# San Rafael Canton, Heredia Province – Population & Districts

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

Canton · Heredia Province 

# San Rafael Canton

San Rafael Canton is a canton of Costa Rica in Heredia Province. It had an estimated **55,923 people** in 2021 on 48 km² (about 1,157 per km²). It is divided into 5 districts. 52 named villages and localities are recorded here, and 162 mapped services such as hospitals, banks and schools.

- 55,923people (2021)
- 48.3km²
- 5districts
- 162mapped services

## How many people live in San Rafael Canton?

San Rafael Canton had an estimated **55,923 people** in 2021 — 10.5% of Heredia Province, 32nd of 83 cantons. There are 984 women for every 1,000 men (close to the Heredia Province figure of 993). Spread over 48 km², that is about **1,157 people per km²**, 15th of 83 cantons.

20.9% of people are children under 15 and 9.5% are 65 or older; the median age is about 34 years (it is 34 across Heredia Province). For every 100 people of working age (15–64) there are 44 children and older people.

0–4 ****3,859**

5–9 ****3,892**

10–14 ****3,962**

15–19 ****3,776**

20–24 ****4,285**

25–29 ****4,495**

30–34 ****4,830**

35–39 ****4,864**

40–44 ****4,198**

45–49 ****3,423**

50–54 ****3,159**

55–59 ****3,181**

60–64 ****2,704**

65–69 ****2,074**

70–74 ****1,332**

75+ ****1,889**

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 Canton?

San Rafael Canton lies in [Heredia Province](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/heredia/), [Costa Rica](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/). It borders 4 other cantons: [Barva Canton](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/heredia/barva/), [Heredia Canton](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/heredia/heredia/), [San Isidro Canton](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/heredia/san-isidro/) and [San Pablo Canton](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/heredia/san-pablo/). By area it is the 69th largest of 84 cantons in Costa Rica. It covers 1.8% of [Heredia Province](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/heredia/). The centre of San Rafael Canton is about 14 km in a straight line from San José, the capital. It is about 8.4 km from Heredia, the main town of Heredia Province. The centre point is at 10.0596° N, 84.0712° 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 Canton

OpenStreetMap lists 11 named sights in San Rafael Canton: 3 monuments; 2 attractions; 1 memorial; 1 museum; 1 gallery; 1 ruins; 1 castle or fort; 1 cave.

- Planta La Joya · museum
- Castillito · castle or fort
- Bosque Escondido · attraction
- Bus Místico · attraction
- Cueva del tren · cave
- Galería El Octágono · gallery
- Mansión abandonada · ruins
- Mausoleo San Rafael · memorial
- Monte de la Cruz · monument
- Monumento Piedra Grande · monument
- Piedra La Terraza · monument

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 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 Jose14 km
- Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) · San José (Alajuela)17 km

### Nearest railway station

Heredia (Heredia), about 8.8 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 05:45, 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 San Rafael Canton

District People per km² Area km² Localities Services 

[San Josecito](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/heredia/san-rafael/san-josecito/) 14,151 10,482 1.4 9 15 

[Ángeles](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/heredia/san-rafael/angeles/) 12,848 605 21 14 48 

[San Rafael](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/heredia/san-rafael/san-rafael/) 10,748 8,021 1.3 7 62 

[Santiago](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/heredia/san-rafael/santiago/) 10,394 6,620 1.6 9 29 

[Concepción](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/heredia/san-rafael/concepcion/) 7,782 341 23 13 8 

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 San Rafael Canton

Open gazetteers list **52 villages, towns and localities** in San Rafael Canton. The largest with a recorded population: San Josecito (12,195) and San Rafael (8,887). Settlements here lie between about 1,172 m and 1,681 m above sea level (median 1,400 m).

- Ana Beatriz
- Ana Victoria
- Arguedas Molina
- Aves del Paraíso
- Bajo Los Molinos
- Bajo Molinos
- Burial 1
- Burial 2
- Calle Chávez
- Calle Hernández
- Castillo
- Celeste Violeta
- Charquillo
- Ciénagas
- Concepción
- Cruce Caminos
- El Ensueño
- El Gallito
- El Palmar
- Getsemaní
- Hernández
- Jardines Universitarios
- Jardines Universitarios 2
- Jardines de Roma
- Jardines del Beneficio
- Joaquina
- Joya
- La Amistad
- La Suiza
- La Terraza
- Lobos
- Lotes Peralta
- Matasano
- Mora
- Palenque
- Paso Viga
- Peralta
- Piedra Blanca
- Pilas
- Puente Piedra
- Puerto Escondido
- Quintanar de La Sierra
- Saca
- San Josecito
- San Martín
- San Rafael
- Santiago
- Suiza
- Turú
- Uvita
- Villa Laguna
- Villas Providencia

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 Canton

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

### Water

7 rivers and streams.

- Quebrada Carballo
- Quebrada Charquillo
- Quebrada Delicias
- Quebrada Lobos
- Quebrada de los Ahogados
- Río Turales
- Yurro Hondo

### Hills and mountains

4 mountains.

- Cerro Delicias · 2,114 m
- Cerro Chompipe · 2,047 m
- Cerro Tibás · 2,002 m
- Cerro Redondo · 1,841 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 San Rafael Canton and the best time to visit

In San Rafael Canton, the warmest month is Apr (average 25 °C) and the coolest is Dec (22 °C). About 1,793 mm of rain falls in a year; the wettest month is Oct (301 mm) and the driest Feb (22 mm). The most comfortable months for a visit are **December to April**.

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

Month Average °C Rain mm 

Jan 23 38 

Feb 24 22 

Mar 25 29 

Apr 25 76 

May 24 220 

Jun 24 209 

Jul 23 184 

Aug 23 198 

Sep 23 256 

Oct 23 301 

Nov 22 188 

Dec 22 70 

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

## Hospitals, banks and other services in San Rafael Canton

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

- Hospitals3
- Banks3
- Petrol pumps1
- Hotels10
- Shopping malls5
- Schools24
- Colleges and universities6
- Pharmacies8
- Restaurants89
- Police stations5
- Dental clinics8

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 San Rafael Canton?In Heredia Province, Costa Rica
- What is the population of San Rafael Canton?55,923 (2021 estimate)
- What is the median age in San Rafael Canton?About 34 years (2021 estimate)
- What is the population density of San Rafael Canton?About 1,157 people per km²
- What borders San Rafael Canton?Barva Canton, Heredia Canton, San Isidro Canton and San Pablo Canton
- What is there to see in San Rafael Canton?Bosque Escondido, Bus Místico, Castillito, Cueva del tren
- What time zone is San Rafael Canton in?UTC−6
- What currency is used in San Rafael Canton?Colon (CRC)
- What language is spoken in San Rafael Canton?Spanish, English (main languages nationally)
- How many villages are in San Rafael Canton?52 named settlements (GeoNames, OpenStreetMap)
- What is the elevation of San Rafael Canton?Settlements lie between 1,172 m and 1,681 m
- What is the highest point in San Rafael Canton?Cerro Delicias (2,114 m, GeoNames elevation model)
- What is the best time to visit San Rafael Canton?December to April
- How many hospitals are in San Rafael Canton?3 mapped
- How many banks are in San Rafael Canton?3 mapped
- How many petrol pumps are in San Rafael Canton?1 mapped
- What is the P-code of San Rafael Canton?CR405 (OCHA common operational dataset)