# Sarapiquí Canton, Heredia Province – Population & Districts

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

Canton · Heredia Province 

# Sarapiquí Canton

Sarapiquí Canton is a canton of Costa Rica in Heredia Province. It had an estimated **85,351 people** in 2021 on 2,145 km² (about 40 per km²). It is divided into 5 districts. 222 named villages and localities are recorded here, and 372 mapped services such as hospitals, banks and schools.

- 85,351people (2021)
- 2,145km²
- 5districts
- 372mapped services

## How many people live in Sarapiquí Canton?

Sarapiquí Canton had an estimated **85,351 people** in 2021 — 16.0% of Heredia Province, 16th of 83 cantons. There are 925 women for every 1,000 men (below the Heredia Province figure of 993). Spread over 2,145 km², that is about **40 people per km²**, 67th of 83 cantons.

27.8% of people are children under 15 and 5.5% are 65 or older; the median age is about 27 years (it is 34 across Heredia Province). For every 100 people of working age (15–64) there are 50 children and older people.

0–4 ****7,786**

5–9 ****7,444**

10–14 ****8,464**

15–19 ****8,918**

20–24 ****7,943**

25–29 ****6,895**

30–34 ****6,441**

35–39 ****6,672**

40–44 ****5,615**

45–49 ****4,679**

50–54 ****3,892**

55–59 ****3,272**

60–64 ****2,666**

65–69 ****1,914**

70–74 ****1,219**

75+ ****1,531**

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 Sarapiquí Canton?

Sarapiquí Canton lies in [Heredia Province](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/heredia/), [Costa Rica](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/). It borders 5 other cantons: [Alajuela Canton](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/alajuela/alajuela/), [Heredia Canton](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/heredia/heredia/), [Pococí Canton](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/limon/pococi/), [Río Cuarto Canton](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/alajuela/rio-cuarto/) and [San Carlos Canton](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/alajuela/san-carlos/). By area it is the 5th largest of 84 cantons in Costa Rica. It covers 80.5% of [Heredia Province](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/heredia/). The centre of Sarapiquí Canton is about 62 km in a straight line from San José, the capital. It is about 56 km from Heredia, the main town of Heredia Province. The centre point is at 10.4871° N, 83.9957° 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 Sarapiquí Canton

OpenStreetMap lists 29 named sights in Sarapiquí Canton: 19 attractions; 2 museums; 2 viewpoints; 2 waterfalls; 1 nature reserve; 1 monument; 1 zoo; 1 national park.

- Hito Histórico La Trinidad · museum
- Museo de Culturas Indígenas Dra. María Eugenia Bozzoli · museum
- Cascada El Morron · waterfall
- Catarata Salto del Caballón · waterfall
- Braulio Carrillo National Park · national park
- Refugio de Vida Silvestre Privado Nogal · nature reserve
- 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
- Caverna de Murciélagos ASOTURCOSAR · attraction
- Centro Turistico Las Tilapias · attraction
- Centro Turístico Lago Jalapa · attraction
- Dave & Dave's Costa Rica Nature Park · attraction
- Ecollantas ASOTURCOSAR · attraction
- Finca Integral Brumas del Encanto ASOTURCOSAR · attraction
- Finca Integral de Pimienta ASOTURCOSAR · attraction
- Finca La Amistad ASOTURCOSAR · attraction
- Mi Finquita Turismo Rural Comunitario · attraction
- Organic Paradise Tour · attraction
- Palmitour · attraction
- Posada Colinas de San Ramón ASOTURCOSAR · attraction
- Posada del Bambú ASOTURCOSAR · attraction
- Reserva Biológica la Tirimbina · attraction
- Santuario de Mariposas Silvestres ASOTURCOSAR · attraction
- MiniZoo y Jardín Yori · zoo
- Virgen de Sarapiquí · 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: Sarapiquí 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

- Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) · San José (Alajuela)60 km
- Tobías Bolaños International Airport (SYQ) · San Jose61 km

### Nearest railway station

Patio San Cristobal (Rita), about 24 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).

