# La Cruz Canton, Guanacaste Province – Population & Districts

> Source: https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/guanacaste/la-cruz/

Canton · Guanacaste Province 

# La Cruz Canton

La Cruz Canton is a canton of Costa Rica in Guanacaste Province. It had an estimated **27,581 people** in 2021 on 1,385 km² (about 20 per km²). It is divided into 4 districts. 104 named villages and localities are recorded here, and 166 mapped services such as hospitals, banks and schools.

- 27,581people (2021)
- 1,385km²
- 4districts
- 166mapped services

## How many people live in La Cruz Canton?

La Cruz Canton had an estimated **27,581 people** in 2021 — 6.9% of Guanacaste Province, 58th of 83 cantons. There are 1,016 women for every 1,000 men (above the Guanacaste Province figure of 969). Spread over 1,385 km², that is about **20 people per km²**, 77th of 83 cantons.

30.7% of people are children under 15 and 5.6% are 65 or older; the median age is about 24 years (it is 32 across Guanacaste Province). For every 100 people of working age (15–64) there are 57 children and older people.

0–4 ****2,694**

5–9 ****2,728**

10–14 ****3,042**

15–19 ****3,066**

20–24 ****2,524**

25–29 ****2,277**

30–34 ****2,064**

35–39 ****2,054**

40–44 ****1,684**

45–49 ****1,228**

50–54 ****993**

55–59 ****916**

60–64 ****773**

65–69 ****576**

70–74 ****382**

75+ ****580**

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 Cruz Canton?

La Cruz Canton lies in [Guanacaste Province](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/guanacaste/), [Costa Rica](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/). It borders 2 other cantons: [Liberia Canton](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/guanacaste/liberia/) and [Upala Canton](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/alajuela/upala/). By area it is the 13th largest of 84 cantons in Costa Rica. It covers 13.6% of [Guanacaste Province](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/guanacaste/). The centre of La Cruz Canton is about 200 km in a straight line from San José, the capital. It is about 43 km from Liberia, the main town of Guanacaste Province. The centre point is at 11.0074° N, 85.5493° 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 Cruz Canton

OpenStreetMap lists 20 named sights in La Cruz Canton: 8 beachs; 5 viewpoints; 3 attractions; 2 volcanos; 1 national park; 1 nature reserve.

- Guanacaste National Park · national park
- Área de Conservación Guanacaste · nature reserve
- Playa Bolaños · beach
- Playa Conventillos · beach
- Playa Escondida · beach
- Playa Gringos · beach
- Playa La Virgen · beach
- Playa Potrero Grande · beach
- Playa Respingue · beach
- Playa Toyosa · beach
- Babyview · viewpoint
- Mirador Tierras Emergidas · viewpoint
- Mirador Valle Naranjo · viewpoint
- Panoramic Viewpoint · viewpoint
- Soley Beach Sightseen · viewpoint
- 4x4 Tours CR · attraction
- Hacienda El Cenizaro · attraction
- La Cruz · attraction
- Volcán Orosilito · volcano
- Volcán Orosí · volcano

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 Cruz 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

- Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport (LIR) · Liberia46 km
- Nosara Airport (NOB) · Nicoya115 km

### Daylight

Days are longest in Jun (about 12.8 hours, sunrise around 05:19) and shortest in Dec (about 11.5 hours, sunrise around 05:52, sunset around 17:21).

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 Cruz Canton

District Area km² Localities Services 

[La Cruz](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/guanacaste/la-cruz/la-cruz/) 344 50 112 

[La Garita](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/guanacaste/la-cruz/la-garita/) 273 21 12 

[Santa Cecilia](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/guanacaste/la-cruz/santa-cecilia/) 258 26 24 

[Santa Elena](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/guanacaste/la-cruz/santa-elena/) 509 12 18 

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); [GeoNames (CC BY 4.0) — settlements, natural and historic features](https://www.geonames.org/); [Overture Maps places (CDLA-Permissive-2.0) and © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL)](https://overturemaps.org/).

## Villages and localities in La Cruz Canton

Open gazetteers list **104 villages, towns and localities** in La Cruz Canton. The largest with a recorded population: La Cruz (4,319). Settlements here lie between about 9 m and 391 m above sea level (median 171 m).

- Alemania
- Argendora
- Armenia
- Aromal
- Asentamiento Orosi
- Asentamiento Valle Real
- Bahía Bolaños
- Barrio La Gloria
- Barrio Paraíso
- Barrio Pueblo Nuevo
- Belice
- Bella Vista
- Bello Horizonte
- Brisas
- Burio
- Cacao
- Cangrejal
- Caoba
- Carrizal
- Carrizales
- Cañitas
- Colonia Bolaños
- Conventillos
- Copal
- Copalchí
- Corazón de Jesús
- Coroso
- Corrales Negros
- Cuajiniquil
- El Gallo
- El Jobo
- El Mar
- El Mirador
- El Porvenir
- Fátima
- Garita
- Guadalupe
- Guapinol
- Irvin Wilhite
- Junquillal
- La Chanchita
- La Cruz
- La Esperanza
- La Garita
- La Libertad
- La Pampa
- La Virgen
- Lajosa
- Las Brisas
- Las Comadres
- Las Delicias
- Las Flores
- Las Marías
- Las Melinas
- Las Nubes
- Las Vegas
- Las Vueltas
- Las Ánimas
- Lavaderos
- Los Andes
- Los Inocentes
- Los Millonarios
- Los Palmares
- Los Pinos
- Los Ángeles
- Monte de Oro
- Murciélago
- Orosi
- Paso Malo
- Pegón
- Peñas Blancas
- Piedra Pómez
- Piedras Azules
- Playa Rajada
- Pocitos
- Pueblo Nuevo
- Puerto Castilla
- Puerto Soley
- Punta Manzanillo
- Rabo de Mico
- Rosario
- San Antonio
- San Buenaventura
- San Dimas
- San Fernando
- San Paco
- San Rafael
- San Salvador
- San Vicente
- Santa Cecilia
- Santa Elena
- Santa Rogelia
- Santa Rosa
- Sapoá
- Sardina
- Socorro
- Soley
- Sonzapote
- Tapezco
- Tempatal
- Villa Burgos
- Villa Lora
- Vueltas
- Ánimas

