# San Rafael District, Oreamuno Canton, Cartago Province

> Source: https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/cartago/oreamuno/san-rafael/

District · Oreamuno Canton 

# San Rafael

San Rafael is a district of Costa Rica in Oreamuno Canton, Cartago Province. It had an estimated **29,184 people** in 2021 on 10 km² (about 2,839 per km²). 25 named villages and localities are recorded here, and 108 mapped services such as hospitals, banks and schools.

- 29,184people (2021)
- 10.3km²
- 108mapped services
- 1,451 mtypical elevation

## How many people live in San Rafael?

San Rafael had an estimated **29,184 people** in 2021 — 58.0% of Oreamuno Canton, 35th of 472 districts. There are 1,010 women for every 1,000 men (close to the Oreamuno Canton figure of 1,010). Spread over 10 km², that is about **2,839 people per km²**, 77th of 472 districts.

20.2% of people are children under 15 and 8.5% are 65 or older; the median age is about 34 years (it is 33 across Oreamuno Canton). For every 100 people of working age (15–64) there are 40 children and older people.

0–4 ****1,930**

5–9 ****2,007**

10–14 ****1,948**

15–19 ****1,797**

20–24 ****2,396**

25–29 ****2,623**

30–34 ****2,678**

35–39 ****2,554**

40–44 ****2,220**

45–49 ****1,934**

50–54 ****1,754**

55–59 ****1,633**

60–64 ****1,231**

65–69 ****908**

70–74 ****603**

75+ ****968**

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 San Rafael?

San Rafael lies in [Oreamuno Canton](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/cartago/oreamuno/), [Cartago Province](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/cartago/), [Costa Rica](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/). It borders 7 other districts: [Carmen](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/cartago/cartago/carmen/), [Cot](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/cartago/oreamuno/cot/), [Dulce Nombre](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/cartago/cartago/dulce-nombre/), [Llanos de Santa Lucía](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/cartago/paraiso/llanos-de-santa-lucia/), [Oriental](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/cartago/cartago/oriental/), [Potrero Cerrado](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/cartago/oreamuno/potrero-cerrado/) and [Tierra Blanca](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/cartago/cartago/tierra-blanca/). By area it is the 359th largest of 492 districts in Costa Rica. It covers 5.1% of [Oreamuno Canton](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/cartago/oreamuno/). The centre of San Rafael is about 22 km in a straight line from San José, the capital. The centre point is at 9.8701° N, 83.8970° 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 San Rafael

### Nearby, outside San Rafael

- Cruz de Caravaca · monument, Oriental1.6 km
- Estatua de Confucio · monument, Dulce Nombre2.1 km
- Museo Municipal de Cartago · museum, Oriental2.5 km
- Casa Familia Jiménez Sancho · monument, Oriental2.6 km
- Ruinas de Santiago Apóstol · ruins, Oriental2.6 km
- El Cristo · monument, Cot2.6 km
- Monumento a La Independencia · monument, Oriental2.7 km
- Club Social · monument, Oriental2.7 km
- Jardín Japonés · attraction, Dulce Nombre3.5 km
- Bosque Secundario · attraction, Dulce Nombre3.5 km
- Cactus y Suculentas · attraction, Dulce Nombre3.5 km
- Bromelias · attraction, Dulce Nombre3.5 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: San Rafael

- 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 Jose28 km
- Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) · San José (Alajuela)37 km

### Nearest railway station

Oreamuno (San Rafael), about 1.3 km from the centre.

### Daylight

Days are longest in Jun (about 12.7 hours, sunrise around 05:14) and shortest in Dec (about 11.6 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.

## Villages and localities in San Rafael

Open gazetteers list **25 villages, towns and localities** in San Rafael. Settlements here lie between about 1,429 m and 1,457 m above sea level (median 1,451 m).

- Alto Cerrillos
- Artavia
- Barreal
- Bella Vista
- Blanquillo
- Bosque
- Breñas
- Cerro Grande
- Chircagre
- Corazón de Jesús
- Cuesta Chinchilla
- El Alto
- El Bosque
- El Llano
- El Rodeo
- Flores
- Gamboa
- Invu Los Ángeles
- Juan Pablo II
- Lomas de Quizarco
- Monseñor Sanabria
- Sagrada Familia
- San Francisco de Asís
- San Rafael
- Santa Rita de Casia

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 San Rafael

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

### Water

2 rivers and streams.