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 Sarapiquí Canton

District People per km² Area km² Localities Services 

[Las Horquetas](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/heredia/sarapiqui/las-horquetas/) 35,036 62 565 82 136 

[Puerto Viejo](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/heredia/sarapiqui/puerto-viejo/) 30,682 72 429 67 135 

[La Virgen](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/heredia/sarapiqui/la-virgen/) 16,074 31 514 47 76 

[Llanuras del Gaspar](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/heredia/sarapiqui/llanuras-del-gaspar/) 2,006 7.5 267 11 11 

[Cureña](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/heredia/sarapiqui/curena/) 1,553 4.2 370 20 14 

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 Sarapiquí Canton

Open gazetteers list **222 villages, towns and localities** in Sarapiquí Canton. Settlements here lie between about 22 m and 476 m above sea level (median 70 m).

- Ahogadas
- Ahogados
- Arbolitos
- Arrepentidos
- Asentamiento Chirripó
- Asentamiento El Roble
- Asentamiento Los Amigos
- Asentamiento Nogal
- Asentamiento Parcelero
- Asentamiento Parcelero Finca Laqui
- Bajos de Chilamate
- Barrio Chino
- Barrio Los Carretones
- Bijagual
- Boca Ceiba
- Boca Cureña
- Boca La Ceiba
- Boca Río Sucio
- Boca Sarapiquí (Trinidad)
- Boca del Toro
- Bosque
- Buenos Aires
- Bun
- Cabezas
- Cacho Negro
- California Tico
- Canfin
- Caída de Agua
- Caño Negro
- Caño San Luis
- Caño Tambor
- Cerro Negro
- Chaves
- Chilamate
- Chimurria
- Chiripa
- Chirriposito
- Cocobolo
- Colonia Bambú
- Colonia Carvajal
- Colonia Colegio
- Colonia Cubujuquí
- Colonia Esperanza
- Colonia Huetar
- Colonia La Esperanza
- Colonia Los Ángeles
- Colonia Nazareth
- Colonia Salvador
- Colonia San José
- Colonia Victoria
- Colonia Villalobos
- Copalchí
- Coyol
- Cristo Rey
- Cuatro Esquinas
- Cubujuquí Sector A
- Cubujuquí Sector B
- Cureña (Morgan)
- Cureñita
- Delta Costa Rica
- Desamparados
- El Achiote
- El Amigo
- El Bosque
- El Canfín
- El Carmen
- El Gaspar
- El Jardín
- El Naranjal
- El Naranjal 2
- El Oasis
- El Palmar
- El Peje
- El Progreso
- El Salvador
- El Tucán
- El Álamo
- Finca 1
- Finca 10
- Finca 11
- Finca 2
- Finca 3
- Finca 4
- Finca 6
- Finca 7
- Finca 8
- Finca 9
- Finca Agua
- Finca Chirripó
- Finca Cinco
- Finca Dos
- Finca Tres
- Finca Uno
- Finca Zona Cuatro
- Finca Zona Diez
- Finca Zona Ocho
- Finca Zona Once
- Finca Zona Seis
- Finca Zona Siete
- Finca Zurqui # 2
- Flaminia
- Fátima
- Gaspar
- Gavilán
- Golfito
- Guaria
- Horquetas
- Isla
- Isla Grande
- Isla Israel
- Jardín
- Jerusalén
- Jormo
- La Aldea
- La Bolsa
- La Chiripa
- La Conquista
- La Delia
- La Esperanza
- La Gata
- La Guaria
- La Isla
- La Isla de Israel
- La Linda
- La Lucha
- La Otoya
- La Platanera
- La Rambla
- La Sonora
- La Tigra
- La Trinidad
- La Unión del Toro
- La Virgen
- La Vuelta
- Las Delicias
- Las Horquetas
- Las Marías
- Las Medias
- Las Orquídeas
- Las Palmitas
- Las Vegas
- Linda Vista
- Llano Grande
- Loma Linda
- Lomas
- Lomas de Sardinal
- Los Arrepentidos
- Los Carretones
- Los Chago
- Los Cordero
- Los Lirios
- Los Maderos
- Los Pinos
- Los Pooles
- Los Ángeles
- Magsasay
- Magsasay (Colonia Penal)
- Malinche
- Managüita
- Masaya
- Media Vuelta
- Miraflores
- Mollejón
- Monte Verde
- Mortero
- Muelle
- Nogal
- Nueva Alianza
- Oropel
- Palmito
- Palo Seco
- Pangola
- Parcelas Haifa IDA
- Pavas
- Pedregal
- Pitahaya
- Poza Azul
- Pozo Azul
- Pueblo Nuevo
- Puerto Viejo
- Puerto Viejo de Sarapiqui
- Quintas Bambuzal
- Rancho Chico
- Remolinito
- Rojo Maca
- Río Frío
- Río Magdalena
- San Antonio
- San Bernardino
- San Isidro
- San José
- San José Sur
- San Julián
- San Marcos
- San Ramón
- Santa Cecilia
- Santa Clara
- Santa Delia
- Sarapiquí
- Sardinal
- Sector Norte
- Tambor
- Tapa Viento
- Ticarí
- Tierra Buena
- Tigra
- Tigre
- Tirimbina
- Tres Rosales
- Trinidad
- Uno
- Vega de Sardinal
- Villa Isabel
- Villa Lorena
- Villa Nueva
- Vuelta Cabo de Hornos
- Yucatán
- Yure
- Zapote
- Zona Chirripó
- Zurquí
- 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 Sarapiquí Canton

