District · Buenos Aires Canton
# Pilas

Pilas is a district of Costa Rica in Buenos Aires Canton, Puntarenas Province. It had an estimated 1,756 people in 2021 on 114 km² (about 15 per km²). 25 named villages and localities are recorded here, and 14 mapped services such as hospitals, banks and schools.
- 1,756 people (2021)
- 114 km²
- 14 mapped services
- 471 m typical elevation

## How many people live in Pilas?

Pilas had an estimated 1,756 people in 2021 — 3.2% of Buenos Aires Canton, 420th of 472 districts. There are 998 women for every 1,000 men (above the Buenos Aires Canton figure of 984). Spread over 114 km², that is about 15 people per km², 434th of 472 districts.

27.7% of people are children under 15 and 5.8% are 65 or older; the median age is about 27 years (it is 27 across Buenos Aires Canton). For every 100 people of working age (15–64) there are 50 children and older people.
- 0–4 161
- 5–9 170
- 10–14 155
- 15–19 158
- 20–24 168
- 25–29 183
- 30–34 146
- 35–39 127
- 40–44 104
- 45–49 87
- 50–54 76
- 55–59 66
- 60–64 53
- 65–69 42
- 70–74 24
- 75+ 36

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

## Where is Pilas?

Pilas lies in Buenos Aires Canton, Puntarenas Province, Costa Rica. It borders 7 other districts: Boruca, Brunka, Buenos Aires, Colinas, La Amistad, Pejibaye and Volcán. By area it is the 142nd largest of 492 districts in Costa Rica. It covers 4.8% of Buenos Aires Canton. The centre of Pilas is about 117 km in a straight line from San José, the capital. The centre point is at 9.0990° N, 83.4416° W.

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

## Things to see in and around Pilas

### Nearby, outside Pilas
- Piedra grande · attraction, Brunka 12 km
- Waterfal · waterfall, Palmar 14 km
- Piedra Ballena · attraction, Brunka 15 km
- Batambal · attraction, Palmar 15 km
- Lost Pools · attraction, Puerto Cortés 15 km
- Grijalba-2 · attraction, Puerto Cortés 16 km
- El Silencio · attraction, Palmar 16 km
- Museo Comunitario Indígena de Boruca · museum, Boruca 17 km
- Catarata Namú · waterfall, Pejibaye 17 km
- El Pavon · waterfall, Puerto Cortés 20 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: Pilas
- 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
- Golfito Airport (GLF) · Golfito 57 km
- Puerto Jimenez Airport (PJM) · Puerto Jimenez 65 km

### Daylight

Days are longest in Jun (about 12.6 hours, sunrise around 05:14) and shortest in Dec (about 11.6 hours, sunrise around 05:40, 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 Pilas

Open gazetteers list 25 villages, towns and localities in Pilas. Settlements here lie between about 247 m and 629 m above sea level (median 471 m).
- Bajo Las Pilas
- Barranco
- Bijagual
- Caliente
- Ceibón
- Concepción
- Dibujada
- Fortuna
- Gloria
- Guacimal
- La Danta
- La Fortuna
- La Gloria
- Laguna
- Las Pilas
- Ojo de Agua
- Paso La Tinta
- Paso Las Yeguas
- Pueblo Nuevo
- Pueblo Nuevo de Congos
- Sabanas Concepción
- San Vicente
- Santa Teresita
- Tumbas
- Upiav 1

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

## Landscape and landmarks of Pilas

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

### Water

26 rivers and streams; 2 lakes.
- Laguna La Danta
- Laguna Los Mangos
- Quebrada Agua Buena
- Quebrada Boruca
- Quebrada Cacao
- Quebrada Camarón
- Quebrada Ceibito
- Quebrada Ceibón
- Quebrada Chiricano
- Quebrada El Oso
- Quebrada Elizondo
- Quebrada Fresca
- Quebrada Gabriel
- Quebrada Hedionda
- Quebrada La Danta
- Quebrada Laja
- Quebrada Los Congos
- Quebrada Miska
- Quebrada Negra
- Quebrada Rosario
- Quebrada Silencio
- Quebrada Skebaco
- Quebrada Tinta
- Río Caliente

…and 4 more.

