Canton · San José Province
# Acosta Canton

Acosta Canton is a canton of Costa Rica in San José Province. It had an estimated 22,114 people in 2021 on 343 km² (about 65 per km²). It is divided into 5 districts. 103 named villages and localities are recorded here, and 98 mapped services such as hospitals, banks and schools.
- 22,114 people (2021)
- 343 km²
- 5 districts
- 98 mapped services

## How many people live in Acosta Canton?

Acosta Canton had an estimated 22,114 people in 2021 — 1.3% of San José Province, 66th of 83 cantons. There are 945 women for every 1,000 men (below the San José Province figure of 1,013). Spread over 343 km², that is about 65 people per km², 52nd of 83 cantons.

19.3% of people are children under 15 and 9.3% are 65 or older; the median age is about 32 years (it is 34 across San José Province). For every 100 people of working age (15–64) there are 40 children and older people.
- 0–4 1,359
- 5–9 1,536
- 10–14 1,365
- 15–19 1,421
- 20–24 1,942
- 25–29 2,394
- 30–34 2,130
- 35–39 1,726
- 40–44 1,424
- 45–49 1,257
- 50–54 1,305
- 55–59 1,217
- 60–64 987
- 65–69 736
- 70–74 475
- 75+ 840

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

## Where is Acosta Canton?

Acosta Canton lies in San José Province, Costa Rica. It borders 6 other cantons: Alajuelita Canton, Aserrí Canton, Escazú Canton, Mora Canton, Parrita Canton and Puriscal Canton. By area it is the 39th largest of 84 cantons in Costa Rica. It covers 6.9% of San José Province. The centre of Acosta Canton is about 27 km in a straight line from San José, the capital. The centre point is at 9.7422° N, 84.2429° W.

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

## Things to see in and around Acosta Canton

OpenStreetMap lists 2 named sights in Acosta Canton: 2 attractions.
- Centro Turistico Paraíso del Río · attraction
- Finca La Troja · attraction

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: Acosta Canton
- 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
- Tobías Bolaños International Airport (SYQ) · San Jose 26 km
- Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) · San José (Alajuela) 28 km

### Nearest railway station

Pavas (Pavas), about 25 km from the centre.

### Daylight

Days are longest in Jun (about 12.7 hours, sunrise around 05:16) and shortest in Dec (about 11.6 hours, sunrise around 05:45, sunset around 17:18).

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.

## Districts of Acosta Canton
| District | People | per km² | Area km² | Localities | Services |
| San Ignacio | 9,435 | 415 | 23 | 28 | 31 |
| Palmichal | 5,255 | 154 | 34 | 22 | 16 |
| Guaitil | 2,666 | 61 | 44 | 15 | 11 |
| Sabanillas | 2,654 | 15 | 177 | 23 | 27 |
| Cangrejal | 2,104 | 33 | 64 | 15 | 13 |

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

## Villages and localities in Acosta Canton

Open gazetteers list 103 villages, towns and localities in Acosta Canton. The largest with a recorded population: Tejar (22,433), San Ignacio (3,072) and Palmichal (1,545). Settlements here lie between about 72 m and 2,134 m above sea level (median 999 m).
- Abarca
- Agua Blanca
- Alto Escalera
- Alto La Sierra
- Alto Los Mora
- Alto Parritón
- Alto Vigía
- Bajo Arias
- Bajo Bermúdez
- Bajo Calvo
- Bajo Cerdas
- Bajo Cárdenas
- Bajo Jupa
- Bajo La Palma
- Bajo Los Cruces
- Bajo Palma
- Bajo Pérez
- Bajo Vargas
- Bajos de Jorco
- Barrio Nuevo
- Bijagual
- Bolívar
- Breñón
- Cangrejal
- Caragral
- Caspirola
- Cañadas
- Cedral
- Ceiba Alta
- Ceiba Baja
- Ceiba Este
- Cerro Verde
- Charcalillo
- Chirraca
- Colorado
- Corazón de Jesús
- Coyolar
- Cuesta Aguacate
- El Corral
- Escuadra
- Esperanza
- Fila
- Gravilias
- Guaitil
- Hondonada
- Isabel
- Jaular
- Jesús
- La Cruz
- La Esperanza
- La Fila
- La Ortiga
- La Pita
- La Vereda
- Lagunillas
- Las Limas
- Lindavista
- Llano Bonito
- Los Monge
- Los Vicentinos
- Los Ángeles
- Loyola
- Límas
- María Auxiliadora
- Mesa
- Naranjal
- Ococa
- Ortiga
- Palmichal
- Parritón
- Perpetuo Socorro
- Pitales
- Playa
- Plomo
- Potrerillos
- Pozos
- Pueblo Nuevo
- Purrujal
- Resbalón
- Río Negro
- Sabanas
- Sabanillas
- San Cristóbal
- San Francisco de Asís
- San Ignacio
- San Jerónimo
- San Luis
- San Martín
- San Pablo
- Sevilla
- Soledad
- Tablazo
- Tejar
- Teruel
- Tiquires
- Tiquiritos
- Toledo
- Turrujal
- Uruca
- Vegas de Parrita
- Vereda
- Zapote
- Zoncuano

