# El Guarco Canton, Cartago Province – Population & Districts

> Source: https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/cartago/el-guarco/

Canton · Cartago Province 

# El Guarco Canton

El Guarco Canton is a canton of Costa Rica in Cartago Province. It had an estimated **46,638 people** in 2021 on 172 km² (about 271 per km²). It is divided into 4 districts. 74 named villages and localities are recorded here, and 180 mapped services such as hospitals, banks and schools.

- 46,638people (2021)
- 172km²
- 4districts
- 180mapped services

## How many people live in El Guarco Canton?

El Guarco Canton had an estimated **46,638 people** in 2021 — 8.6% of Cartago Province, 42nd of 83 cantons. There are 975 women for every 1,000 men (below the Cartago Province figure of 991). Spread over 172 km², that is about **271 people per km²**, 29th of 83 cantons.

21.8% of people are children under 15 and 7.8% are 65 or older; the median age is about 32 years (it is 33 across Cartago Province). For every 100 people of working age (15–64) there are 42 children and older people.

0–4 ****3,345**

5–9 ****3,464**

10–14 ****3,342**

15–19 ****3,267**

20–24 ****4,015**

25–29 ****4,304**

30–34 ****4,152**

35–39 ****3,798**

40–44 ****3,402**

45–49 ****2,947**

50–54 ****2,674**

55–59 ****2,405**

60–64 ****1,868**

65–69 ****1,419**

70–74 ****909**

75+ ****1,327**

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 El Guarco Canton?

El Guarco Canton lies in [Cartago Province](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/cartago/), [Costa Rica](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/). It borders 3 other cantons: [Cartago Canton](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/cartago/cartago/), [Desamparados Canton](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/san-jose/desamparados/) and [Dota Canton](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/san-jose/dota/). By area it is the 51st largest of 84 cantons in Costa Rica. It covers 5.6% of [Cartago Province](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/cartago/). The centre of El Guarco Canton is about 29 km in a straight line from San José, the capital. It is about 15 km from Cartago, the main town of Cartago Province. The centre point is at 9.7324° N, 83.9199° 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 El Guarco Canton

OpenStreetMap lists 9 named sights in El Guarco Canton: 6 viewpoints; 2 attractions; 1 memorial.

- Bromelias · viewpoint
- Jurassic Valley · viewpoint
- Mirador Las Bromelias · viewpoint
- The Amphitheater · viewpoint
- The Tower · viewpoint
- Waterfall View · viewpoint
- Bosque Nuboso Palo Verde · attraction
- El Refugio · attraction
- Monumento de Juan Vásquez de Coronado · memorial

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: El Guarco 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

- Tobías Bolaños International Airport (SYQ) · San Jose35 km
- Quepos Managua Airport (XQP) · Quepos40 km

### Nearest railway station

Paraíso (Paraíso), about 13 km from the centre.

### Daylight

Days are longest in Jun (about 12.7 hours, sunrise around 05:15) and shortest in Dec (about 11.6 hours, sunrise around 05:43, sunset around 17:17).

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 El Guarco Canton

District People per km² Area km² Localities Services 

[El Tejar](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/cartago/el-guarco/el-tejar/) 26,916 4,398 6.1 25 107 

[San Isidro](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/cartago/el-guarco/san-isidro/) 11,528 85 135 33 59 

[Tobosi](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/cartago/el-guarco/tobosi/) 7,742 386 20 12 11 

[Patio de Agua](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/cartago/el-guarco/patio-de-agua/) 452 41 11 5 3 

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 El Guarco Canton

Open gazetteers list **74 villages, towns and localities** in El Guarco Canton. The largest with a recorded population: Tobosi (4,060). Settlements here lie between about 1,354 m and 2,977 m above sea level (median 1,752 m).