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

### Water

103 rivers and streams; 4 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
- Lagunas Gemelas
- Lagunas Tambor
- Lagunas de Caño Negro

…and 83 more.

### Coast and islands

3 lagoons.

- Laguna Garza
- Laguna Maquenque
- Laguna Remolino Grande

### Hills and mountains

3 hills.

- Cerro Astillero · 192 m
- Cerro Negro · 134 m
- Cerro Mollejón · 78 m

### Forests and nature

2 nature reserves; 1 forest reserve.

- La Selva Biological Station and Reserve
- 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 Sarapiquí Canton and the best time to visit

In Sarapiquí Canton, 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 Sarapiquí Canton

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

- Hospitals4
- Banks9
- ATMs1
- Petrol pumps9
- Hotels52
- Shopping malls5
- Schools133
- Colleges and universities7
- Pharmacies7
- Restaurants123
- Police stations16
- Dental clinics6

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 Sarapiquí Canton?In Heredia Province, Costa Rica
- What is the population of Sarapiquí Canton?85,351 (2021 estimate)
- What is the median age in Sarapiquí Canton?About 27 years (2021 estimate)
- What is the population density of Sarapiquí Canton?About 40 people per km²
- What borders Sarapiquí Canton?Alajuela Canton, Heredia Canton, Pococí Canton, Río Cuarto Canton and San Carlos Canton
- What is there to see in Sarapiquí Canton?Agouti Paca Tepezcuintles ASOTURCOSAR, Ants tour - Hormigas town, Aventuras del Sarapiquí, Banana Tour Dole
- What time zone is Sarapiquí Canton in?UTC−6
- What currency is used in Sarapiquí Canton?Colon (CRC)
- What language is spoken in Sarapiquí Canton?Spanish, English (main languages nationally)
- How many villages are in Sarapiquí Canton?222 named settlements (GeoNames, OpenStreetMap)
- What is the elevation of Sarapiquí Canton?Settlements lie between 22 m and 476 m
- What is the highest point in Sarapiquí Canton?Cerro Astillero (192 m, GeoNames elevation model)
- What is the best time to visit Sarapiquí Canton?February to April
- How many hospitals are in Sarapiquí Canton?4 mapped
- How many banks are in Sarapiquí Canton?9 mapped
- How many ATMs are in Sarapiquí Canton?1 mapped
- How many petrol pumps are in Sarapiquí Canton?9 mapped
- What is the P-code of Sarapiquí Canton?CR410 (OCHA common operational dataset)