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

## Landscape and landmarks of Acosta Canton

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

### Water

28 rivers and streams.
- Quebrada Achiote
- Quebrada Aguacates
- Quebrada Carate
- Quebrada Chirraca
- Quebrada Colorado
- Quebrada Espavel
- Quebrada Grande
- Quebrada Honda
- Quebrada Hoyón
- Quebrada Jobobera
- Quebrada Juntas
- Quebrada La Palma
- Quebrada Limonal
- Quebrada Llano Bonito
- Quebrada Manguillos
- Quebrada Máquina
- Quebrada Pablito
- Quebrada Pavón
- Quebrada Roblar
- Quebrada San Jerónimo
- Quebrada Surasal
- Río Candelaria
- Río Jorco
- Río La Dicha

…and 4 more.

### Hills and mountains

11 mountains; 1 peak.
- Alto Caraigres · 1,897 m
- Alto Reflis · 1,717 m
- Alto Los Lobos · 1,567 m
- Alto El Guabal · 1,511 m
- Loma León · 1,352 m
- Alto El Triunfo · 1,296 m
- Alto La Escalera · 1,178 m
- Loma Ococa · 1,069 m
- Alto Cruz · 987 m
- Alto La Sierra · 949 m
- Peña Negra · 940 m
- Alto Mostazal · 708 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 Acosta Canton and the best time to visit

In Acosta Canton, the warmest month is Mar (average 28 °C) and the coolest is Oct (25 °C). About 2,288 mm of rain falls in a year; the wettest month is Oct (337 mm) and the driest Feb (29 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 | 26 | 51 |
| Feb | 27 | 29 |
| Mar | 28 | 39 |
| Apr | 28 | 108 |
| May | 27 | 277 |
| Jun | 26 | 265 |
| Jul | 26 | 281 |
| Aug | 26 | 268 |
| Sep | 26 | 294 |
| Oct | 25 | 337 |
| Nov | 25 | 235 |
| Dec | 26 | 104 |

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

## Hospitals, banks and other services in Acosta Canton

Places mapped inside Acosta Canton in open map data, by type — each number opens the full list with locations.
- Hospitals 1
- Banks 2
- Petrol pumps 2
- Hotels 3
- Schools 57
- Colleges and universities 2
- Pharmacies 2
- Restaurants 21
- Police stations 5
- Dental clinics 3

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

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

## Quick answers
- Where is Acosta Canton? In San José Province, Costa Rica
- What is the population of Acosta Canton? 22,114 (2021 estimate)
- What is the median age in Acosta Canton? About 32 years (2021 estimate)
- What is the population density of Acosta Canton? About 65 people per km²
- What borders Acosta Canton? Alajuelita Canton, Aserrí Canton, Escazú Canton, Mora Canton, Parrita Canton and Puriscal Canton
- What is there to see in Acosta Canton? Centro Turistico Paraíso del Río, Finca La Troja
- What time zone is Acosta Canton in? UTC−6
- What currency is used in Acosta Canton? Colon (CRC)
- What language is spoken in Acosta Canton? Spanish, English (main languages nationally)
- How many villages are in Acosta Canton? 103 named settlements (GeoNames, OpenStreetMap)
- What is the elevation of Acosta Canton? Settlements lie between 72 m and 2,134 m
- What is the highest point in Acosta Canton? Alto Caraigres (1,897 m, GeoNames elevation model)
- What is the best time to visit Acosta Canton? December to April
- How many hospitals are in Acosta Canton? 1 mapped
- How many banks are in Acosta Canton? 2 mapped
- How many petrol pumps are in Acosta Canton? 2 mapped
- What is the P-code of Acosta Canton? CR112 (OCHA common operational dataset)

At a glance
- Type: Canton
- Area: 342.6 km²
- P-code: CR112
- Province: San José Province

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