# La Unión Canton, Cartago Province – Population & Districts

> Source: https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/cartago/la-union/

Canton · Cartago Province 

# La Unión Canton

La Unión Canton is a canton of Costa Rica in Cartago Province. It had an estimated **113,582 people** in 2021 on 44 km² (about 2,570 per km²). It is divided into 8 districts. 68 named villages and localities are recorded here, and 281 mapped services such as hospitals, banks and schools.

- 113,582people (2021)
- 44.2km²
- 8districts
- 281mapped services

## How many people live in La Unión Canton?

La Unión Canton had an estimated **113,582 people** in 2021 — 20.9% of Cartago Province, 11th of 83 cantons. There are 993 women for every 1,000 men (close to the Cartago Province figure of 991). Spread over 44 km², that is about **2,570 people per km²**, 9th of 83 cantons.

20.3% of people are children under 15 and 8.8% are 65 or older; the median age is about 34 years (it is 33 across Cartago Province). For every 100 people of working age (15–64) there are 41 children and older people.

0–4 ****7,429**

5–9 ****7,902**

10–14 ****7,746**

15–19 ****7,800**

20–24 ****8,975**

25–29 ****9,565**

30–34 ****10,405**

35–39 ****9,737**

40–44 ****8,266**

45–49 ****7,074**

50–54 ****6,819**

55–59 ****6,586**

60–64 ****5,318**

65–69 ****3,984**

70–74 ****2,538**

75+ ****3,438**

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 La Unión Canton?

La Unión Canton lies in [Cartago Province](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/cartago/), [Costa Rica](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/). It borders 5 other cantons: [Cartago Canton](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/cartago/cartago/), [Curridabat Canton](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/san-jose/curridabat/), [Desamparados Canton](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/san-jose/desamparados/), [Goicoechea Canton](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/san-jose/goicoechea/) and [Montes de Oca Canton](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/san-jose/montes-de-oca/). By area it is the 71st largest of 84 cantons in Costa Rica. It covers 1.4% of [Cartago Province](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/cartago/). The centre of La Unión Canton is about 11 km in a straight line from San José, the capital. It is about 8.9 km from Cartago, the main town of Cartago Province. The centre point is at 9.9114° N, 83.9844° 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 La Unión Canton

OpenStreetMap lists 5 named sights in La Unión Canton: 2 galleries; 2 nature reserves; 1 memorial.

- Corredor Biológico Río María Aguilar · nature reserve
- Reserva Natural Protegida · nature reserve
- Casa de la Cultura · gallery
- Casa de la Juventud · gallery
- Momnumento Las Fuentes del Padre Carazo · 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: La Unión 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 Jose18 km
- Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) · San José (Alajuela)26 km

### Nearest railway station

Tres Ríos (Tres Ríos), about 0.3 km from the centre.

### Daylight

Days are longest in Jun (about 12.7 hours, sunrise around 05:15) and shortest in Dec (about 11.5 hours, sunrise around 05:44, 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 La Unión Canton

District People per km² Area km² Localities Services 

[San Diego](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/cartago/la-union/san-diego/) 25,104 3,107 8.1 12 56 

[Concepción](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/cartago/la-union/concepcion/) 19,068 5,031 3.8 9 39 

[San Rafael](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/cartago/la-union/san-rafael/) 16,121 1,695 9.5 12 9 

[San Juan](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/cartago/la-union/san-juan/) 15,634 3,958 4.0 10 67 

[Río Azul](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/cartago/la-union/rio-azul/) 14,668 3,024 4.8 7 6 

[Tres Ríos](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/cartago/la-union/tres-rios/) 9,316 4,086 2.3 6 83 

[Dulce Nombre](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/cartago/la-union/dulce-nombre/) 9,178 1,111 8.3 5 7 

[San Ramón](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/cartago/la-union/san-ramon/) 4,493 1,295 3.5 7 14 

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 La Unión Canton

Open gazetteers list **68 villages, towns and localities** in La Unión Canton. The largest with a recorded population: San Diego (16,991), Concepción (14,000) and Tres Ríos (10,430). Settlements here lie between about 1,220 m and 1,491 m above sea level (median 1,293 m).

