# Merced District, San José Canton, San José Province

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

District · San José Canton 

# Merced

Merced is a district of Costa Rica in San José Canton, San José Province. It had an estimated **15,309 people** in 2021 on 2 km² (about 6,959 per km²). 9 named villages and localities are recorded here, and 254 mapped services such as hospitals, banks and schools.

- 15,309people (2021)
- 2.2km²
- 254mapped services
- 1,114 mtypical elevation

## How many people live in Merced?

Merced had an estimated **15,309 people** in 2021 — 4.4% of San José Canton, 109th of 472 districts. There are 1,031 women for every 1,000 men (above the San José Canton figure of 1,017). Spread over 2 km², that is about **6,959 people per km²**, 31st of 472 districts.

15.9% of people are children under 15 and 12.3% are 65 or older; the median age is about 36 years (it is 36 across San José Canton). For every 100 people of working age (15–64) there are 39 children and older people.

0–4 ****788**

5–9 ****819**

10–14 ****826**

15–19 ****937**

20–24 ****1,129**

25–29 ****1,372**

30–34 ****1,385**

35–39 ****1,389**

40–44 ****1,186**

45–49 ****965**

50–54 ****892**

55–59 ****912**

60–64 ****833**

65–69 ****675**

70–74 ****469**

75+ ****732**

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 Merced?

Merced lies in [San José Canton](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/san-jose/san-jose/), [San José Province](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/san-jose/), [Costa Rica](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/). It borders 7 other districts: [Carmen](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/san-jose/san-jose/carmen/), [Catedral](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/san-jose/san-jose/catedral/), [Cinco Esquinas](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/san-jose/tibas/cinco-esquinas/), [Hospital](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/san-jose/san-jose/hospital/), [Mata Redonda](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/san-jose/san-jose/mata-redonda/), [San Francisco](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/san-jose/goicoechea/san-francisco/) and [Uruca](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/san-jose/san-jose/uruca/). By area it is the 465th largest of 492 districts in Costa Rica. It covers 4.9% of [San José Canton](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/san-jose/san-jose/). The centre of Merced is about 0.8 km in a straight line from San José, the capital. The centre point is at 9.9400° N, 84.0885° 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 Merced

OpenStreetMap lists 15 named sights in Merced: 7 monuments; 4 museums; 2 galleries; 2 aquariums.

- Centro Costarricense de Ciencia y Cultura · museum
- Museo Penitenciario · museum
- Museo Postal, Telegráfico y Filatélico · museum
- Museo de los Niños · museum
- A los Presentes · monument
- Acuario · aquarium
- Acuario · aquarium
- Botica Solera · gallery
- Dr. José Da Silva Xavier · monument
- Dr. José María Castro Madriz · monument
- Galería Nacional · gallery
- José María Morelos y Pavón · monument
- Juan Rafael Mora Porras · monument
- La Chola · monument
- Lic. Alfredo González Flores · monument

### Nearby, outside Merced

- Dr. Carlos Sáenz Herrera · monument, Hospital0.6 km
- Braulio Carrillo Colina · monument, Hospital0.8 km
- José María Zeledón Brenes · monument, Hospital1.0 km
- Cacique Garabito · monument, Hospital1.0 km
- Dr. Clodomiro Picado Twigth · monument, Cinco Esquinas1.1 km
- San José Obrero · memorial, Hospital1.1 km
- Museo del Deporte · museum, Mata Redonda1.2 km
- Los Héroes de la Revolución Húngara de 1936 · memorial, Mata Redonda1.2 km
- León Cortés Castro Monument · monument, Mata Redonda1.2 km
- Descubrimiento de América · memorial, Mata Redonda1.2 km
- Al Trabajador · monument, Hospital1.2 km
- Museum of Costa Rican Art · museum, Mata Redonda1.3 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: Merced

- 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 Jose5.9 km
- Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) · San José (Alajuela)14 km

### Nearest railway station

Cuba (Hospital), about 1.5 km from the centre.

