Canton · San José Province
# Desamparados Canton

Desamparados Canton is a canton of Costa Rica in San José Province. It had an estimated 247,332 people in 2021 on 119 km² (about 2,079 per km²). It is divided into 13 districts. 246 named villages and localities are recorded here, and 515 mapped services such as hospitals, banks and schools.
- 247,332 people (2021)
- 119 km²
- 13 districts
- 515 mapped services

## How many people live in Desamparados Canton?

Desamparados Canton had an estimated 247,332 people in 2021 — 14.8% of San José Province, 3rd of 83 cantons. There are 1,004 women for every 1,000 men (close to the San José Province figure of 1,013). Spread over 119 km², that is about 2,079 people per km², 12th of 83 cantons.

20.4% of people are children under 15 and 9.2% are 65 or older; the median age is about 33 years (it is 34 across San José Province). For every 100 people of working age (15–64) there are 42 children and older people.
- 0–4 16,492
- 5–9 17,268
- 10–14 16,807
- 15–19 17,384
- 20–24 20,100
- 25–29 21,745
- 30–34 22,326
- 35–39 21,114
- 40–44 17,668
- 45–49 14,711
- 50–54 13,691
- 55–59 13,684
- 60–64 11,587
- 65–69 8,885
- 70–74 5,773
- 75+ 8,097

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

## Where is Desamparados Canton?

Desamparados Canton lies in San José Province, Costa Rica. It borders 9 other cantons: Alajuelita Canton, Aserrí Canton, Cartago Canton, Curridabat Canton, Dota Canton, El Guarco Canton, La Unión Canton, León Cortés Castro Canton and San José Canton. By area it is the 62nd largest of 84 cantons in Costa Rica. It covers 2.4% of San José Province. The centre of Desamparados Canton is about 14 km in a straight line from San José, the capital. The centre point is at 9.8115° N, 84.0698° W.

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

## Things to see in and around Desamparados Canton

OpenStreetMap lists 6 named sights in Desamparados Canton: 2 museums; 2 monuments; 2 attractions.
- Museo Joaquín García Monge · museum
- Museo de la Carreta y el Campesino Costarricense · museum
- El árbol hueco · attraction
- Parque de San Antonio · attraction
- Joaquín García Monge · monument
- Muñeco del Herrero de San Antonio · monument

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: Desamparados 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 18 km
- Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) · San José (Alajuela) 25 km

### Nearest railway station

Plaza Cleto González Víquez (Catedral), about 13 km from the centre.

### Daylight

Days are longest in Jun (about 12.7 hours, sunrise around 05:15) and shortest in Dec (about 11.6 hours, sunrise around 05:44, 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 Desamparados Canton
| District | People | per km² | Area km² | Localities | Services |
| San Miguel | 38,327 | 1,793 | 21 | 36 | 49 |
| Desamparados | 37,411 | 11,268 | 3.3 | 49 | 167 |
| Los Guido | 30,685 | 10,028 | 3.1 | 23 | 7 |
| San Rafael Abajo | 26,666 | 13,201 | 2.0 | 19 | 60 |
| San Juan de Dios | 24,216 | 8,497 | 2.9 | 16 | 17 |
| San Rafael Arriba | 18,243 | 5,648 | 3.2 | 12 | 31 |
| Gravilias | 17,145 | 5,832 | 2.9 | 21 | 49 |
| Damas | 15,572 | 5,876 | 2.6 | 11 | 15 |
| Patarrá | 14,748 | 929 | 16 | 18 | 12 |
| San Antonio | 11,277 | 5,448 | 2.1 | 14 | 62 |
| San Cristobal | 4,734 | 189 | 25 | 10 | 20 |
| Frailes | 4,555 | 232 | 20 | 9 | 15 |
| Rosario | 3,753 | 253 | 15 | 12 | 11 |

