# San Rafael Abajo District, Desamparados Canton – Population

> Source: https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/san-jose/desamparados/san-rafael-abajo/

District · Desamparados Canton 

# San Rafael Abajo

San Rafael Abajo is a district of Costa Rica in Desamparados Canton, San José Province. It had an estimated **26,666 people** in 2021 on 2 km² (about 13,201 per km²). 19 named villages and localities are recorded here, and 60 mapped services such as hospitals, banks and schools.

- 26,666people (2021)
- 2.0km²
- 60mapped services
- 1,136 mtypical elevation

## How many people live in San Rafael Abajo?

San Rafael Abajo had an estimated **26,666 people** in 2021 — 10.8% of Desamparados Canton, 45th of 472 districts. There are 996 women for every 1,000 men (close to the Desamparados Canton figure of 1,004). Spread over 2 km², that is about **13,201 people per km²**, 3rd of 472 districts.

19.8% of people are children under 15 and 8.5% are 65 or older; the median age is about 33 years (it is 33 across Desamparados Canton). For every 100 people of working age (15–64) there are 39 children and older people.

0–4 ****1,755**

5–9 ****1,793**

10–14 ****1,723**

15–19 ****1,738**

20–24 ****2,293**

25–29 ****2,644**

30–34 ****2,522**

35–39 ****2,364**

40–44 ****1,959**

45–49 ****1,596**

50–54 ****1,444**

55–59 ****1,401**

60–64 ****1,158**

65–69 ****871**

70–74 ****545**

75+ ****860**

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 San Rafael Abajo?

San Rafael Abajo lies in [Desamparados Canton](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/san-jose/desamparados/), [San José Province](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/san-jose/), [Costa Rica](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/). It borders 5 other districts: [Concepción](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/san-jose/alajuelita/concepcion/), [Desamparados](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/san-jose/desamparados/desamparados/), [San Juan de Dios](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/san-jose/desamparados/san-juan-de-dios/), [San Rafael Arriba](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/san-jose/desamparados/san-rafael-arriba/) and [San Sebastián](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/san-jose/san-jose/san-sebastian/). By area it is the 469th largest of 492 districts in Costa Rica. It covers 1.7% of [Desamparados Canton](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/san-jose/desamparados/). The centre of San Rafael Abajo is about 4.4 km in a straight line from San José, the capital. The centre point is at 9.8943° N, 84.0819° 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 San Rafael Abajo

### Nearby, outside San Rafael Abajo

- Feria Orgánica El Trueque · attraction, San Sebastián1.5 km
- Joaquín García Monge · monument, Desamparados1.8 km
- Museo Joaquín García Monge · museum, Desamparados2.0 km
- Monumento a la Destrucción de Las Armas · monument, San Sebastián2.5 km
- Rancho Guanacaste · ruins, Hatillo2.6 km
- Environmental Murals of La Vasconia · attraction, Catedral3.0 km
- Museo de la Carreta y el Campesino Costarricense · museum, Gravilias3.0 km
- A la Maternidad · monument, Hospital3.2 km
- Juan Pablo Duarte · memorial, San Francisco de Dos Ríos3.3 km
- Dr. Adolfo Carit Eva · monument, Hospital3.3 km
- Dr. Max Terán Vals · monument, Hospital3.3 km
- Hacienda Equis · viewpoint, Salitrillos3.3 km

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: San Rafael Abajo

- 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

- Tobías Bolaños International Airport (SYQ) · San Jose9.4 km
- Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) · San José (Alajuela)18 km

### Nearest railway station

Pacífico (Hospital), about 3.5 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 17:17).

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.

## Villages and localities in San Rafael Abajo

Open gazetteers list **19 villages, towns and localities** in San Rafael Abajo. Settlements here lie between about 1,132 m and 1,164 m above sea level (median 1,136 m).

- Autofores
- Balboa
- Barrio Los Ángeles
- Cerro Bonito
- Coopelot
- Gardenia
- Higuerones
- Leo
- Mónaco
- Residencias Unidas
- Sagitario
- San Rafael Abajo
- Santa Cecilia
- Tejar
- Treviso
- Unidas
- Valencia
- Viscaya
- 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).

