# Santiago District, Puriscal Canton, San José Province

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

District · Puriscal Canton 

# Santiago

Santiago is a district of Costa Rica in Puriscal Canton, San José Province. It had an estimated **12,552 people** in 2021 on 35 km² (about 364 per km²). 20 named villages and localities are recorded here, and 101 mapped services such as hospitals, banks and schools.

- 12,552people (2021)
- 34.5km²
- 101mapped services
- 990 mtypical elevation

## How many people live in Santiago?

Santiago had an estimated **12,552 people** in 2021 — 32.8% of Puriscal Canton, 132nd of 472 districts. There are 982 women for every 1,000 men (close to the Puriscal Canton figure of 986). Spread over 35 km², that is about **364 people per km²**, 179th of 472 districts.

17.3% of people are children under 15 and 10.9% 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 39 children and older people.

0–4 ****695**

5–9 ****779**

10–14 ****703**

15–19 ****716**

20–24 ****990**

25–29 ****1,290**

30–34 ****1,289**

35–39 ****1,090**

40–44 ****822**

45–49 ****702**

50–54 ****762**

55–59 ****738**

60–64 ****614**

65–69 ****471**

70–74 ****322**

75+ ****569**

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 Santiago?

Santiago 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 7 other districts: [Barbacoas](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/san-jose/puriscal/barbacoas/), [Candelarita](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/san-jose/puriscal/candelarita/), [Desamparaditos](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/san-jose/puriscal/desamparaditos/), [Guaitil](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/san-jose/acosta/guaitil/), [Mercedes Sur](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/san-jose/puriscal/mercedes-sur/), [San Antonio](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/san-jose/puriscal/san-antonio/) and [San Rafael](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/san-jose/puriscal/san-rafael/). By area it is the 238th largest of 492 districts in Costa Rica. It covers 6.2% of [Puriscal Canton](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/san-jose/puriscal/). The centre of Santiago is about 27 km in a straight line from San José, the capital. The centre point is at 9.8290° N, 84.3067° 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 Santiago

OpenStreetMap lists 1 named sights in Santiago: 1 ruins.

- Antigua Iglesia de Santiago de Puriscal · ruins

### Nearby, outside Santiago

- Centro Turístico San Isidro · attraction, Barbacoas5.8 km
- Cascada Tabacarí · waterfall, Tabarcia6.6 km
- Entrada inferior a la cueva · cave, Colón9.0 km
- Entrada superior a la cueva · cave, Colón9.0 km
- Rancho Biriteca ( Territorio indigena Huetar ) · nature reserve, Quitirrisí9.3 km
- el mirador · viewpoint, Colón9.7 km
- Piedras Negras Catarata · waterfall, Picagres10.0 km
- Virilla Canyon · viewpoint, Turrúcares10 km
- Monumento al Desarme, el Trabajo y La Paz · monument, Colón11 km
- José Martí · memorial, Colón11 km
- Benito Juárez · memorial, Colón11 km
- Ryoichi Sasakawa · memorial, Colón11 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: Santiago

- 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)21 km
- Tobías Bolaños International Airport (SYQ) · San Jose23 km

### Nearest railway station

Ojo de Agua (San Rafael), about 18 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 17:18).

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 Santiago

Open gazetteers list **20 villages, towns and localities** in Santiago. The largest with a recorded population: Santiago (8,292). Settlements here lie between about 510 m and 1,158 m above sea level (median 990 m).

- Bajo Badilla
- Bajo Cerdas
- Bajo Mora
- Carit
- Cañales Abajo
- Cañales Arriba
- Charcón
- Cirrí
- Jarasal
- Junquillo Abajo
- Junquillo Arriba
- Las Brisas
- Los Ángeles
- Mercedes Norte
- Pozos
- Pueblo Nuevo
- San Isidro
- Santa Cecilia
- Santiago
- Zapote

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 Santiago

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

### Water

5 rivers and streams.

- Quebrada Botella
- Quebrada Cirrí
- Quebrada Doña Isabel
- Quebrada La Quebradilla
- Quebrada Zapote

### Hills and mountains

1 mountain; 1 hill.