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 Cruz Canton

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

### Water

57 rivers and streams.

- Quebrada Agua Salada
- Quebrada Almuerzo
- Quebrada Aserradero
- Quebrada Ayotal
- Quebrada Bolaños
- Quebrada Cacao
- Quebrada Café
- Quebrada Caoba
- Quebrada Carmen
- Quebrada Chorro de Plata
- Quebrada Copalchí
- Quebrada El Coco
- Quebrada Garita
- Quebrada Grande
- Quebrada Guerrero
- Quebrada Herradura
- Quebrada Huacas
- Quebrada Jorco
- Quebrada La Florida
- Quebrada La Presa
- Quebrada Lajosa
- Quebrada Las Delicias
- Quebrada Lechuga
- Quebrada Limonal

…and 33 more.

### Coast and islands

22 beaches; 13 headlands.

- Playa Blanca
- Playa Carrizal
- Playa Copal
- Playa Coyotera
- Playa Danta
- Playa El Coco
- Playa Escondida
- Playa Gringos
- Playa Guarumo
- Playa Mariquita
- Playa Morritos
- Playa Morros
- Playa Mostrencal
- Playa Nance
- Playa Pochotes
- Playa Potrero Grande
- Playa Rajada
- Playa Rajada
- Playa Respingue
- Playa Toyosa
- Playas Coloradas
- Playas Papaturro
- Punta Blanca
- Punta Calavera

…and 11 more.

### Hills and mountains

15 hills; 6 mountains.

- Cerro Cacao · 1,616 m
- Cerro El Hacha · 602 m
- Cerro El Inglés · 507 m
- Alto Filipinas · 492 m
- Cerro Canelo · 371 m
- Cerro La Pava · 310 m
- Loma Capulinal · 309 m
- Cerro Copernón · 300 m
- Alto Centeno · 274 m
- Loma Nance · 273 m
- Cerro Guachipelín · 253 m
- Loma Higueronal · 247 m
- Monte Plata · 234 m
- Cerro Las Lomas · 226 m
- Cerro Montepec · 215 m
- Loma Santa Ana · 205 m
- Loma Quebracho · 155 m
- Loma Calavera · 153 m
- Loma Castilla · 132 m
- Loma Boquerones · 120 m
- Loma Copalchi · 20 m

### Forests and nature

4 nature reserves; 1 park.

- Guanacaste National Park
- Junquillal Bay Wildlife Refuge
- Miravalles-Santa Rosa Biological Corridor
- Parque Nacional Santa Rosa
- Santa Rosa National Park

### Getting around

1 airfield.

- Murcielago

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 Cruz Canton and the best time to visit

In La Cruz Canton, the warmest month is Apr (average 28 °C) and the coolest is Nov (25 °C). About 1,699 mm of rain falls in a year; the wettest month is Oct (363 mm) and the driest Feb (3 mm). The most comfortable months for a visit are **December to March**.

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

Month Average °C Rain mm 

Jan 26 3 

Feb 26 3 

Mar 27 3 

Apr 28 26 

May 28 216 

Jun 27 221 

Jul 26 156 

Aug 27 215 

Sep 26 315 

Oct 26 363 

Nov 25 163 

Dec 25 14 

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

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

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

- Hospitals2
- Banks7
- Petrol pumps4
- Hotels38
- Shopping malls2
- Schools44
- Colleges and universities5
- Pharmacies1
- Restaurants50
- Police stations13

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 Cruz Canton?In Guanacaste Province, Costa Rica
- What is the population of La Cruz Canton?27,581 (2021 estimate)
- What is the median age in La Cruz Canton?About 24 years (2021 estimate)
- What is the population density of La Cruz Canton?About 20 people per km²
- What borders La Cruz Canton?Liberia Canton and Upala Canton
- What is there to see in La Cruz Canton?4x4 Tours CR, Babyview, Guanacaste National Park, Hacienda El Cenizaro
- What time zone is La Cruz Canton in?UTC−6
- What currency is used in La Cruz Canton?Colon (CRC)
- What language is spoken in La Cruz Canton?Spanish, English (main languages nationally)
- How many villages are in La Cruz Canton?104 named settlements (GeoNames, OpenStreetMap)
- What is the elevation of La Cruz Canton?Settlements lie between 9 m and 391 m
- What is the highest point in La Cruz Canton?Cerro Cacao (1,616 m, GeoNames elevation model)
- What is the best time to visit La Cruz Canton?December to March
- How many hospitals are in La Cruz Canton?2 mapped
- How many banks are in La Cruz Canton?7 mapped
- How many petrol pumps are in La Cruz Canton?4 mapped
- What is the P-code of La Cruz Canton?CR510 (OCHA common operational dataset)