### Daylight

Days are longest in Jun (about 12.7 hours, sunrise around 05:15) and shortest in Dec (about 11.5 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 Merced

Open gazetteers list **9 villages, towns and localities** in Merced. Settlements here lie between about 1,098 m and 1,146 m above sea level (median 1,114 m).

- Bajos de la Unión
- Claret
- Cocacola
- Florida Norte
- Iglesias Flores
- Mántica
- México
- Paso de La Vaca
- Pitahaya

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 Merced

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

### History

1 museum.

- Centro Costarricense de Ciencia y Cultura

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 Merced and the best time to visit

Using the climate of San José 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 Merced

Need Nearest mapped Distance 

Hospital Clínica Torre Mercedes · Merced 0.5 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=9.93558&mlon=-84.08939#map=17/9.93558/-84.08939) 

Bank Coopeservidores · Merced 0.3 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=9.93727&mlon=-84.08706#map=17/9.93727/-84.08706) 

ATM Banco Popular · Uruca 1.1 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=9.94796&mlon=-84.09369#map=17/9.94796/-84.09369) 

Petrol pump Delta · Hospital 0.6 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=9.93490&mlon=-84.09014#map=17/9.93490/-84.09014) 

Hotel Prado Inn & Suites · Merced 0.2 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=9.93912&mlon=-84.08953#map=17/9.93912/-84.08953) 

Mall Mercado Coca Cola · Merced 0.5 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=9.93597&mlon=-84.08594#map=17/9.93597/-84.08594) 

School Liceo de San José · Merced 0.4 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=9.94292&mlon=-84.09039#map=17/9.94292/-84.09039) 

College Universidad Isaac Newton · Merced 0.5 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=9.93706&mlon=-84.09173#map=17/9.93706/-84.09173) 

Police station Policía Turística de San José · Merced 0.3 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=9.93904&mlon=-84.08607#map=17/9.93904/-84.08607) 

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 Merced

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

- Hospitals5
- Banks17
- ATMs1
- Petrol pumps3
- Hotels58
- Shopping malls8
- Schools11
- Colleges and universities8
- Cinemas1
- Pharmacies13
- Restaurants96
- Police stations10
- Dental clinics23

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 San José Canton

- Carmen
- Catedral
- Hatillo
- Hospital
- Mata Redonda
- Pavas
- San Francisco de Dos Ríos
- San Sebastián
- Uruca
- Zapote

## Quick answers

- Where is Merced?In San José Canton, San José Province, Costa Rica
- What is the population of Merced?15,309 (2021 estimate)
- What is the median age in Merced?About 36 years (2021 estimate)
- What is the population density of Merced?About 6,959 people per km²
- What borders Merced?Carmen, Catedral, Cinco Esquinas, Hospital, Mata Redonda, San Francisco and Uruca
- What is there to see in Merced?A los Presentes, Acuario, Acuario, Botica Solera
- What time zone is Merced in?UTC−6
- What currency is used in Merced?Colon (CRC)
- What language is spoken in Merced?Spanish, English (main languages nationally)
- How many villages are in Merced?9 named settlements (GeoNames, OpenStreetMap)
- What is the elevation of Merced?Settlements lie between 1,098 m and 1,146 m
- What is the best time to visit Merced?December to April
- Where is the nearest hospital to Merced?Clínica Torre Mercedes, about 0.5 km from the centre
- Where is the nearest bank to Merced?Coopeservidores, about 0.3 km from the centre
- Where is the nearest ATM to Merced?Banco Popular, about 1.1 km from the centre
- Where is the nearest petrol pump to Merced?Delta, about 0.6 km from the centre
- How many hospitals are in Merced?5 mapped
- How many banks are in Merced?17 mapped
- How many ATMs are in Merced?1 mapped
- How many petrol pumps are in Merced?3 mapped
- What is the P-code of Merced?CR10102 (OCHA common operational dataset)