## Weather in San Rafael Abajo and the best time to visit

Using the climate of 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](https://power.larc.nasa.gov/).

## Nearest hospital, bank and fuel from San Rafael Abajo

Need Nearest mapped Distance 

Hospital Clinica San Rafael Abajo Coopesalud · San Rafael Abajo 0.4 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=9.89372&mlon=-84.08507#map=17/9.89372/-84.08507) 

Bank Cajero Automático ATH · San Rafael Abajo 0.3 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=9.89128&mlon=-84.08180#map=17/9.89128/-84.08180) 

ATM BCR · Desamparados 1.7 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=9.90296&mlon=-84.06943#map=17/9.90296/-84.06943) 

Petrol pump Servicentro Anatot · San Rafael Abajo 0.3 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=9.89173&mlon=-84.08092#map=17/9.89173/-84.08092) 

Hotel Motel El Retiro · San Rafael Abajo 1.1 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=9.90038&mlon=-84.08968#map=17/9.90038/-84.08968) 

Mall Plaza Los Higuerones · San Rafael Abajo 0.3 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=9.89134&mlon=-84.08184#map=17/9.89134/-84.08184) 

School Escuela Elías Jiménez Castro · San Rafael Abajo 0.1 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=9.89362&mlon=-84.08112#map=17/9.89362/-84.08112) 

College CEDES Don Bosco · Concepción 0.9 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=9.88953&mlon=-84.08847#map=17/9.88953/-84.08847) 

Police station Delegación Policial Valencia · San Rafael Abajo 0.7 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=9.90073&mlon=-84.08183#map=17/9.90073/-84.08183) 

Source: [Overture Maps places (CDLA-Permissive-2.0) and © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL)](https://overturemaps.org/).

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

## Hospitals, banks and other services in San Rafael Abajo

Places mapped inside San Rafael Abajo in open map data, by type.

- Hospitals2
- Banks3
- Petrol pumps3
- Hotels1
- Shopping malls3
- Schools6
- Cinemas2
- Pharmacies2
- Restaurants33
- Police stations1
- Dental clinics4

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.

## Other districts in Desamparados Canton

- Damas
- Desamparados
- Frailes
- Gravilias
- Los Guido
- Patarrá
- Rosario
- San Antonio
- San Cristobal
- San Juan de Dios
- San Miguel
- San Rafael Arriba

## Quick answers

- Where is San Rafael Abajo?In Desamparados Canton, San José Province, Costa Rica
- What is the population of San Rafael Abajo?26,666 (2021 estimate)
- What is the median age in San Rafael Abajo?About 33 years (2021 estimate)
- What is the population density of San Rafael Abajo?About 13,201 people per km²
- What borders San Rafael Abajo?Concepción, Desamparados, San Juan de Dios, San Rafael Arriba and San Sebastián
- What is there to see in San Rafael Abajo?Feria Orgánica El Trueque, Joaquín García Monge, Museo Joaquín García Monge, Monumento a la Destrucción de Las Armas
- What time zone is San Rafael Abajo in?UTC−6
- What currency is used in San Rafael Abajo?Colon (CRC)
- What language is spoken in San Rafael Abajo?Spanish, English (main languages nationally)
- How many villages are in San Rafael Abajo?19 named settlements (GeoNames, OpenStreetMap)
- What is the elevation of San Rafael Abajo?Settlements lie between 1,132 m and 1,164 m
- What is the best time to visit San Rafael Abajo?December to April
- Where is the nearest hospital to San Rafael Abajo?Clinica San Rafael Abajo Coopesalud, about 0.4 km from the centre
- Where is the nearest bank to San Rafael Abajo?Cajero Automático ATH, about 0.3 km from the centre
- Where is the nearest ATM to San Rafael Abajo?BCR, about 1.7 km from the centre
- Where is the nearest petrol pump to San Rafael Abajo?Servicentro Anatot, about 0.3 km from the centre
- How many hospitals are in San Rafael Abajo?2 mapped
- How many banks are in San Rafael Abajo?3 mapped
- How many petrol pumps are in San Rafael Abajo?3 mapped
- What is the P-code of San Rafael Abajo?CR10311 (OCHA common operational dataset)