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 Desamparados Canton

Open gazetteers list 246 villages, towns and localities in Desamparados Canton. The largest with a recorded population: San Miguel (28,827), Patarrá (23,983), San Juan de Dios (15,469) and San Rafael Arriba (15,051). Settlements here lie between about 1,132 m and 2,120 m above sea level (median 1,177 m).
- Acacias
- Aguacate
- Alpino
- Altamira
- Arco Iris
- Autofores
- Bajo Tarrazú
- Balboa
- Balcón Verde
- Balneario
- Bambú
- Barrio Balcon Verde
- Barrio Cerámica Poás
- Barrio Contadores
- Barrio Loma Linda
- Barrio Los Ángeles
- Barrio Loto 3
- Barrio San José
- Barrio Santa Eduviges
- Barrio Venecia
- Bellavista
- Berlay
- Bustamante
- Bustamante Abajo
- Bustamante Arriba
- Calabacitas
- Calle Común
- Calle Fallas
- Calle Naranjos
- Camaquiri
- Capilla
- Capri
- Cartonera
- Casa Mata
- Centro de Amigos
- Cerro Bonito
- Cerámica
- Chirogres
- Churruca
- Churuca
- Cipreses
- Claveles
- Colonia del Sur
- Constancia
- Contadores
- Coopelot
- Cristo Rey
- Cruce
- Cruz Roja
- Cucubres
- Damas
- Damas Israelitas
- Damasco
- Desamparados
- Diamante
- Dina
- Don Alfonso
- Don Bosco
- Dorado
- Dorados
- Dos Cercas
- El Aguacate
- El Bambú
- El Colegio
- El Cruce
- El Dorado
- El Jardín
- El Lince
- El Llano
- El Manzano
- El Ocaso
- El Porvenir
- El Roblar
- El Río
- Empalme
- Esmeraldas
- Fallas
- Florita
- Fomentera
- Formentera
- Fortuna
- Fortunita
- Frailes
- Fátima
- Gardenia
- Girasol
- Gravilias
- Gravillas
- Guadamarra
- Guadarrama
- Guaría
- Guatuso
- Güízaro
- Higuerones
- Higuito
- Hoyo
- Huetares
- Itaipú
- Itaipú 2
- Itaipú 3
- Jardín
- Jericó
- Jerusalén
- Joya
- Juncales
- La Altura
- La Capilla
- La Capri
- La Cartonera
- La Constancia
- La Fila
- La Fortuna
- La Fortunita
- La Guaria
- La Joya
- La Orquídea
- La Pacaya
- La Paz
- La Raya
- La Rotonda
- La Sierra
- La Trinidad
- Lajas
- Las Acacias
- Las Esmeraldas
- Las Letras
- Leo
- Letras
- Lince
- Lindavista
- Llano
- Llano Bonito
- Loma Linda
- Lomas de Jorco
- Lomas de Salitral
- Lomas del Jorco
- Los Claveles
- Los Diamantes
- Los Dorados
- Los Guido
- Los Olivos
- Los Robles
- Los Ángeles
- Loto
- Loto 1
- Loto 2
- Lucha
- Macarena
- Maiquetía
- Manzano
- Maron
- Marshal
- Mesas
- Meseguer
- Metrópoli
- Miracruz
- Monseñor Sanabria
- Monteclaro
- Mota
- Máquina
- Máquinas
- Méndez
- Mónaco
- Novedades
- Nuestra Señora de la Esperanza
- Orowe
- Orquídeas
- Palogrande
- Patarrá
- Pedrito Monge
- Peñascal
- Pinos
- Plazoleta
- Porvenir
- Pueblo Nuevo
- Quebrada Honda
- Rancho Grande
- Raya
- Residencias Unidas
- Retoños
- Riberalta
- Rinconada
- Roblar
- Robles
- Rodillal
- Rosario
- Rotondas
- Río
- Río Damas
- Río Jorco
- Sabanilla
- Sabanillas
- Sabara
- Sagitario
- Salitrillo
- San Antonio
- San Cristobal Norte
- San Cristobal Sur
- San Cristóbal Norte
- San Cristóbal Sur
- San Esteban
- San Esteban Rey
- San Francisco de Asís
- San Jerónimo
- San José
- San Juan de Dios
- San Lorenzo
- San Miguel
- San Rafael Abajo
- San Rafael Arriba
- San Roque
- Santa Cecilia
- Santa Eduvigis
- Sector 1
- Sector 2
- Sector 3
- Sector 4
- Sector 5
- Sector 6
- Sector 7
- Sector 8
- Sector Cinco
- Sector Cuatro
- Sector Dos
- Sector Ocho
- Sector Seis
- Sector Siete
- Sector Tres
- Solar
- Suecia (La Cajita)
- Tauros
- Tejar
- Ticalpes
- Torremolinos
- Treviso
- Unidas
- Valencia
- Valladolid
- Valverde
- Venecia
- Veracruz
- Villanueva
- Violeta
- Viscaya
- Vista Verde
- Ángeles

