero Canton?Naranjo Canton, San Carlos Canton, San Ramón Canton and Sarchí Canton
- What time zone is Zarcero Canton in?UTC−6
- What currency is used in Zarcero Canton?Colon (CRC)
- What language is spoken in Zarcero Canton?Spanish, English (main languages nationally)
- How many villages are in Zarcero Canton?45 named settlements (GeoNames, OpenStreetMap)
- What is the elevation of Zarcero Canton?Settlements lie between 971 m and 2,066 m
- What is the highest point in Zarcero Canton?Cerro Pelón (2,311 m, GeoNames elevation model)
- What is the best time to visit Zarcero Canton?December to April
- How many hospitals are in Zarcero Canton?1 mapped
- How many banks are in Zarcero Canton?5 mapped
- How many petrol pumps are in Zarcero Canton?1 mapped
- What is the P-code of Zarcero Canton?CR211 (OCHA common operational dataset)