# Santa Cruz Canton, Guanacaste Province – Population

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

Canton · Guanacaste Province 

# Santa Cruz Canton

Santa Cruz Canton is a canton of Costa Rica in Guanacaste Province. It had an estimated **70,125 people** in 2021 on 1,320 km² (about 53 per km²). It is divided into 9 districts. 273 named villages and localities are recorded here, and 1,222 mapped services such as hospitals, banks and schools.

- 70,125people (2021)
- 1,320km²
- 9districts
- 1,222mapped services

## How many people live in Santa Cruz Canton?

Santa Cruz Canton had an estimated **70,125 people** in 2021 — 17.6% of Guanacaste Province, 23rd of 83 cantons. There are 944 women for every 1,000 men (below the Guanacaste Province figure of 969). Spread over 1,320 km², that is about **53 people per km²**, 61st of 83 cantons.

25.2% of people are children under 15 and 9.4% are 65 or older; the median age is about 33 years (it is 32 across Guanacaste Province). For every 100 people of working age (15–64) there are 53 children and older people.

0–4 ****5,757**

5–9 ****6,261**

10–14 ****5,681**

15–19 ****4,478**

20–24 ****4,486**

25–29 ****4,859**

30–34 ****5,854**

35–39 ****5,915**

40–44 ****4,913**

45–49 ****4,275**

50–54 ****4,068**

55–59 ****3,638**

60–64 ****3,334**

65–69 ****2,412**

70–74 ****1,658**

75+ ****2,536**

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 Santa Cruz Canton?

Santa Cruz Canton lies in [Guanacaste Province](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/guanacaste/), [Costa Rica](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/). It borders 3 other cantons: [Bagaces Canton](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/guanacaste/bagaces/), [Carrillo Canton](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/guanacaste/carrillo/) and [Nicoya Canton](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/guanacaste/nicoya/). By area it is the 16th largest of 84 cantons in Costa Rica. It covers 13.0% of [Guanacaste Province](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/guanacaste/). The centre of Santa Cruz Canton is about 177 km in a straight line from San José, the capital. It is about 51 km from Liberia, the main town of Guanacaste Province. The centre point is at 10.2357° N, 85.6703° 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 Santa Cruz Canton

OpenStreetMap lists 53 named sights in Santa Cruz Canton: 35 beachs; 6 galleries; 4 viewpoints; 3 attractions; 2 national parks; 1 waterfall; 1 zoo; 1 theme park.

- Waterfall Quebrada Brasil · waterfall
- Las Baulas National Marine Park · national park
- Parque Nacional Diriá · national park
- Frijolar beach · beach
- Playa Agujas · beach
- Playa Agujas Norte · beach
- Playa Avellanas · beach
- Playa Azul · beach
- Playa Bahía de los Piratas · beach
- Playa Bajo Grande · beach
- Playa Blanca · beach
- Playa Cabuya · beach
- Playa Callejones · beach
- Playa Cementerio · beach
- Playa Cuajiniquil · beach
- Playa Danta · beach
- Playa Dantita · beach
- Playa Grande · beach
- Playa Honda · beach
- Playa Lagartillo · beach
- Playa Lagarto · beach
- Playa Langosta · beach
- Playa Mansita · beach
- Playa Manzanillo · beach
- Playa Mata Buey · beach
- Playa Negra · beach
- Playa Nombre de Jesús · beach
- Playa Pan de Azucar · beach
- Playa Pargos · beach
- Playa Pedregosa · beach

…and 23 more.

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: Santa 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

- Nosara Airport (NOB) · Nicoya29 km
- Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport (LIR) · Liberia42 km

### Daylight

Days are longest in Jun (about 12.7 hours, sunrise around 05:21) and shortest in Dec (about 11.5 hours, sunrise around 05:51, sunset around 17:23).

