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San Rafael, Costa Rica
Alajuela Province · Costa Rica
San Rafael is a small town in Alajuela Province, Costa Rica with a population of 3,624. Elevation: 3,524 ft (1,074 m). Average temperature: 70°F (21°C).
Data updated June 2026
Discover San Rafael, Costa Rica
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About San Rafael
San Rafael is a district of the Alajuela canton, in the Alajuela province of Costa Rica.
People
Climate
| Population | 3,624 |
| Population Density | 306 / sq mi |
| Elevation | 3,524 ft (1,074 m) |
| Coordinates | 10.0644°, -84.4736° |
| Timezone | America/Costa_Rica |
| Country | 🇨🇷 Costa Rica |
| State / Province | Alajuela Province |
| Average Temperature | 70°F (21°C) |
| January Average | 69°F (20°C) |
| July Average | 70°F (21°C) |
| Annual Precipitation | 99.9 inches (2,538 mm) |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0 inches (0 cm) |
About San Rafael
San Rafael is a small town in Costa Rica (Alajuela Province) with a population of 3,624. The city sits at an elevation of 3,524 feet (1,074 meters) above sea level. The average annual temperature is 70°F (21°C). Temperatures range from 69°F in January to 70°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 99.9 inches. The timezone is America/Costa_Rica.
Climate in San Rafael
San Rafael has an average annual temperature of 23.7°C (75°F). The hottest month is Apr (24.8°C), the coldest is Oct (22.9°C). Average annual precipitation is 1885 mm.
Temperature
| Annual Average | 69.5°F |
| 29% above Costa Rica avg | |
| January Average | 69°F (20°C) |
| July Average | 70°F (21°C) |
| Sunny Days | 170 days/yr |
Geography
| Elevation | 3,524 ft (1,074 m) |
| Area | 11.9 sq mi (30.7 km²) |
| Population Density | 306/sq mi |
| Coordinates | 10.0644°N, 84.4736°W |
| Timezone | America/Costa_Rica |
Precipitation & Snow
Air Quality
Tsunami History
7 tsunamis recorded within 500 km. Highest wave on record: 2.0 m (7 ft).
| Year | Location | Cause | Max Wave | Deaths | Distance |
| 1950 | COSTA RICA-NICARAGUA | Earthquake | 2.0 m | — | 119 km |
| 1990 | COSTA RICA | Earthquake | 1.0 m | — | 35 km |
| 2012 | COSTA RICA | Earthquake | 0.2 m | 2 | 92 km |
| 1952 | COSTA RICA-PANAMA | Earthquake | 0.1 m | — | 81 km |
| 2019 | IRAZU VOLCANO | Explosion | — | — | 69 km |
| 1924 | COSTA RICA | Earthquake | — | — | 53 km |
| 1905 | GULF OF NICOYA | Earthquake | — | — | 33 km |
Nearby Volcanoes
10 volcanoes within 200 km. Closest: Platanar (29 km).
| Name | Type | Elevation | Last Eruption | Distance |
| Platanar | Stratovolcano(es) | 2,267 m (7,438 ft) | Unknown | 29 km |
| Poas | Stratovolcano | 2,708 m (8,885 ft) | 2019 | 30 km |
| Barva | Complex | 2,906 m (9,534 ft) | -6050 | 42 km |
| Arenal | Stratovolcano | 1,670 m (5,479 ft) | 2010 | 51 km |
| Irazu | Stratovolcano | 3,432 m (11,260 ft) | 1994 | 69 km |
| Turrialba | Stratovolcano | 3,340 m (10,958 ft) | 2019 | 78 km |
| Tenorio | Stratovolcano(es) | 1,916 m (6,286 ft) | Unknown | 90 km |
| Miravalles | Stratovolcano | 2,028 m (6,654 ft) | 1946 | 106 km |
| Rincon de la Vieja | Complex | 1,916 m (6,286 ft) | 2020 | 126 km |
| Orosi | Stratovolcano(es) | 1,659 m (5,443 ft) | Unknown | 149 km |
Monthly Weather
| Month | Avg Temperature | Precipitation | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 69°F (20°C) | 1.7 in | |
| February | 69°F (21°C) | 1.1 in | Driest |
| March | 71°F (22°C) | 1.3 in | |
| April | 72°F (22°C) | 3.7 in | Warmest |
| May | 71°F (22°C) | 11.3 in | |
| June | 70°F (21°C) | 13.3 in | |
| July | 70°F (21°C) | 10.7 in | |
| August | 70°F (21°C) | 13.4 in | |
| September | 69°F (20°C) | 16.0 in | |
| October | 69°F (20°C) | 16.3 in | Wettest |
| November | 68°F (20°C) | 7.9 in | |
| December | 68°F (20°C) | 3.4 in | Coldest |
San Rafael has a seasonal temperature swing of 4°F / from 68°F in December to 72°F in April. Total annual precipitation is 99.9 inches, with October being the wettest month (16.3") and February the driest (1.1").