### Hills and mountains

4 mountain passes; 3 mountains.
- Alto Huacal del Chiricano · 663 m
- Alto La Carreta · 527 m
- Alto de Agua · 458 m
- Paso Las Veguas · 292 m
- Paso Concepción · 240 m
- Paso La Tinta · 205 m
- Paso Verbá · 200 m

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 Pilas and the best time to visit

Using the climate of Buenos Aires Canton, the warmest month is Apr (average 23 °C) and the coolest is Nov (21 °C). About 2,124 mm of rain falls in a year; the wettest month is Nov (266 mm) and the driest Feb (49 mm). The most comfortable months for a visit are January to April.
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
| Month | Average °C | Rain mm |
| Jan | 21 | 86 |
| Feb | 22 | 49 |
| Mar | 23 | 63 |
| Apr | 23 | 108 |
| May | 23 | 250 |
| Jun | 22 | 219 |
| Jul | 22 | 252 |
| Aug | 22 | 228 |
| Sep | 22 | 209 |
| Oct | 21 | 263 |
| Nov | 21 | 266 |
| Dec | 21 | 132 |

Source: NASA POWER climatology, retrieved 2026-10-29.

## Nearest hospital, bank and fuel from Pilas
| Need | Nearest mapped | Distance | |
| Hospital | Clínica Dental Buenos Aires · Buenos Aires | 14 km | Map |
| Bank | Coopealianza · Buenos Aires | 14 km | Map |
| ATM | Banco Popular · Puerto Cortés | 17 km | Map |
| Petrol pump | Estación de Servicio Brunca · Buenos Aires | 13 km | Map |
| Hotel | Osa Mountain Village Eco Resort · Puerto Cortés | 11 km | Map |
| Mall | Centro Comercial Vargas · Palmar | 15 km | Map |
| School | Escuela Las Pilas · Pilas | 2.1 km | Map |
| College | Liceo Rural Maíz de Los Uva · Colinas | 6.3 km | Map |
| Police station | Delegación Policial de Pilas · Pilas | 2.2 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 Pilas

Places mapped inside Pilas in open map data, by type.
- Schools 13
- Police stations 1

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 Buenos Aires Canton
- Biolley
- Boruca
- Brunka
- Buenos Aires
- Chánguena
- Colinas
- Potrero Grande
- Volcán

## Quick answers
- Where is Pilas? In Buenos Aires Canton, Puntarenas Province, Costa Rica
- What is the population of Pilas? 1,756 (2021 estimate)
- What is the median age in Pilas? About 27 years (2021 estimate)
- What is the population density of Pilas? About 15 people per km²
- What borders Pilas? Boruca, Brunka, Buenos Aires, Colinas, La Amistad, Pejibaye and Volcán
- What is there to see in Pilas? Piedra grande, Waterfal, Piedra Ballena, Batambal
- What time zone is Pilas in? UTC−6
- What currency is used in Pilas? Colon (CRC)
- What language is spoken in Pilas? Spanish, English (main languages nationally)
- How many villages are in Pilas? 25 named settlements (GeoNames, OpenStreetMap)
- What is the elevation of Pilas? Settlements lie between 247 m and 629 m
- What is the highest point in Pilas? Alto Huacal del Chiricano (663 m, GeoNames elevation model)
- What is the best time to visit Pilas? January to April
- Where is the nearest hospital to Pilas? Clínica Dental Buenos Aires, about 14 km from the centre
- Where is the nearest bank to Pilas? Coopealianza, about 14 km from the centre
- Where is the nearest ATM to Pilas? Banco Popular, about 17 km from the centre
- Where is the nearest petrol pump to Pilas? Estación de Servicio Brunca, about 13 km from the centre
- What is the P-code of Pilas? CR60305 (OCHA common operational dataset)

At a glance
- Type: District
- Area: 114.3 km²
- P-code: CR60305
- Canton: Buenos Aires Canton

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