- Alto Zacatal · 881 m
- Alto Pararrayos · 851 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 Santiago and the best time to visit

Using the climate of Puriscal Canton, the warmest month is Mar (average 26 °C) and the coolest is Oct (24 °C), after allowing for this place being about 249 m higher than the climate reference point (about 6.5 °C per 1,000 m). 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 24 51 

Feb 25 29 

Mar 26 39 

Apr 26 108 

May 25 277 

Jun 24 265 

Jul 24 281 

Aug 24 268 

Sep 24 294 

Oct 24 337 

Nov 24 235 

Dec 24 104 

Source: [NASA POWER climatology, retrieved 2026-10-29](https://power.larc.nasa.gov/).

## Nearest hospital, bank and fuel from Santiago

Need Nearest mapped Distance 

Hospital Nova salud · Santiago 1.8 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=9.84327&mlon=-84.31425#map=17/9.84327/-84.31425) 

Bank Banco Popular Puriscal · Santiago 2.1 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=9.84593&mlon=-84.31469#map=17/9.84593/-84.31469) 

ATM BCR · Turrúcares 15 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=9.95990&mlon=-84.31932#map=17/9.95990/-84.31932) 

Petrol pump Estación de Servicio San Juan · Santiago 2.0 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=9.84653&mlon=-84.31255#map=17/9.84653/-84.31255) 

Hotel Hotel Cabañas Ensueños · Santiago 1.6 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=9.83676&mlon=-84.31893#map=17/9.83676/-84.31893) 

Mall Auto Repuestos ARAMO · Santiago 1.7 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=9.84257&mlon=-84.31376#map=17/9.84257/-84.31376) 

School Escuela Junquillo Abajo · Santiago 1.5 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=9.84176&mlon=-84.31024#map=17/9.84176/-84.31024) 

College Universidad Castro Carazo · Santiago 2.1 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=9.84606&mlon=-84.31392#map=17/9.84606/-84.31392) 

Police station Delegación Cantonal de Policía Puriscal · Santiago 1.9 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=9.84402&mlon=-84.31425#map=17/9.84402/-84.31425) 

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 Santiago

Places mapped inside Santiago in open map data, by type.

- Hospitals3
- Banks5
- Petrol pumps2
- Hotels2
- Shopping malls2
- Schools8
- Colleges and universities6
- Pharmacies5
- Restaurants52
- Police stations4
- 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.

## Other districts in Puriscal Canton

- Barbacoas
- Candelarita
- Chires
- Desamparaditos
- Grifo Alto
- Mercedes Sur
- San Antonio
- San Rafael

## Quick answers

- Where is Santiago?In Puriscal Canton, San José Province, Costa Rica
- What is the population of Santiago?12,552 (2021 estimate)
- What is the median age in Santiago?About 34 years (2021 estimate)
- What is the population density of Santiago?About 364 people per km²
- What borders Santiago?Barbacoas, Candelarita, Desamparaditos, Guaitil, Mercedes Sur, San Antonio and San Rafael
- What is there to see in Santiago?Antigua Iglesia de Santiago de Puriscal
- What time zone is Santiago in?UTC−6
- What currency is used in Santiago?Colon (CRC)
- What language is spoken in Santiago?Spanish, English (main languages nationally)
- How many villages are in Santiago?20 named settlements (GeoNames, OpenStreetMap)
- What is the elevation of Santiago?Settlements lie between 510 m and 1,158 m
- What is the highest point in Santiago?Alto Zacatal (881 m, GeoNames elevation model)
- What is the best time to visit Santiago?December to April
- Where is the nearest hospital to Santiago?Nova salud, about 1.8 km from the centre
- Where is the nearest bank to Santiago?Banco Popular Puriscal, about 2.1 km from the centre
- Where is the nearest ATM to Santiago?BCR, about 15 km from the centre
- Where is the nearest petrol pump to Santiago?Estación de Servicio San Juan, about 2.0 km from the centre
- How many hospitals are in Santiago?3 mapped
- How many banks are in Santiago?5 mapped
- How many petrol pumps are in Santiago?2 mapped
- What is the P-code of Santiago?CR10401 (OCHA common operational dataset)