- Río Chinchilla
- Río Tatiscú

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 San Rafael and the best time to visit

Using the climate of Oreamuno Canton, the warmest month is May (average 25 °C) and the coolest is Jan (23 °C), after allowing for this place being about 546 m lower than the climate reference point (about 6.5 °C per 1,000 m). 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 23 119 

Feb 23 70 

Mar 23 76 

Apr 24 117 

May 25 243 

Jun 24 239 

Jul 24 253 

Aug 24 214 

Sep 24 231 

Oct 24 285 

Nov 24 258 

Dec 23 162 

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

## Nearest hospital, bank and fuel from San Rafael

Need Nearest mapped Distance 

Hospital Área De Salud San Rafael De Oreamuno · San Rafael 0.5 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=9.86722&mlon=-83.90051#map=17/9.86722/-83.90051) 

Bank Banco de Costa Rica · San Rafael 0.8 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=9.86763&mlon=-83.90412#map=17/9.86763/-83.90412) 

ATM ATH · San Rafael 0.9 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=9.87004&mlon=-83.90502#map=17/9.87004/-83.90502) 

Petrol pump Bomba Molina Robles · San Rafael 0.8 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=9.87037&mlon=-83.90464#map=17/9.87037/-83.90464) 

Hotel Centro Diurno y Albergue San Rafael de Cartago · San Rafael 0.7 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=9.86788&mlon=-83.90330#map=17/9.86788/-83.90330) 

Mall Vidrios Fonseca · San Rafael 1.1 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=9.86393&mlon=-83.90464#map=17/9.86393/-83.90464) 

School Colegio Braulio Carrillo · San Rafael 0.2 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=9.87081&mlon=-83.89545#map=17/9.87081/-83.89545) 

College Colegio CES · San Rafael 1.4 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=9.88237&mlon=-83.89891#map=17/9.88237/-83.89891) 

Police station Delegación Cantonal de Policía de Oreamuno · San Rafael 0.8 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=9.86997&mlon=-83.90450#map=17/9.86997/-83.90450) 

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 San Rafael

Places mapped inside San Rafael in open map data, by type.

- Hospitals1
- Banks5
- ATMs2
- Petrol pumps3
- Hotels2
- Shopping malls3
- Schools9
- Colleges and universities2
- Cinemas1
- Pharmacies5
- Restaurants62
- Police stations1
- Dental clinics12

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 Oreamuno Canton

- Cipreses
- Cot
- Potrero Cerrado
- Santa Rosa

## Quick answers

- Where is San Rafael?In Oreamuno Canton, Cartago Province, Costa Rica
- What is the population of San Rafael?29,184 (2021 estimate)
- What is the median age in San Rafael?About 34 years (2021 estimate)
- What is the population density of San Rafael?About 2,839 people per km²
- What borders San Rafael?Carmen, Cot, Dulce Nombre, Llanos de Santa Lucía, Oriental, Potrero Cerrado and Tierra Blanca
- What is there to see in San Rafael?Cruz de Caravaca, Estatua de Confucio, Museo Municipal de Cartago, Casa Familia Jiménez Sancho
- What time zone is San Rafael in?UTC−6
- What currency is used in San Rafael?Colon (CRC)
- What language is spoken in San Rafael?Spanish, English (main languages nationally)
- How many villages are in San Rafael?25 named settlements (GeoNames, OpenStreetMap)
- What is the elevation of San Rafael?Settlements lie between 1,429 m and 1,457 m
- What is the best time to visit San Rafael?January to April
- Where is the nearest hospital to San Rafael?Área De Salud San Rafael De Oreamuno, about 0.5 km from the centre
- Where is the nearest bank to San Rafael?Banco de Costa Rica, about 0.8 km from the centre
- Where is the nearest ATM to San Rafael?ATH, about 0.9 km from the centre
- Where is the nearest petrol pump to San Rafael?Bomba Molina Robles, about 0.8 km from the centre
- How many hospitals are in San Rafael?1 mapped
- How many banks are in San Rafael?5 mapped
- How many ATMs are in San Rafael?2 mapped
- How many petrol pumps are in San Rafael?3 mapped
- What is the P-code of San Rafael?CR30701 (OCHA common operational dataset)