# Puriscal Canton, San José Province – Population & Districts

> Source: https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/san-jose/puriscal/

Canton · San José Province 

# Puriscal Canton

Puriscal Canton is a canton of Costa Rica in San José Province. It had an estimated **38,298 people** in 2021 on 555 km² (about 69 per km²). It is divided into 9 districts. 142 named villages and localities are recorded here, and 204 mapped services such as hospitals, banks and schools.

- 38,298people (2021)
- 555km²
- 9districts
- 204mapped services

## How many people live in Puriscal Canton?

Puriscal Canton had an estimated **38,298 people** in 2021 — 2.3% of San José Province, 48th of 83 cantons. There are 986 women for every 1,000 men (below the San José Province figure of 1,013). Spread over 555 km², that is about **69 people per km²**, 50th of 83 cantons.

18.3% of people are children under 15 and 10.8% are 65 or older; the median age is about 34 years (it is 34 across San José Province). For every 100 people of working age (15–64) there are 41 children and older people.

0–4 ****2,197**

5–9 ****2,538**

10–14 ****2,255**

15–19 ****2,303**

20–24 ****3,038**

25–29 ****3,913**

30–34 ****3,788**

35–39 ****3,125**

40–44 ****2,416**

45–49 ****2,139**

50–54 ****2,347**

55–59 ****2,249**

60–64 ****1,862**

65–69 ****1,448**

70–74 ****1,018**

75+ ****1,662**

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 Puriscal Canton?

Puriscal Canton lies in [San José Province](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/san-jose/), [Costa Rica](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/). It borders 4 other cantons: [Acosta Canton](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/san-jose/acosta/), [Mora Canton](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/san-jose/mora/), [Parrita Canton](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/puntarenas/parrita/) and [Turrubares Canton](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/san-jose/turrubares/). By area it is the 33rd largest of 84 cantons in Costa Rica. It covers 11.2% of [San José Province](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/san-jose/). The centre of Puriscal Canton is about 42 km in a straight line from San José, the capital. The centre point is at 9.7338° N, 84.4096° 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 Puriscal Canton

OpenStreetMap lists 4 named sights in Puriscal Canton: 2 attractions; 1 ruins; 1 national park.

- La Cangreja National Park · national park
- Centro Turístico San Isidro · attraction
- La Iguana Chocolate · attraction
- Antigua Iglesia de Santiago de Puriscal · ruins

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: Puriscal Canton

- 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

- Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) · San José (Alajuela)36 km
- Tobías Bolaños International Airport (SYQ) · San Jose39 km

### Nearest railway station

Ojo de Agua (San Rafael), about 33 km from the centre.

### Daylight

Days are longest in Jun (about 12.7 hours, sunrise around 05:17) and shortest in Dec (about 11.6 hours, sunrise around 05:45, sunset around 17:19).

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.

## Districts of Puriscal Canton

District Area km² Localities Services 

[Barbacoas](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/san-jose/puriscal/barbacoas/) 19 7 12 

[Candelarita](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/san-jose/puriscal/candelarita/) 27 9 3 

[Chires](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/san-jose/puriscal/chires/) 230 45 33 

[Desamparaditos](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/san-jose/puriscal/desamparaditos/) 7.2 6 1 

[Grifo Alto](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/san-jose/puriscal/grifo-alto/) 26 5 10 

[Mercedes Sur](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/san-jose/puriscal/mercedes-sur/) 182 38 23 

[San Antonio](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/san-jose/puriscal/san-antonio/) 15 9 15 

[San Rafael](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/san-jose/puriscal/san-rafael/) 16 6 6 

[Santiago](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/san-jose/puriscal/santiago/) 35 20 101 

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); [GeoNames (CC BY 4.0) — settlements, natural and historic features](https://www.geonames.org/); [Overture Maps places (CDLA-Permissive-2.0) and © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL)](https://overturemaps.org/).

## Villages and localities in Puriscal Canton

Open gazetteers list **142 villages, towns and localities** in Puriscal Canton. The largest with a recorded population: San Rafael Abajo (27,419) and Santiago (8,292). Settlements here lie between about 63 m and 1,543 m above sea level (median 741 m).

- Alto Cebabilla
- Alto Concepción
- Alto Gloria
- Alto La Gloria
- Alto La Legua
- Alto Limón
- Alto Palma
- Alto Pérez Astúa
- Angostura
- Arenal
- Bajo Badilla
- Bajo Burgos
- Bajo Campos
- Bajo Cerdas
- Bajo Chacones
- Bajo El Rey
- Bajo Guevara
- Bajo Herrera
- Bajo Lanas
- Bajo Legua
- Bajo Legüita
- Bajo Los Murillo
- Bajo Mora
- Bajo Máquina
- Bajo Palma
- Bajo Quesada
- Bajo Vega
- Bajo del Tulín
- Bajos Guarumal
- Bajos de Guarumal
- Barbacoas
- Bejuco
- Bella Vista
- Bocana
- Buena Vista
- Cacao
- Caite
- Candelarita
- Carit
- Carmona
- Cañales Abajo
- Cañales Arriba
- Cerbatana
- Cerdas
- Charcón
- Charquillos
- Cirrí
- Concepción
- Copalar
- Cortezal
- Cristo Rey
- Cruce
- Cruce Guanacaste
- Desamparaditos
- El Carmen
- El Cruce
- El Estero
- Estero
- Fila Aguacate
- Fila del Aguacate
- Floralia
- Gamalotillo 1
- Gamalotillo 2
- Gamalotillo 3
- Gamalotillo Dos
- Gamalotillo Tres
- Gamalotillo Uno
- Gloria
- Grifo Alto
- Grifo Bajo
- Guarumal
- Guarumalito
- Guatuso
- Jarasal
- Jilgueral
- Junquillo Abajo
- Junquillo Arriba
- La Angostura
- La Cruz
- La Gloria
- Lajas
- Las Brisas
- Llano Grande
- Llano Hermoso
- Los Lagos
- Los Ángeles
- Los Ángeles de Chires
- María Auxiliadora
- Mastatal
- Mercedes Norte
- Mercedes Sur
- Naranjal
- Pedernal
- Pericos
- Piedades
- Planta
- Playa Bonita
- Polca
- Polka
- Poró
- Potenciana
- Potenciana Abajo
- Pozos
- Pueblo Nuevo
- Punta de Lanza
- Quebrada Honda
- Quivel
- Rancho Largo
- Retana
- Rinconadas
- Río Largo
- Río Negro
- Río Viejo
- Sabanas
- Salitral
- Salitrales
- Salitrillos
- San Antonio
- San Isidro
- San Juan
- San Martín
- San Miguel
- San Rafael
- San Rafael Abajo
- San Ramón
- San Vicente
- Santa Cecilia
- Santa Marta
- Santa Rosa
- Santiago
- Tinamaste
- Tufares
- Tulín
- Túfares
- Vara Blanca
- Venado
- Vista de Mar
- Víbora
- Zapatón
- Zapotal
- Zapote
- 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).

## Landscape and landmarks of Puriscal Canton

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

### Water

83 rivers and streams.

- Quebrada Acuña
- Quebrada Agüero
- Quebrada Bejuco
- Quebrada Bonita
- Quebrada Botella
- Quebrada Cacao
- Quebrada Camarón
- Quebrada Cariblanco
- Quebrada Cementerio
- Quebrada Chaves
- Quebrada Chorro
- Quebrada Chorro
- Quebrada Cirrí
- Quebrada Copal
- Quebrada Coquillo
- Quebrada Cortezal
- Quebrada Cubillo
- Quebrada Culebra
- Quebrada Detalladora
- Quebrada Doña Isabel
- Quebrada Estero
- Quebrada Estrella
- Quebrada Fresca
- Quebrada Gabriela

…and 59 more.

### Hills and mountains

11 mountains; 4 hills.

- Cerro Turrubares · 1,739 m
- Alto Potenciana · 1,399 m
- Cerro Cangreja · 1,290 m
- Loma Salitrales · 1,230 m
- Cerro Túfares · 1,198 m
- Alto Barbacoas · 1,115 m
- Alto del Pavero · 978 m
- Cerro Bola · 932 m
- Cerro El Rey · 882 m
- Alto Zacatal · 881 m
- Alto Pararrayos · 851 m
- Cerro Pelón · 843 m
- Alto Cebadilla · 795 m
- Cerro Cueva de Los Murciélagos · 661 m
- Cerro Bejuco · 653 m

### Forests and nature

1 nature reserve; 1 park.

- La Cangreja National Park
- Parque Nacional La Cangreja

Source: [GeoNames (CC BY 4.0) — settlements, natural and historic features](https://www.geonames.org/).

Places of worship are not listed. Elevations are from the GeoNames terrain model and are approximate.

## Weather in Puriscal Canton and the best time to visit

In Puriscal 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](https://power.larc.nasa.gov/).

## Hospitals, banks and other services in Puriscal Canton

Places mapped inside Puriscal Canton in open map data, by type — each number opens the full list with locations.

- Hospitals6
- Banks5
- Petrol pumps2
- Hotels11
- Shopping malls2
- Schools67
- Colleges and universities7
- Pharmacies5
- Restaurants81
- Police stations6
- Dental clinics12

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.

## Quick answers

- Where is Puriscal Canton?In San José Province, Costa Rica
- What is the population of Puriscal Canton?38,298 (2021 estimate)
- What is the median age in Puriscal Canton?About 34 years (2021 estimate)
- What is the population density of Puriscal Canton?About 69 people per km²
- What borders Puriscal Canton?Acosta Canton, Mora Canton, Parrita Canton and Turrubares Canton
- What is there to see in Puriscal Canton?Antigua Iglesia de Santiago de Puriscal, Centro Turístico San Isidro, La Cangreja National Park, La Iguana Chocolate
- What time zone is Puriscal Canton in?UTC−6
- What currency is used in Puriscal Canton?Colon (CRC)
- What language is spoken in Puriscal Canton?Spanish, English (main languages nationally)
- How many villages are in Puriscal Canton?142 named settlements (GeoNames, OpenStreetMap)
- What is the elevation of Puriscal Canton?Settlements lie between 63 m and 1,543 m
- What is the highest point in Puriscal Canton?Cerro Turrubares (1,739 m, GeoNames elevation model)
- What is the best time to visit Puriscal Canton?December to April
- How many hospitals are in Puriscal Canton?6 mapped
- How many banks are in Puriscal Canton?5 mapped
- How many petrol pumps are in Puriscal Canton?2 mapped
- What is the P-code of Puriscal Canton?CR104 (OCHA common operational dataset)