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 Santa Cruz Canton

District People per km² Area km² Localities Services 

[Santa Cruz](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/guanacaste/santa-cruz/santa-cruz/) 27,645 96 289 68 213 

[Veintisiete de Abril](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/guanacaste/santa-cruz/veintisiete-de-abril/) 9,108 30 303 57 86 

[Tamarindo](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/guanacaste/santa-cruz/tamarindo/) 8,003 64 126 33 484 

[Tempate](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/guanacaste/santa-cruz/tempate/) 6,354 49 130 15 138 

[Cartagena](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/guanacaste/santa-cruz/cartagena/) 5,039 61 83 23 8 

[Diriá](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/guanacaste/santa-cruz/diria/) 4,910 74 66 20 11 

[Cabo Velas](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/guanacaste/santa-cruz/cabo-velas/) 4,303 58 74 22 219 

[Cuajiniquil](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/guanacaste/santa-cruz/cuajiniquil/) 2,614 12 218 43 57 

[Bolsón](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/guanacaste/santa-cruz/bolson/) 2,149 67 32 9 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 Santa Cruz Canton

Open gazetteers list **273 villages, towns and localities** in Santa Cruz Canton. The largest with a recorded population: Santa Cruz (12,281) and Tamarindo (6,375). Settlements here lie between about 2 m and 953 m above sea level (median 44 m).

- Agua Fría
- Aguacate
- Agujas
- Alemania
- Altos del Rosario
- Arado
- Arenal
- Asentamiento Florcita
- Avellanas
- Bajo del Zoncho
- Barrio Copa de Oro
- Barrio El Carmen
- Barrio El Álamo
- Barrio Escondido
- Barrio La Candelaria
- Barrio Ponce
- Barrosa
- Bejuco
- Bernabela
- Bolillos
- Bolsón
- Bonanza
- Brasilito
- Brisas
- Bruno
- Buenos Aires
- Cabo Velas
- Cacao
- Caimito
- Callejones
- Camarenos
- Campero
- Cartagena
- Cañafístula
- Cebadilla
- Ceiba Mocha
- Chapernal
- Chibola
- Chiquero
- Chircó
- Chorotega
- Chorro
- Chumbulún
- Chumico
- Corazón de Jesús
- Corobicí 1
- Corobicí 2
- Coyolar
- Cuajiniquil
- Cuatro Esquinas
- Cuba
- Culiacán
- Danta
- Delicias
- Diriá
- Duendes
- El Aguacate
- El Codo
- El Congal
- El Coyolito
- El Edén
- El Golfo
- El Guabo
- El Guapote
- El Guayabito
- El Hueco
- El Jobo
- El Lagartero
- El Llanito
- El Llano
- El Milagro
- El Pando
- El Pastor
- El Pochote
- El Puente
- El Rincón
- El Rodeo
- El Socorro
- El Tieso
- Espavelar
- Esquipulas
- Esquipulas 1
- Esquipulas 2
- Estocolmo
- Finca Brasil
- Flamenco
- Florida
- Fortuna
- Garita
- Garita Viejo
- Guaitil
- Guapote
- Guatemala
- Guayabal
- Hatillo
- Hato Viejo
- Hernández
- Higuerón
- Horcones
- Huacas
- Icacal
- Jazminal
- Jerusalem
- Jesús María
- Jobo
- Jobos
- José Gutiérrez
- Juan Viñas
- Junquillal
- Junta de Río Verde
- Juntas de Río Verde
- La Barrosa
- La Chibola
- La Cueva del León
- La Dolorosa
- La Esmeralda
- La Florida
- La Guarda Raya
- La Josefina
- La Loma
- La Maravilla
- La Mora
- La Ponderosa
- La Pura Jungla
- La Tranquilidad
- La Unión
- Lagartero
- Lagartillo
- Lagarto
- Lagunilla
- Lajas
- Langosta
- Las Brisas
- Las Catalinas
- Las Colinas
- Las Delicias
- Las Flores
- Las Lechuzas
- Las Lomas
- Las Mesas
- Las Pilas
- Las Tecas
- Las Vegas
- Lechuza
- Libertad
- Limonal
- Limón
- Lindero
- Linderos
- Loma Bonita
- Lomas
- Lomitas
- Lorena
- Los Amigos
- Los Chiles
- Los Churucos
- Los Jobos
- Los Leal
- Los Limones
- Los Mangos
- Los Palmares
- Los Ranchos
- Los Turcos
- Los Ángeles
- Lotificación Rancho Jesusalén
- Lourdes
- Mancha de Caña
- Manchón
- Mangos
- Manzanillo
- Marbella
- Matapalo
- Montaña
- Monte Galán
- Montelimar
- México
- Oasis
- Oratorio
- Oriente
- Ortega
- Ostional
- PachaMama
- Palmares
- Panamá
- Paraíso
- Parcelas La Guaria
- Pargos
- Paso Hondo
- Pepe Luján
- Perlas
- Piedras Amarillas
- Pilas
- Pitahaya
- Playa Azul
- Playa Flamingo
- Playa Grande
- Playa Junquillal
- Playa Real
- Pochotada
- Pochotes
- Polvazal
- Portegolpe
- Potrero
- Progreso
- Pueblo Nuevo
- Puente Negro
- Puerto Viejo
- Punta Caliente
- Quebrada Seca
- Quebrada Zapote
- Ramos
- Ranchos Guachipelín
- Rayo
- Refundones
- Residencial Los Sueños
- Retallano
- Rincón
- Rincón Moya
- Rosario
- Rosario Abajo
- Río Cañas Viejo
- Río Montaña
- Río Seco
- Río Sequito
- Río Tabaco
- Río Verde
- Sagamad
- Salinas
- Salinitas
- San Andrés
- San Francisco
- San Jerónimo
- San José de Pinilla
- San José de la Montaña
- San Juan
- San Juanillo
- San Lorenzo
- San Martín
- San Miguel
- San Pedro
- San Rafael (El Tieso)
- Santa Bárbara
- Santa Cecilia
- Santa Cruz
- Santa Elena
- Santa Lucía
- Santa Rosa
- Sequeira
- Socorro
- Soncoyo
- Tacasolapa
- Talolinguita
- Tamarindo
- Tempate
- Tendal
- Tenorio
- Tierra Colorada
- Toyosa
- Trapiche
- Trinidad
- Trompillal
- Tulita Sandino
- Unión
- Vegas de Río Cañas
- Veintisiete de Abril
- Venado
- Veracruz
- Villa Margarita
- Villa Rosario
- Villanina
- Villarreal
- Vista al Mar
- Ángeles