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

## Landscape and landmarks of Desamparados Canton

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

### Water

32 rivers and streams.
- Quebrada Caliente
- Quebrada Chilamate
- Quebrada Chorro
- Quebrada Común
- Quebrada El Cerro
- Quebrada Honda
- Quebrada Llano
- Quebrada Mena
- Quebrada Méndez
- Quebrada Naranjos
- Quebrada Padre
- Quebrada Patalillo
- Quebrada Poró
- Quebrada Poás
- Quebrada Quebradas
- Quebrada Reyes
- Quebrada Tablazo
- Quebrada Tanques
- Quebrada Yugo
- Río Alumbre
- Río Azul
- Río Chiflón
- Río Chirogres
- Río Cucubres

…and 8 more.

### Hills and mountains

2 hills.
- Loma Salitral · 1,353 m
- Alto Juan Dolores · 1,277 m

### Getting around

1 bridge.
- Puente Negro

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 Desamparados Canton and the best time to visit

In Desamparados Canton, the warmest month is Apr (average 25 °C) and the coolest is Dec (22 °C). 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 | 23 | 38 |
| Feb | 24 | 22 |
| Mar | 25 | 29 |
| Apr | 25 | 76 |
| May | 24 | 220 |
| Jun | 24 | 209 |
| Jul | 23 | 184 |
| Aug | 23 | 198 |
| Sep | 23 | 256 |
| Oct | 23 | 301 |
| Nov | 22 | 188 |
| Dec | 22 | 70 |

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

## Hospitals, banks and other services in Desamparados Canton

Places mapped inside Desamparados Canton in open map data, by type — each number opens the full list with locations.
- Hospitals 19
- Banks 22
- ATMs 3
- Petrol pumps 14
- Hotels 8
- Shopping malls 18
- Schools 87
- Colleges and universities 10
- Cinemas 4
- Pharmacies 26
- Restaurants 247
- Police stations 12
- Dental clinics 45

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 Desamparados Canton? In San José Province, Costa Rica
- What is the population of Desamparados Canton? 247,332 (2021 estimate)
- What is the median age in Desamparados Canton? About 33 years (2021 estimate)
- What is the population density of Desamparados Canton? About 2,079 people per km²
- What borders Desamparados Canton? Alajuelita Canton, Aserrí Canton, Cartago Canton, Curridabat Canton, Dota Canton, El Guarco Canton, La Unión Canton, León Cortés Castro Canton and San José Canton
- What is there to see in Desamparados Canton? El árbol hueco, Joaquín García Monge, Museo Joaquín García Monge, Museo de la Carreta y el Campesino Costarricense
- What time zone is Desamparados Canton in? UTC−6
- What currency is used in Desamparados Canton? Colon (CRC)
- What language is spoken in Desamparados Canton? Spanish, English (main languages nationally)
- How many villages are in Desamparados Canton? 246 named settlements (GeoNames, OpenStreetMap)
- What is the elevation of Desamparados Canton? Settlements lie between 1,132 m and 2,120 m
- What is the highest point in Desamparados Canton? Loma Salitral (1,353 m, GeoNames elevation model)
- What is the best time to visit Desamparados Canton? December to April
- How many hospitals are in Desamparados Canton? 19 mapped
- How many banks are in Desamparados Canton? 22 mapped
- How many ATMs are in Desamparados Canton? 3 mapped
- How many petrol pumps are in Desamparados Canton? 14 mapped
- What is the P-code of Desamparados Canton? CR103 (OCHA common operational dataset)

At a glance
- Type: Canton
- Area: 118.9 km²
- P-code: CR103
- Province: San José Province

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