District · Sarapiquí Canton
# Puerto Viejo

Puerto Viejo is a district of Costa Rica in Sarapiquí Canton, Heredia Province. It had an estimated 30,682 people in 2021 on 429 km² (about 72 per km²). 67 named villages and localities are recorded here, and 135 mapped services such as hospitals, banks and schools.
- 30,682 people (2021)
- 429 km²
- 135 mapped services
- 46 m typical elevation

## How many people live in Puerto Viejo?

Puerto Viejo had an estimated 30,682 people in 2021 — 35.9% of Sarapiquí Canton, 31st of 472 districts. There are 930 women for every 1,000 men (close to the Sarapiquí Canton figure of 925). Spread over 429 km², that is about 72 people per km², 292nd of 472 districts.

28.9% of people are children under 15 and 5.0% are 65 or older; the median age is about 25 years (it is 27 across Sarapiquí Canton). For every 100 people of working age (15–64) there are 51 children and older people.
- 0–4 3,003
- 5–9 2,699
- 10–14 3,169
- 15–19 3,410
- 20–24 3,080
- 25–29 2,761
- 30–34 2,215
- 35–39 2,194
- 40–44 1,845
- 45–49 1,537
- 50–54 1,280
- 55–59 1,077
- 60–64 876
- 65–69 630
- 70–74 400
- 75+ 506

Source: Costa Rica National Statistics Office (NSO) via OCHA HDX, population 2021 (COD-PS, CC BY-IGO).

## Where is Puerto Viejo?

Puerto Viejo lies in Sarapiquí Canton, Heredia Province, Costa Rica. It borders 5 other districts: Cureña, La Virgen, Las Horquetas, Llanuras del Gaspar and Rita. By area it is the 19th largest of 492 districts in Costa Rica. It covers 20.0% of Sarapiquí Canton. The centre of Puerto Viejo is about 73 km in a straight line from San José, the capital. The centre point is at 10.5735° N, 83.9256° W.

Source: Costa Rica National Statistics Office (NSO) via OCHA HDX, administrative boundaries (COD-AB, CC BY-IGO).

## Things to see in and around Puerto Viejo

OpenStreetMap lists 5 named sights in Puerto Viejo: 3 attractions; 1 museum; 1 nature reserve.
- Hito Histórico La Trinidad · museum
- Refugio de Vida Silvestre Privado Nogal · nature reserve
- Aventuras del Sarapiquí · attraction
- Banana Tour Dole · attraction
- Centro Turístico Lago Jalapa · attraction

### Nearby, outside Puerto Viejo
- Scenic Overlook · viewpoint, La Virgen 18 km

Source: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), Geofabrik extract — named settlements.

Named attractions, museums, viewpoints, historic sites and natural features mapped in OpenStreetMap. Places of worship are not listed.

## Know before you go: Puerto Viejo
- Time zone UTC−6, no daylight saving · America/Costa_Rica
- Currency Colon (CRC)
- Country calling code +506
- Languages Spanish, English
- Plug types Type A, B · 120 V
- Driving side Right
- Postcode format 5 digits (#####)

### Nearest airports
- Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) · San José (Alajuela) 72 km
- La Fortuna Arenal Airport (FON) · La Fortuna 72 km

### Nearest railway station

Patio San Cristobal (Rita), about 28 km from the centre.

### Daylight

Days are longest in Jun (about 12.7 hours, sunrise around 05:13) 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); Wikidata (CC0) — plug types, mains voltage, driving side; retrieved 2026-11-03; OurAirports (public domain).

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 Puerto Viejo

Open gazetteers list 67 villages, towns and localities in Puerto Viejo. Settlements here lie between about 23 m and 76 m above sea level (median 46 m).
- Ahogadas
- Ahogados
- Arbolitos
- Arrepentidos
- Asentamiento Los Amigos
- Asentamiento Nogal
- Barrio Los Carretones
- Boca Ceiba
- Boca La Ceiba
- Boca Río Sucio
- Bun
- Cabezas
- Canfin
- Caño Negro
- Chilamate
- Cocobolo
- Colonia San José
- Coyol
- Cristo Rey
- El Achiote
- El Amigo
- El Canfín
- El Jardín
- El Naranjal
- El Naranjal 2
- El Progreso
- Finca Zurqui # 2
- Gavilán
- Guaria
- Jardín
- Jerusalén
- Jormo
- La Chiripa
- La Esperanza
- La Gata
- La Guaria
- La Trinidad
- Las Marías
- Las Orquídeas
- Loma Linda
- Los Arrepentidos
- Los Carretones
- Los Chago
- Los Lirios
- Los Maderos
- Los Pooles
- Malinche
- Media Vuelta
- Muelle
- Nogal
- Parcelas Haifa IDA
- Pavas
- Pedregal
- Pitahaya
- Pueblo Nuevo
- Puerto Viejo
- Puerto Viejo de Sarapiqui
- Rojo Maca
- San José
- San Julián
- Sarapiquí
- Sardinal
- Tres Rosales
- Vega de Sardinal
- Yure
- Zapote
- Zurquí

Source: GeoNames (CC BY 4.0) — settlements, natural and historic features; © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), Geofabrik extract — named settlements.