- Achiotillo
- Alto Indias
- Ana Lucía
- Arenilla
- Bajo Gloria
- Bajo Zopilote
- Bajos de León
- Barrancas
- Barrio Nuevo
- Calderón
- Cangreja
- Caragral
- Cascajal
- Cañón
- Chavarría
- Colonia
- Común
- Conventillos
- Corazón de Jesús
- Cuatro Vientos
- Damita
- Dos Amigos
- El Empalme
- El Guarco
- El Tejar
- Estrella
- González
- Guatuso
- Guayabal
- Hacienda Vieja
- Higuito
- La Cangreja
- La Colonia
- La Cruz
- La Esperanza
- La Estrella
- La Luchita
- Lomas del Guarco
- Los Geranios
- Los Llanos
- Los Sauces
- Los Tejares
- Macho Gaff
- Ojo de Agua
- Palmital
- Palmital Norte
- Palmital Sur
- Palo Blanco
- Palo Verde
- Paso Macho
- Patio de Agua
- Pueblo Nuevo
- Purires
- Rómulo
- Sabana
- Sabana Grande
- San Cayetano
- San Francisco
- San Isidro
- San Martín
- Santa Clara
- Santa Gertrudis
- Santa María
- Santa Rosa
- Santo Cristo
- Silo
- Tablón
- Tobosi
- Tres de Junio
- Vara del Roble
- Victoria
- Viento Fresco
- Villa Floresta
- Villa Francisca

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 El Guarco Canton

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

### Water

27 rivers and streams.

- Quebrada Bejuco
- Quebrada Bonita
- Quebrada Cangrejal
- Quebrada Chiflón
- Quebrada Conventillo
- Quebrada Cucaracha
- Quebrada Danta
- Quebrada Domián
- Quebrada Gracias a Dios
- Quebrada Guatuso
- Quebrada Guayabillos
- Quebrada Limpia
- Quebrada Molejones
- Quebrada Méndez
- Quebrada Palmital
- Quebrada Pedregal
- Quebrada Perico
- Quebrada Yugo
- Río Cabrera
- Río Chorizo
- Río Coris
- Río Damita
- Río Empalme
- Río Estrella

…and 3 more.

### Hills and mountains

3 mountains; 1 hill.

- Alto Indias · 2,089 m
- Alto Cangreja · 1,827 m
- Cerro Caragral · 1,798 m
- Cerro Guatuso · 1,446 m

### History

1 historic site.

- Primitivo Emplazamiento de Cartago Mil Quinientos Sesenta y Tres

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 El Guarco Canton and the best time to visit

In El Guarco Canton, the warmest month is Apr (average 22 °C) and the coolest is Jan (21 °C). About 2,258 mm of rain falls in a year; the wettest month is Oct (277 mm) and the driest Feb (60 mm). The most comfortable months for a visit are **January to March**.

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

Month Average °C Rain mm 

Jan 21 101 

Feb 21 60 

Mar 22 73 

Apr 22 125 

May 22 253 

Jun 22 240 

Jul 21 266 

Aug 21 226 

Sep 21 233 

Oct 21 277 

Nov 21 254 

Dec 21 150 

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

## Hospitals, banks and other services in El Guarco Canton

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

- Hospitals3
- Banks5
- ATMs1
- Petrol pumps3
- Hotels16
- Shopping malls4
- Schools34
- Colleges and universities1
- Pharmacies8
- Restaurants84
- Police stations4
- Dental clinics17

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 El Guarco Canton?In Cartago Province, Costa Rica
- What is the population of El Guarco Canton?46,638 (2021 estimate)
- What is the median age in El Guarco Canton?About 32 years (2021 estimate)
- What is the population density of El Guarco Canton?About 271 people per km²
- What borders El Guarco Canton?Cartago Canton, Desamparados Canton and Dota Canton
- What is there to see in El Guarco Canton?Bosque Nuboso Palo Verde, Bromelias, El Refugio, Jurassic Valley
- What time zone is El Guarco Canton in?UTC−6
- What currency is used in El Guarco Canton?Colon (CRC)
- What language is spoken in El Guarco Canton?Spanish, English (main languages nationally)
- How many villages are in El Guarco Canton?74 named settlements (GeoNames, OpenStreetMap)
- What is the elevation of El Guarco Canton?Settlements lie between 1,354 m and 2,977 m
- What is the highest point in El Guarco Canton?Alto Indias (2,089 m, GeoNames elevation model)
- What is the best time to visit El Guarco Canton?January to March
- How many hospitals are in El Guarco Canton?3 mapped
- How many banks are in El Guarco Canton?5 mapped
- How many ATMs are in El Guarco Canton?1 mapped
- How many petrol pumps are in El Guarco Canton?3 mapped
- What is the P-code of El Guarco Canton?CR308 (OCHA common operational dataset)