District · Desamparados Canton
# San Rafael Arriba

San Rafael Arriba is a district of Costa Rica in Desamparados Canton, San José Province. It had an estimated 18,243 people in 2021 on 3 km² (about 5,648 per km²). 12 named villages and localities are recorded here, and 31 mapped services such as hospitals, banks and schools.
- 18,243 people (2021)
- 3.2 km²
- 31 mapped services
- 1,180 m typical elevation

## How many people live in San Rafael Arriba?

San Rafael Arriba had an estimated 18,243 people in 2021 — 7.4% of Desamparados Canton, 89th of 472 districts. There are 1,010 women for every 1,000 men (close to the Desamparados Canton figure of 1,004). Spread over 3 km², that is about 5,648 people per km², 43rd of 472 districts.

19.8% of people are children under 15 and 9.7% are 65 or older; the median age is about 34 years (it is 33 across Desamparados Canton). For every 100 people of working age (15–64) there are 42 children and older people.
- 0–4 1,170
- 5–9 1,219
- 10–14 1,217
- 15–19 1,267
- 20–24 1,392
- 25–29 1,491
- 30–34 1,660
- 35–39 1,590
- 40–44 1,331
- 45–49 1,114
- 50–54 1,050
- 55–59 1,063
- 60–64 907
- 65–69 699
- 70–74 457
- 75+ 616

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

## Where is San Rafael Arriba?

San Rafael Arriba lies in Desamparados Canton, San José Province, Costa Rica. It borders 6 other districts: Aserrí, Desamparados, Salitrillos, San Juan de Dios, San Miguel and San Rafael Abajo. By area it is the 441st largest of 492 districts in Costa Rica. It covers 2.7% of Desamparados Canton. The centre of San Rafael Arriba is about 6.3 km in a straight line from San José, the capital. The centre point is at 9.8778° N, 84.0751° W.

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

## Things to see in and around San Rafael Arriba

### Nearby, outside San Rafael Arriba
- Hacienda Equis · viewpoint, Salitrillos 1.4 km
- Acuario MARIMAR · aquarium, Aserrí 2.5 km
- Joaquín García Monge · monument, Desamparados 2.5 km
- Museo Joaquín García Monge · museum, Desamparados 2.6 km
- Museo de la Carreta y el Campesino Costarricense · museum, Gravilias 2.8 km
- Cimarrona y Mascarada CholiTícos · attraction, Aserrí 2.8 km
- Feria Orgánica El Trueque · attraction, San Sebastián 3.3 km
- La Piedra de Aserrí · attraction, Aserrí 3.7 km
- Parque de San Antonio · attraction, San Antonio 3.8 km
- Muñeco del Herrero de San Antonio · monument, San Antonio 3.9 km
- Monumento a la Destrucción de Las Armas · monument, San Sebastián 4.1 km
- Juan Pablo Duarte · memorial, San Francisco de Dos Ríos 4.2 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: San Rafael Arriba
- 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 11 km
- Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) · San José (Alajuela) 20 km

### Nearest railway station

Plaza Cleto González Víquez (Catedral), about 5.3 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); 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 San Rafael Arriba

Open gazetteers list 12 villages, towns and localities in San Rafael Arriba. The largest with a recorded population: San Rafael Arriba (15,051). Settlements here lie between about 1,150 m and 1,256 m above sea level (median 1,180 m).
- Alpino
- Arco Iris
- Bambú
- Berlay
- El Bambú
- Guaría
- Juncales
- La Guaria
- Lajas
- Macarena
- Maiquetía
- San Rafael Arriba

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

## Landscape and landmarks of San Rafael Arriba

Named natural and historic features inside San Rafael Arriba, from the GeoNames gazetteer.

### Water

1 river or stream.
- Quebrada Poró

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 San Rafael Arriba 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.

## Nearest hospital, bank and fuel from San Rafael Arriba
| Need | Nearest mapped | Distance | |
| Hospital | Centro Médico San Miguel · San Miguel | 1.3 km | Map |
| Bank | BNservicios · San Rafael Arriba | 0.9 km | Map |
| ATM | Casa de Empeño La Internacional · Desamparados | 2.4 km | Map |
| Petrol pump | Estación de Servicio La Trinidad · Aserrí | 1.0 km | Map |
| Hotel | Casa de Walter Delgado · San Miguel | 0.6 km | Map |
| Mall | Walmart Desamparados · San Rafael Arriba | 0.9 km | Map |
| School | Escuela Cristiana VAS · San Rafael Arriba | 0.4 km | Map |
| College | Escuela de Artes Plásticas, UCR. · Gravilias | 1.7 km | Map |
| Police station | Escuela de Capacitacion de la Policia de Transito · San Rafael Arriba | 0.5 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 San Rafael Arriba

Places mapped inside San Rafael Arriba in open map data, by type.
- Banks 3
- Hotels 1
- Shopping malls 3
- Schools 5
- Pharmacies 1
- Restaurants 15
- Police stations 1
- 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 Desamparados Canton
- Damas
- Desamparados
- Frailes
- Gravilias
- Los Guido
- Patarrá
- Rosario
- San Antonio
- San Cristobal
- San Juan de Dios
- San Miguel
- San Rafael Abajo

## Quick answers
- Where is San Rafael Arriba? In Desamparados Canton, San José Province, Costa Rica
- What is the population of San Rafael Arriba? 18,243 (2021 estimate)
- What is the median age in San Rafael Arriba? About 34 years (2021 estimate)
- What is the population density of San Rafael Arriba? About 5,648 people per km²
- What borders San Rafael Arriba? Aserrí, Desamparados, Salitrillos, San Juan de Dios, San Miguel and San Rafael Abajo
- What is there to see in San Rafael Arriba? Hacienda Equis, Acuario MARIMAR, Joaquín García Monge, Museo Joaquín García Monge
- What time zone is San Rafael Arriba in? UTC−6
- What currency is used in San Rafael Arriba? Colon (CRC)
- What language is spoken in San Rafael Arriba? Spanish, English (main languages nationally)
- How many villages are in San Rafael Arriba? 12 named settlements (GeoNames, OpenStreetMap)
- What is the elevation of San Rafael Arriba? Settlements lie between 1,150 m and 1,256 m
- What is the best time to visit San Rafael Arriba? December to April
- Where is the nearest hospital to San Rafael Arriba? Centro Médico San Miguel, about 1.3 km from the centre
- Where is the nearest bank to San Rafael Arriba? BNservicios, about 0.9 km from the centre
- Where is the nearest ATM to San Rafael Arriba? Casa de Empeño La Internacional, about 2.4 km from the centre
- Where is the nearest petrol pump to San Rafael Arriba? Estación de Servicio La Trinidad, about 1.0 km from the centre
- How many banks are in San Rafael Arriba? 3 mapped
- What is the P-code of San Rafael Arriba? CR10304 (OCHA common operational dataset)

At a glance
- Type: District
- Area: 3.23 km²
- P-code: CR10304
- Canton: Desamparados Canton

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