- Alto Carmen
- Alto El Carmen
- Araucaria
- Araucarias
- Bellomonte
- Buenos Aires
- Carpintera
- Cerrillo
- Concepción
- Cuadrante
- Danza del Sol
- Dulce Nombre
- El Fierro
- El IMAS
- El Invu
- El Poró
- Eulalia
- Florencia
- Florencio del Castillo
- Girales
- Herrán
- Invu San Diego
- La Antigua
- La Carpintera
- La Cima
- La Cruz
- La Flor
- La Isla
- La Mecanizada
- La Torre
- Las Cumbres
- Lindavista
- Lirios
- Llano Verde
- Loma Gobierno
- Loma Verde
- Los Alamitos
- Los Llanos
- Los Sauces
- Los Ángeles
- Martínez
- Montufar
- Naranjal
- Omega
- Pila Rica
- Pinar del Río
- Pizote
- Quebradas
- Rincón Mesén
- Rivera del Río
- Río Azul
- San Diego
- San Josecito
- San Juan
- San Juan Viejo
- San Martín
- San Miguel
- San Rafael
- San Ramón
- San Vicente
- Santa Lucía
- Santiago del Monte
- Tacona
- Tacora
- Tirrá
- Tres Ríos
- Villas de Ayarco
- Yerbabuena

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 La Unión Canton

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

### Water

11 rivers and streams.

- Quebrada Carpintera
- Quebrada Chispa
- Quebrada Fierro
- Quebrada Malavassi
- Quebrada Monte
- Quebrada Muñeco
- Quebrada Vega
- Río Avance
- Río Bosque
- Río Chiquito
- Río Lovatripas

### Hills and mountains

2 hills; 1 mountain.

- Alto Coris · 1,488 m
- Cerro Asilo · 1,271 m
- Loma Gobierno · 1,248 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 La Unión Canton and the best time to visit

In La Unión Canton, the warmest month is May (average 21 °C) and the coolest is Jan (19 °C). About 2,266 mm of rain falls in a year; the wettest month is Oct (285 mm) and the driest Feb (70 mm). The most comfortable months for a visit are **January to April**.

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

Month Average °C Rain mm 

Jan 19 119 

Feb 19 70 

Mar 20 76 

Apr 21 117 

May 21 243 

Jun 21 239 

Jul 20 253 

Aug 21 214 

Sep 21 231 

Oct 20 285 

Nov 20 258 

Dec 20 162 

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

## Hospitals, banks and other services in La Unión Canton

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

- Hospitals8
- Banks20
- Petrol pumps6
- Hotels1
- Shopping malls26
- Schools49
- Colleges and universities1
- Cinemas4
- Pharmacies14
- Restaurants127
- Police stations8
- 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 La Unión Canton?In Cartago Province, Costa Rica
- What is the population of La Unión Canton?113,582 (2021 estimate)
- What is the median age in La Unión Canton?About 34 years (2021 estimate)
- What is the population density of La Unión Canton?About 2,570 people per km²
- What borders La Unión Canton?Cartago Canton, Curridabat Canton, Desamparados Canton, Goicoechea Canton and Montes de Oca Canton
- What is there to see in La Unión Canton?Casa de la Cultura, Casa de la Juventud, Corredor Biológico Río María Aguilar, Momnumento Las Fuentes del Padre Carazo
- What time zone is La Unión Canton in?UTC−6
- What currency is used in La Unión Canton?Colon (CRC)
- What language is spoken in La Unión Canton?Spanish, English (main languages nationally)
- How many villages are in La Unión Canton?68 named settlements (GeoNames, OpenStreetMap)
- What is the elevation of La Unión Canton?Settlements lie between 1,220 m and 1,491 m
- What is the highest point in La Unión Canton?Alto Coris (1,488 m, GeoNames elevation model)
- What is the best time to visit La Unión Canton?January to April
- How many hospitals are in La Unión Canton?8 mapped
- How many banks are in La Unión Canton?20 mapped
- How many petrol pumps are in La Unión Canton?6 mapped
- What is the P-code of La Unión Canton?CR303 (OCHA common operational dataset)