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 Santa Cruz Canton

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

### Water

82 rivers and streams; 2 waterfalls.

- Quebrada Agua Fría
- Quebrada Barrigona
- Quebrada Barrosa
- Quebrada Bolillos
- Quebrada Brasilito
- Quebrada Cacao
- Quebrada Camaronal
- Quebrada Caño Blanco
- Quebrada Charcos
- Quebrada Cordoncillal
- Quebrada Coyolar
- Quebrada Danta
- Quebrada Danta
- Quebrada Espavelar
- Quebrada Fortuna
- Quebrada Izquierda
- Quebrada Jazminal
- Quebrada Limonal
- Quebrada Machaca
- Quebrada Macho
- Quebrada Madero
- Quebrada Pantilla
- Quebrada Pata de Gallina
- Quebrada Raspa

…and 60 more.

### Coast and islands

42 beaches; 23 headlands; 6 lagoons; 1 island.

- Cóncavas Agujas
- Isla Verde
- Laguna Cales
- Laguna Guácimo
- Laguna Juntas
- Laguna Lechería
- Laguna Tortugal
- Lagunas Potrero Largo
- Playa Arbolito
- Playa Avellanas
- Playa Azul
- Playa Bajo Grande
- Playa Blanca
- Playa Blanca
- Playa Blanca
- Playa Brasilito
- Playa Cabuya
- Playa Callejones
- Playa Cementerio
- Playa Coco
- Playa Conchal
- Playa Cuajiniquil
- Playa Danta
- Playa Frijolar

…and 48 more.

