# Heredia Province, Costa Rica – Population, Cantons & Map

> Source: https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/heredia/

Province · Costa Rica 

# Heredia Province

Heredia Province is a province of Costa Rica. It had an estimated **532,954 people** in 2021 on 2,664 km² (about 200 per km²). Its main town is Heredia. It is divided into 10 cantons. 595 named villages and localities are recorded here, and 2,645 mapped services such as hospitals, banks and schools.

- 532,954people (2021)
- 2,664km²
- 10cantons
- 2,645mapped services

## How many people live in Heredia Province?

Heredia Province had an estimated **532,954 people** in 2021 — 10.3% of Costa Rica, 4th of 7 provinces. There are 993 women for every 1,000 men (close to the Costa Rica figure of 985). Spread over 2,664 km², that is about **200 people per km²**, 2nd of 7 provinces.

21.1% of people are children under 15 and 9.3% are 65 or older; the median age is about 34 years (it is 33 across Costa Rica). For every 100 people of working age (15–64) there are 44 children and older people.

0–4 ****36,329**

5–9 ****37,931**

10–14 ****38,354**

15–19 ****38,534**

20–24 ****40,874**

25–29 ****41,535**

30–34 ****45,876**

35–39 ****46,398**

40–44 ****39,679**

45–49 ****33,010**

50–54 ****30,223**

55–59 ****29,604**

60–64 ****25,271**

65–69 ****19,255**

70–74 ****12,504**

75+ ****17,577**

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 Heredia Province?

Heredia Province lies in [Costa Rica](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/). It borders 3 other provinces: [Alajuela Province](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/alajuela/), [Limón Province](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/limon/) and [San José Province](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/san-jose/). By area it is the smallest of 7 provinces in Costa Rica. It covers 5.2% of [Costa Rica](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/). The centre of Heredia Province is about 50 km in a straight line from San José, the capital. The centre point is at 10.3755° N, 84.0133° 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 Heredia Province

OpenStreetMap lists 80 named sights in Heredia Province: 26 attractions; 9 ruins; 8 museums; 8 monuments; 7 viewpoints; 4 memorials; 4 waterfalls; 2 zoos; 2 castles and forts; 2 volcanos; 2 galleries; 2 nature reserves; 1 aquarium; 1 theme park; 1 cave; 1 national park.

- Casa Domingueña de la Cultura · museum
- Casa de la Cultura Alfredo González Flores · museum
- Centro de la Cultura Herediana Omar Dengo · museum
- Hito Histórico La Trinidad · museum
- Museo Criminal · museum
- Museo de Cultura Popular · museum
- Museo de Culturas Indígenas Dra. María Eugenia Bozzoli · museum
- Planta La Joya · museum
- Castillito · castle or fort
- Castillo de Mercedes · castle or fort
- Amapola waterfall · waterfall
- Cascada El Morron · waterfall
- Catarata Grande · waterfall
- Catarata Salto del Caballón · waterfall
- Braulio Carrillo National Park · national park
- Parque Ecológico · nature reserve
- Refugio de Vida Silvestre Privado Nogal · nature reserve
- Mirador Caricias · viewpoint
- Mirador Jacaranda · viewpoint
- Mirador Vara Blanca · viewpoint
- Mirador Vikingos · viewpoint
- Mirador a Vertiente Caribe · viewpoint
- Reserva Ecológica Bijagual · viewpoint
- Scenic Overlook · viewpoint
- Agouti Paca Tepezcuintles ASOTURCOSAR · attraction
- Ants tour - Hormigas town · attraction
- Aventuras del Sarapiquí · attraction
- Banana Tour Dole · attraction
- Bosque Escondido · attraction
- Bus Místico · attraction

…and 50 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: Heredia Province

- 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

- Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) · San José (Alajuela)48 km
- Tobías Bolaños International Airport (SYQ) · San Jose49 km

### Nearest railway station

Patio San Cristobal (Rita), about 20 km from the centre.

### Daylight

Days are longest in Jun (about 12.7 hours, sunrise around 05:14) and shortest in Dec (about 11.5 hours, sunrise around 05:45, sunset around 17:16).

Month Sunrise Sunset Daylight 

Jan 05:57 17:31 11.6 h 

Feb 05:56 17:44 11.8 h 

Mar 05:44 17:47 12.1 h 

Apr 05:25 17:46 12.3 h 

May 05:14 17:49 12.6 h 

Jun 05:14 17:57 12.7 h 

Jul 05:21 18:02 12.7 h 

Aug 05:26 17:55 12.5 h 

Sep 05:25 17:37 12.2 h 

Oct 05:24 17:19 11.9 h 

Nov 05:31 17:10 11.7 h 

Dec 05:45 17:16 11.5 h 

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.

## Cantons of Heredia Province

Canton People per km² Area km² Districts Services 

[Heredia Canton](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/heredia/heredia/) 144,646 511 283 5 1,057 

[Sarapiquí Canton](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/heredia/sarapiqui/) 85,351 40 2,145 5 372 

[San Rafael Canton](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/heredia/san-rafael/) 55,923 1,157 48 5 162 

[Santo Domingo Canton](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/heredia/santo-domingo/) 49,461 1,947 25 8 190 

[Barva Canton](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/heredia/barva/) 47,611 850 56 7 156 

[Santa Bárbara Canton](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/heredia/santa-barbara/) 43,337 831 52 6 159 

[San Pablo Canton](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/heredia/san-pablo/) 31,368 3,761 8.3 2 94 

[Belén Canton](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/heredia/belen/) 26,662 2,152 12 3 227 

[Flores Canton](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/heredia/flores/) 25,147 3,725 6.8 3 118 

[San Isidro Canton](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/heredia/san-isidro/) 23,448 879 27 4 110 

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).

