# Santiago District, San Rafael Canton, Heredia Province

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

District · San Rafael Canton 

# Santiago

Santiago is a district of Costa Rica in San Rafael Canton, Heredia Province. It had an estimated **10,394 people** in 2021 on 2 km² (about 6,620 per km²). 9 named villages and localities are recorded here, and 29 mapped services such as hospitals, banks and schools.

- 10,394people (2021)
- 1.6km²
- 29mapped services
- 1,201 mtypical elevation

## How many people live in Santiago?

Santiago had an estimated **10,394 people** in 2021 — 18.6% of San Rafael Canton, 162nd of 472 districts. There are 993 women for every 1,000 men (close to the San Rafael Canton figure of 984). Spread over 2 km², that is about **6,620 people per km²**, 33rd of 472 districts.

21.5% of people are children under 15 and 9.5% are 65 or older; the median age is about 33 years (it is 34 across San Rafael Canton). For every 100 people of working age (15–64) there are 45 children and older people.

0–4 ****741**

5–9 ****734**

10–14 ****761**

15–19 ****732**

20–24 ****813**

25–29 ****845**

30–34 ****877**

35–39 ****872**

40–44 ****755**

45–49 ****620**

50–54 ****576**

55–59 ****584**

60–64 ****501**

65–69 ****387**

70–74 ****252**

75+ ****344**

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 Santiago?

Santiago lies in [San Rafael Canton](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/heredia/san-rafael/), [Heredia Province](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/heredia/), [Costa Rica](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/). It borders 5 other districts: [Concepción](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/heredia/san-rafael/concepcion/), [Heredia](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/heredia/heredia/heredia/), [San Josecito](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/heredia/san-rafael/san-josecito/), [San Pablo](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/heredia/san-pablo/san-pablo/) and [San Rafael](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/heredia/san-rafael/san-rafael/). By area it is the 476th largest of 492 districts in Costa Rica. It covers 3.2% of [San Rafael Canton](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/heredia/san-rafael/). The centre of Santiago is about 8.1 km in a straight line from San José, the capital. The centre point is at 10.0047° N, 84.1014° 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 Santiago

### Nearby, outside Santiago

- Casa de Exposición Artística de Jimenez Deredia · gallery, San Pablo0.2 km
- Planta La Joya · museum, San Josecito1.0 km
- Mausoleo San Rafael · memorial, San Josecito1.1 km
- Monumento Piedra Grande · monument, San Rafael1.2 km
- Piedra La Terraza · monument, San Rafael1.2 km
- Gruta Virgen del Carmen · monument, Heredia1.7 km
- José María Zeledón Brenes · memorial, Heredia1.8 km
- Casa de la Cultura Alfredo González Flores · museum, Heredia1.8 km
- El Fortín · attraction, Heredia1.8 km
- Centro de la Cultura Herediana Omar Dengo · museum, Heredia1.9 km
- Castillo de Mercedes · castle or fort, Mercedes2.0 km
- Funeraria Magisterio · memorial, Heredia2.0 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: Santiago

- 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 Jose6.8 km
- Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) · San José (Alajuela)12 km

### Nearest railway station

Heredia (Heredia), about 2.0 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.

## Villages and localities in Santiago

Open gazetteers list **9 villages, towns and localities** in Santiago. Settlements here lie between about 1,185 m and 1,223 m above sea level (median 1,201 m).

- Ana Beatriz
- Jardines Universitarios
- Jardines Universitarios 2
- Jardines de Roma
- La Suiza
- Piedra Blanca
- Santiago
- Suiza
- Villa Laguna

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).

## Weather in Santiago and the best time to visit

Using the climate of San Rafael Canton, the warmest month is Apr (average 27 °C) and the coolest is Dec (24 °C), after allowing for this place being about 199 m lower than the climate reference point (about 6.5 °C per 1,000 m). 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 24 38 

Feb 25 22 

Mar 26 29 

Apr 27 76 

May 26 220 

Jun 25 209 

Jul 25 184 

Aug 25 198 

Sep 24 256 

Oct 24 301 

Nov 24 188 

Dec 24 70 

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

## Nearest hospital, bank and fuel from Santiago

Need Nearest mapped Distance 

Hospital Clinica San Rafael De Heredia · San Rafael 0.7 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=10.01091&mlon=-84.10103#map=17/10.01091/-84.10103) 

Bank BCR · San Rafael 0.9 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=10.01216&mlon=-84.09828#map=17/10.01216/-84.09828) 

ATM BCR · Heredia 1.3 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=9.99925&mlon=-84.11230#map=17/9.99925/-84.11230) 

Petrol pump Servicentro San Rafael · San Rafael 0.9 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=10.01268&mlon=-84.10309#map=17/10.01268/-84.10309) 

Hotel Hotel de Paso La U · Santiago 0.6 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=10.00345&mlon=-84.10713#map=17/10.00345/-84.10713) 

Mall Plaza Campo Suizo · Santiago 0.5 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=10.00803&mlon=-84.09910#map=17/10.00803/-84.09910) 

School Escuela Santiago · Santiago 0.6 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=10.00817&mlon=-84.10550#map=17/10.00817/-84.10550) 

College UNA - Centro Universitario Emilia Prieto Tugores · San Pablo 0.4 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=10.00136&mlon=-84.10184#map=17/10.00136/-84.10184) 

Police station Policía Municipal · San Rafael 0.6 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=10.00978&mlon=-84.10346#map=17/10.00978/-84.10346) 

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 Santiago

Places mapped inside Santiago in open map data, by type.

- Hotels4
- Shopping malls2
- Schools7
- Colleges and universities4
- Pharmacies1
- Restaurants8
- Dental clinics3

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 San Rafael Canton

- Concepción
- San Josecito
- San Rafael
- Ángeles

## Quick answers

- Where is Santiago?In San Rafael Canton, Heredia Province, Costa Rica
- What is the population of Santiago?10,394 (2021 estimate)
- What is the median age in Santiago?About 33 years (2021 estimate)
- What is the population density of Santiago?About 6,620 people per km²
- What borders Santiago?Concepción, Heredia, San Josecito, San Pablo and San Rafael
- What is there to see in Santiago?Casa de Exposición Artística de Jimenez Deredia, Planta La Joya, Mausoleo San Rafael, Monumento Piedra Grande
- What time zone is Santiago in?UTC−6
- What currency is used in Santiago?Colon (CRC)
- What language is spoken in Santiago?Spanish, English (main languages nationally)
- How many villages are in Santiago?9 named settlements (GeoNames, OpenStreetMap)
- What is the elevation of Santiago?Settlements lie between 1,185 m and 1,223 m
- What is the best time to visit Santiago?December to April
- Where is the nearest hospital to Santiago?Clinica San Rafael De Heredia, about 0.7 km from the centre
- Where is the nearest bank to Santiago?BCR, about 0.9 km from the centre
- Where is the nearest ATM to Santiago?BCR, about 1.3 km from the centre
- Where is the nearest petrol pump to Santiago?Servicentro San Rafael, about 0.9 km from the centre
- What is the P-code of Santiago?CR40503 (OCHA common operational dataset)