### Hills and mountains

113 hills; 30 mountains; 3 mountain passes.

- Cerro Vista al Mar · 947 m
- Cerro Mata de Caña · 944 m
- Cerro Silencio · 831 m
- Cerro Brujo · 794 m
- Cerro Juan Díaz · 741 m
- Cerro Esperanza · 738 m
- Cerro Fortuna · 618 m
- Cerro Retallano · 579 m
- Cerro Pan de Azúcar · 561 m
- Cerro Verde · 548 m
- Cerro Castillo · 541 m
- Cerro Juan Leal · 532 m
- Cerro Pando · 524 m
- Cerro Hormiga · 521 m
- Cerro Perro · 520 m
- Cerro Muñeco · 507 m
- Cerro Calabazas · 505 m
- Cerro Isla Verde · 487 m
- Cerro Cedros · 473 m
- Cerro Palo de Arco · 468 m
- Cerro Camones · 463 m
- Cerro Concha · 440 m
- Cerro Culebra · 440 m
- Cerro Coyolar · 439 m

…and 122 more.

### Forests and nature

2 nature reserves.

- Diria National Park
- Marino Las Baulas National Park

### Getting around

6 airfields; 1 airport.

- Cabo Velas
- Galicia
- Granos de Oro
- Harry Both
- Hatillo
- La Zampona
- Tamarindo Airport

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 Santa Cruz Canton and the best time to visit

In Santa Cruz Canton, the warmest month is Apr (average 29 °C) and the coolest is Nov (26 °C). About 1,726 mm of rain falls in a year; the wettest month is Oct (337 mm) and the driest Feb (4 mm). The most comfortable months for a visit are **December to January**.

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

Month Average °C Rain mm 

Jan 28 7 

Feb 28 4 

Mar 29 5 

Apr 29 38 

May 28 220 

Jun 27 227 

Jul 27 182 

Aug 27 227 

Sep 27 303 

Oct 26 337 

Nov 26 151 

Dec 27 24 

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

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

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

- Hospitals14
- Banks26
- ATMs4
- Petrol pumps12
- Hotels431
- Shopping malls24
- Schools75
- Colleges and universities14
- Pharmacies28
- Restaurants554
- Police stations17
- Dental clinics23

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 Santa Cruz Canton?In Guanacaste Province, Costa Rica
- What is the population of Santa Cruz Canton?70,125 (2021 estimate)
- What is the median age in Santa Cruz Canton?About 33 years (2021 estimate)
- What is the population density of Santa Cruz Canton?About 53 people per km²
- What borders Santa Cruz Canton?Bagaces Canton, Carrillo Canton and Nicoya Canton
- What is there to see in Santa Cruz Canton?Amberes, Apami Wildlife Rescue Center, Esprit ID:X, Frijolar beach
- What time zone is Santa Cruz Canton in?UTC−6
- What currency is used in Santa Cruz Canton?Colon (CRC)
- What language is spoken in Santa Cruz Canton?Spanish, English (main languages nationally)
- How many villages are in Santa Cruz Canton?273 named settlements (GeoNames, OpenStreetMap)
- What is the elevation of Santa Cruz Canton?Settlements lie between 2 m and 953 m
- What is the highest point in Santa Cruz Canton?Cerro Vista al Mar (947 m, GeoNames elevation model)
- What is the best time to visit Santa Cruz Canton?December to January
- How many hospitals are in Santa Cruz Canton?14 mapped
- How many banks are in Santa Cruz Canton?26 mapped
- How many ATMs are in Santa Cruz Canton?4 mapped
- How many petrol pumps are in Santa Cruz Canton?12 mapped
- What is the P-code of Santa Cruz Canton?CR503 (OCHA common operational dataset)