Schools in San Rafael
14 public schools (NCES 2022-23 data).
| School | Level | Enrollment | Teachers | Student/Teacher |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Escuela Yadira Gamboa Alfaro | — | — | — | — |
| Escuela Balboa | — | — | — | — |
| Escuela Heli Santamaría Navarro | — | — | — | — |
| Escuela Gabino Araya Blanco | — | — | — | — |
| Escuela Mixta San Rafael | — | — | — | — |
| Escuela Santiago | — | — | — | — |
| Escuela La Unión | — | — | — | — |
| Colegio Técnico Profesional de Calle Zamora | — | — | — | — |
| Escuela Macario Valverde Madrigal | — | — | — | — |
| Escuela Rincón Orozco | — | — | — | — |
| Escuela La Constancia | — | — | — | — |
| Escuela Dr. Carlos Luis Valverde Vega | — | — | — | — |
| Escuela Rincón de Mora | — | — | — | — |
| Liceo de Magallanes | — | — | — | — |
Radio Stations near San Rafael
13 stations within ~55 km.
| Station | Genre | Quality | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Radio Musical 97.5 | — | MP3 64 kbps | |
| Urbano 106 - 105.9 FM - San José, Costa Rica | 105.9 fm, américa | AAC+ 64 kbps | |
| 1047hit | — | MP3 64 kbps | |
| Radio Omega 105.1 FM | — | AAC+ 32 kbps | |
| Radio Frecuencia Tierra | costa rica | MP3 128 kbps | |
| Teletica Radio | información, local news | UNKNOWN | |
| IQ Radio | alternative, costa rica | AAC+ 112 kbps | |
| 959 Conexion | alternative, alternative rock | AAC+ 96 kbps | |
| Radio María Costa Rica - 100.7 FM | catholic, religious | MP3 64 kbps | |
| Tiquicia Rock | alternative, grunge | MP3 128 kbps | |
| Radio Mil Recuerdos Stereo | — | MP3 320 kbps | |
| IQ Radio 105.5 FM | — | AAC+ 112 kbps | |
| Radio Revolución | news | MP3 |
Museums in San Rafael
| Name | Type | Address | Phone | Annual Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ecomuseo Minas del Aguacate | ||||
| Museo Ferroviario | ||||
| Museo José Figures Ferrer | ||||
| Museo Regional de San Ramón |
Libraries in San Rafael
| Name | Address | Staff | Annual Visits | Circulation | Collection | Programs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Biblioteca | 0.0 | |||||
| Biblioteca | 0.0 | |||||
| Biblioteca Arturo Aguero Chaves | 0.0 | |||||
| Biblioteca del Rincón de Zaragoza | 0.0 | |||||
| Biblioteca Municipal de Naranjo | 0.0 | |||||
| Biblioteca Municipal de Palmares | 0.0 | |||||
| Biblioteca Pública | 0.0 | |||||
| Biblioteca Pública de Atenas | 0.0 | |||||
| Biblioteca Pública de Ciudad Colón | 0.0 | |||||
| Biblioteca Pública de Puriscal | 0.0 | |||||
| Biblioteca Pública de Sarchí | 0.0 | |||||
| Biblioteca Pública Ramón Echeverría Mesén | 0.0 | |||||
| Bilbioteca Pública de San Mateo | 0.0 | |||||
| Libreria Los Angeles | 0.0 |
Farmers Markets in San Rafael
| Name | Address | Season | Hours | Organic | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Antiguo Mercado | |||||
| