# Mercedes Sur District, Puriscal Canton, San José Province

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

District · Puriscal Canton 

# Mercedes Sur

Mercedes Sur is a district of Costa Rica in Puriscal Canton, San José Province. It had an estimated **7,040 people** in 2021 on 182 km² (about 39 per km²). 38 named villages and localities are recorded here, and 23 mapped services such as hospitals, banks and schools.

- 7,040people (2021)
- 182km²
- 23mapped services
- 787 mtypical elevation

## How many people live in Mercedes Sur?

Mercedes Sur had an estimated **7,040 people** in 2021 — 18.4% of Puriscal Canton, 244th of 472 districts. There are 985 women for every 1,000 men (close to the Puriscal Canton figure of 986). Spread over 182 km², that is about **39 people per km²**, 352nd of 472 districts.

18.1% of people are children under 15 and 11.0% are 65 or older; the median age is about 34 years (it is 34 across Puriscal Canton). For every 100 people of working age (15–64) there are 41 children and older people.

0–4 ****400**

5–9 ****466**

10–14 ****411**

15–19 ****424**

20–24 ****552**

25–29 ****709**

30–34 ****689**

35–39 ****563**

40–44 ****444**

45–49 ****401**

50–54 ****440**

55–59 ****420**

60–64 ****347**

65–69 ****273**

70–74 ****194**

75+ ****307**

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 Mercedes Sur?

Mercedes Sur lies in [Puriscal Canton](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/san-jose/puriscal/), [San José Province](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/san-jose/), [Costa Rica](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/). It borders 10 other districts: [Barbacoas](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/san-jose/puriscal/barbacoas/), [Candelarita](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/san-jose/puriscal/candelarita/), [Carara](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/san-jose/turrubares/carara/), [Chires](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/san-jose/puriscal/chires/), [Grifo Alto](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/san-jose/puriscal/grifo-alto/), [Sabanillas](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/san-jose/acosta/sabanillas/), [San Juan de Mata](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/san-jose/turrubares/san-juan-de-mata/), [San Luis](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/san-jose/turrubares/san-luis/), [San Pedro](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/san-jose/turrubares/san-pedro/) and [Santiago](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/san-jose/puriscal/santiago/). By area it is the 101st largest of 492 districts in Costa Rica. It covers 32.8% of [Puriscal Canton](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/san-jose/puriscal/). The centre of Mercedes Sur is about 40 km in a straight line from San José, the capital. The centre point is at 9.7687° N, 84.4135° 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 Mercedes Sur

### Nearby, outside Mercedes Sur

- La Cangreja National Park · national park, Chires7.6 km
- Centro Turístico San Isidro · attraction, Barbacoas12 km
- La Iguana Chocolate · attraction, Chires13 km
- Antigua Iglesia de Santiago de Puriscal · ruins, Santiago14 km
- Carara National Park · national park, San Juan de Mata16 km
- Turu Ba Ri Nature & Adventure Park Aerial Tram · theme park, San Juan de Mata17 km
- Piedras Negras Catarata · waterfall, Picagres18 km
- Plaza Km 42 · ruins, Escobal18 km
- Butterfly · attraction, Tárcoles19 km
- Zona Protectora Cerro El Chompipe · nature reserve, Hacienda Vieja20 km
- Virilla Canyon · viewpoint, Turrúcares20 km
- Catarata Manantial de Agua Viva · waterfall, Tárcoles20 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: Mercedes Sur

- 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)34 km
- Tobías Bolaños International Airport (SYQ) · San Jose37 km

### Nearest railway station

Ojo de Agua (San Rafael), about 31 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 17:19).

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.

## Villages and localities in Mercedes Sur

Open gazetteers list **38 villages, towns and localities** in Mercedes Sur. Settlements here lie between about 232 m and 1,543 m above sea level (median 787 m).

- Alto La Legua
- Alto Limón
- Alto Palma
- Bajo Lanas
- Bajo Legua
- Bajo Los Murillo
- Bajo Palma
- Bajo Quesada
- Bocana
- Buena Vista
- Caite
- Carmona
- Cerbatana
- Charquillos
- Copalar
- Cruce
- El Cruce
- Jilgueral
- Lajas
- Llano Grande
- Llano Hermoso
- Los Lagos
- Mercedes Sur
- Potenciana
- Potenciana Abajo
- Quebrada Honda
- Quivel
- Rancho Largo
- Salitrales
- San Ramón
- Santa Marta
- Tufares
- Tulín
- Túfares
- Vara Blanca
- Venado
- Víbora
- Zapotal

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 Mercedes Sur

Named natural and historic features inside Mercedes Sur, from the GeoNames gazetteer.

### Water

22 rivers and streams.

- Quebrada Chaves
- Quebrada Copal
- Quebrada Cubillo
- Quebrada Detalladora
- Quebrada Estrella
- Quebrada Grande
- Quebrada Grande
- Quebrada Guápiles
- Quebrada Honda
- Quebrada Mina
- Quebrada Pava
- Quebrada Peje
- Quebrada Pejibaye
- Quebrada Plomo
- Quebrada Sanguijuelar
- Quebrada Tuca
- Quebrada Viento
- Quebrada Víbora
- Río Caite
- Río Cajón
- Río Lanas
- Río Tulia

### Hills and mountains

7 mountains; 1 hill.

- 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 del Pavero · 978 m
- Cerro Bola · 932 m
- Cerro El Rey · 882 m

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 Mercedes Sur and the best time to visit

Using the climate of 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/).

## Nearest hospital, bank and fuel from Mercedes Sur

Need Nearest mapped Distance 

Hospital Nova salud · Santiago 14 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=9.84327&mlon=-84.31425#map=17/9.84327/-84.31425) 

Bank Grupo Mutual · Santiago 14 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=9.84529&mlon=-84.31650#map=17/9.84529/-84.31650) 

ATM National Bank · San Mateo 22 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=9.93599&mlon=-84.52274#map=17/9.93599/-84.52274) 

Petrol pump Estación de Servicio San Juan · Santiago 14 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=9.84653&mlon=-84.31255#map=17/9.84653/-84.31255) 

Hotel Casa Plinia · Chires 7.6 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=9.70121&mlon=-84.40433#map=17/9.70121/-84.40433) 

Mall Auto Repuestos ARAMO · Santiago 14 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=9.84257&mlon=-84.31376#map=17/9.84257/-84.31376) 

School Escuela Salitrales · Mercedes Sur 1.5 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=9.76634&mlon=-84.39971#map=17/9.76634/-84.39971) 

College Telesecundaria la Palma · Mercedes Sur 3.5 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=9.78871&mlon=-84.38867#map=17/9.78871/-84.38867) 

Police station Delegación Policial San Luis · San Luis 10 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=9.85092&mlon=-84.45689#map=17/9.85092/-84.45689) 

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 Mercedes Sur

Places mapped inside Mercedes Sur in open map data, by type.

- Hotels3
- Schools16
- Colleges and universities1
- Restaurants3

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 Puriscal Canton

- Barbacoas
- Candelarita
- Chires
- Desamparaditos
- Grifo Alto
- San Antonio
- San Rafael
- Santiago

## Quick answers

- Where is Mercedes Sur?In Puriscal Canton, San José Province, Costa Rica
- What is the population of Mercedes Sur?7,040 (2021 estimate)
- What is the median age in Mercedes Sur?About 34 years (2021 estimate)
- What is the population density of Mercedes Sur?About 39 people per km²
- What borders Mercedes Sur?Barbacoas, Candelarita, Carara, Chires, Grifo Alto, Sabanillas, San Juan de Mata, San Luis, San Pedro and Santiago
- What is there to see in Mercedes Sur?La Cangreja National Park, Centro Turístico San Isidro, La Iguana Chocolate, Antigua Iglesia de Santiago de Puriscal
- What time zone is Mercedes Sur in?UTC−6
- What currency is used in Mercedes Sur?Colon (CRC)
- What language is spoken in Mercedes Sur?Spanish, English (main languages nationally)
- How many villages are in Mercedes Sur?38 named settlements (GeoNames, OpenStreetMap)
- What is the elevation of Mercedes Sur?Settlements lie between 232 m and 1,543 m
- What is the highest point in Mercedes Sur?Cerro Turrubares (1,739 m, GeoNames elevation model)
- What is the best time to visit Mercedes Sur?December to April
- Where is the nearest hospital to Mercedes Sur?Nova salud, about 14 km from the centre
- Where is the nearest bank to Mercedes Sur?Grupo Mutual, about 14 km from the centre
- Where is the nearest ATM to Mercedes Sur?National Bank, about 22 km from the centre
- Where is the nearest petrol pump to Mercedes Sur?Estación de Servicio San Juan, about 14 km from the centre
- What is the P-code of Mercedes Sur?CR10402 (OCHA common operational dataset)