## Landscape and landmarks of Puerto Viejo

Named natural and historic features inside Puerto Viejo, from the GeoNames gazetteer.

### Water

17 rivers and streams.
- Caño Ceiba
- Caño Empujón
- Caño Estero Grande
- Caño Negro
- Caño Resguardo
- Caño San José
- Quebrada Botella
- Quebrada Burbudera
- Quebrada Caño Negro
- Quebrada Gaspar
- Quebrada Lourdes
- Quebrada Negra
- Rio Sarapiqui
- Río Sarapiquí
- Río Sucio
- Río Zapote
- Sucio River

### Hills and mountains

1 hill.
- Cerro Negro · 134 m

### Getting around

3 airfields.
- El Ceibo
- Las Islas
- Sarapiqui

Source: GeoNames (CC BY 4.0) — settlements, natural and historic features.

Places of worship are not listed. Elevations are from the GeoNames terrain model and are approximate.

## Weather in Puerto Viejo and the best time to visit

Using the climate of 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.

## Nearest hospital, bank and fuel from Puerto Viejo
| Need | Nearest mapped | Distance | |
| Hospital | Clínica Puerto Viejo Talamanca LIMON · Puerto Viejo | 16 km | Map |
| Bank | Banco Nacional · Puerto Viejo | 16 km | Map |
| ATM | BAC Credomatic · Puerto Viejo | 16 km | Map |
| Petrol pump | Estación de Servicio Las Marías · Puerto Viejo | 10 km | Map |
| Hotel | Ara Ambigua · La Virgen | 12 km | Map |
| Mall | Plaza Ponce Morales · Puerto Viejo | 16 km | Map |
| School | Liceo Rural Las Marías · Puerto Viejo | 2.8 km | Map |
| College | INA - Centro de Formación Sarapiquí · Puerto Viejo | 15 km | Map |
| Police station | Delegación Policial Las Marías · Puerto Viejo | 3.0 km | Map |

Source: Overture Maps places (CDLA-Permissive-2.0) and © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).

Straight-line distance from the centre of the division, within 40 km.

## Hospitals, banks and other services in Puerto Viejo

Places mapped inside Puerto Viejo in open map data, by type.
- Hospitals 2
- Banks 5
- ATMs 1
- Petrol pumps 3
- Hotels 14
- Shopping malls 3
- Schools 43
- Colleges and universities 2
- Pharmacies 6
- Restaurants 47
- Police stations 7
- Dental clinics 2

Source: Overture Maps places (CDLA-Permissive-2.0) and © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).

Coverage depends on what has been mapped; contact details are not shown.

## Other districts in Sarapiquí Canton
- Cureña
- La Virgen
- Las Horquetas
- Llanuras del Gaspar

## Quick answers
- Where is Puerto Viejo? In Sarapiquí Canton, Heredia Province, Costa Rica
- What is the population of Puerto Viejo? 30,682 (2021 estimate)
- What is the median age in Puerto Viejo? About 25 years (2021 estimate)
- What is the population density of Puerto Viejo? About 72 people per km²
- What borders Puerto Viejo? Cureña, La Virgen, Las Horquetas, Llanuras del Gaspar and Rita
- What is there to see in Puerto Viejo? Aventuras del Sarapiquí, Banana Tour Dole, Centro Turístico Lago Jalapa, Hito Histórico La Trinidad
- What time zone is Puerto Viejo in? UTC−6
- What currency is used in Puerto Viejo? Colon (CRC)
- What language is spoken in Puerto Viejo? Spanish, English (main languages nationally)
- How many villages are in Puerto Viejo? 67 named settlements (GeoNames, OpenStreetMap)
- What is the elevation of Puerto Viejo? Settlements lie between 23 m and 76 m
- What is the highest point in Puerto Viejo? Cerro Negro (134 m, GeoNames elevation model)
- What is the best time to visit Puerto Viejo? February to April
- Where is the nearest hospital to Puerto Viejo? Clínica Puerto Viejo Talamanca LIMON, about 16 km from the centre
- Where is the nearest bank to Puerto Viejo? Banco Nacional, about 16 km from the centre
- Where is the nearest ATM to Puerto Viejo? BAC Credomatic, about 16 km from the centre
- Where is the nearest petrol pump to Puerto Viejo? Estación de Servicio Las Marías, about 10 km from the centre
- How many hospitals are in Puerto Viejo? 2 mapped
- How many banks are in Puerto Viejo? 5 mapped
- How many ATMs are in Puerto Viejo? 1 mapped
- How many petrol pumps are in Puerto Viejo? 3 mapped
- What is the P-code of Puerto Viejo? CR41001 (OCHA common operational dataset)

At a glance
- Type: District
- Area: 428.6 km²
- P-code: CR41001
- Canton: Sarapiquí Canton

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Canonical: https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/heredia/sarapiqui/puerto-viejo/ · Updated 2026-11-03 · Data: national censuses and statistics offices (sources named in each section); © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL); Overture Maps; GeoNames; NASA POWER.