## Largest towns in Heredia Province

- San Francisco55,923
- Mercedes Norte26,007
- Heredia21,947
- San Pablo21,662
- San Josecito12,195
- San Antonio10,938
- San Rafael8,887
- Llorente6,626
- Santo Domingo5,745
- La Asunción4,383
- Ángeles1,355

Source: [GeoNames (CC BY 4.0) — settlements, natural and historic features](https://www.geonames.org/).

Populations as recorded in GeoNames, which may be older than the estimates above.

## Landscape and landmarks of Heredia Province

Named natural and historic features inside Heredia Province, from the GeoNames gazetteer.

### Water

170 rivers and streams; 5 lakes.

- Aguas Zarcas
- Brazo Río Chirripó
- Caño Arbolitos
- Caño Barbudo
- Caño Ceiba
- Caño Copalchí
- Caño Cureña
- Caño Cureñita
- Caño Empujón
- Caño Estero Grande
- Caño Las Medias
- Caño Masaya
- Caño Negro
- Caño Negro del Sur
- Caño Pozo Azul
- Caño Resguardo
- Caño San José
- Caño Tambor
- Caño Tamborcito
- Caño Tigra
- Laguna Copalchí
- Laguna La Carmelita
- Lagunas Gemelas
- Lagunas Tambor

…and 151 more.

### Coast and islands

3 lagoons.

- Laguna Garza
- Laguna Maquenque
- Laguna Remolino Grande

### Hills and mountains

17 mountains; 3 hills.

- Cerro Guararí · 2,560 m
- Cima Norte · 2,535 m
- Cima Sur · 2,535 m
- Cerro Gongolona · 2,451 m
- Cima Central · 2,426 m
- Cima Este · 2,426 m
- Cima Oeste · 2,426 m
- Cerro Piedra · 2,331 m
- Cerro Aguilar · 2,219 m
- Cerro Delicias · 2,114 m
- Cerro Chompipe · 2,047 m
- Cerro Tibás · 2,002 m
- Cerro Cacho Negro · 1,876 m
- Cerro Caricias · 1,843 m
- Cerro Turú · 1,843 m
- Cerro Redondo · 1,841 m
- Cerro Achiotillal · 1,670 m
- Cerro Astillero · 192 m
- Cerro Negro · 134 m
- Cerro Mollejón · 78 m

### Forests and nature

7 parks; 2 nature reserves; 1 forest reserve.

- Bosque de la Hoja
- La Selva Biological Station and Reserve
- Parque Central Nicolás Ulloa
- Parque Cubujuquí
- Parque El Carmen
- Parque Nacional Braulio Carrillo
- Parque de las Embarazadas
- Parque de los Ángeles
- Zona Protectora Río Guácimo
- Zona Protectora Río Peje

### Getting around

3 airfields; 1 airport.

- El Ceibo
- Las Islas
- Rio Frio / Progreso Airport
- Sarapiqui

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 Heredia Province and the best time to visit

In Heredia Province, the warmest month is May (average 26 °C) and the coolest is Jan (24 °C). About 2,728 mm of rain falls in a year; the wettest month is Oct (380 mm) and the driest Mar (73 mm). The most comfortable months for a visit are **February to April**.

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

Month Average °C Rain mm 

Jan 24 139 

Feb 24 75 

Mar 25 73 

Apr 26 109 

May 26 279 

Jun 25 303 

Jul 25 312 

Aug 25 266 

Sep 25 294 

Oct 25 380 

Nov 24 314 

Dec 24 183 

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

## Hospitals, banks and other services in Heredia Province

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

- Hospitals65
- Banks94
- ATMs13
- Petrol pumps44
- Hotels168
- Shopping malls121
- Schools367
- Colleges and universities74
- Cinemas6
- Pharmacies111
- Restaurants1,342
- Police stations56
- Dental clinics184

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 Heredia Province?In Costa Rica
- What is the population of Heredia Province?532,954 (2021 estimate)
- What is the median age in Heredia Province?About 34 years (2021 estimate)
- What is the population density of Heredia Province?About 200 people per km²
- What borders Heredia Province?Alajuela Province, Limón Province and San José Province
- What is there to see in Heredia Province?Acuario La Casa Del Pez, Agouti Paca Tepezcuintles ASOTURCOSAR, Amapola waterfall, Antigua parada de Belén Tren al Atlántico
- What time zone is Heredia Province in?UTC−6
- What currency is used in Heredia Province?Colon (CRC)
- What language is spoken in Heredia Province?Spanish, English (main languages nationally)
- What is the largest town in Heredia Province?San Francisco
- What is the highest point in Heredia Province?Cerro Guararí (2,560 m, GeoNames elevation model)
- What is the best time to visit Heredia Province?February to April
- How many hospitals are in Heredia Province?65 mapped
- How many banks are in Heredia Province?94 mapped
- How many ATMs are in Heredia Province?13 mapped
- How many petrol pumps are in Heredia Province?44 mapped
- What is the P-code of Heredia Province?CR4 (OCHA common operational dataset)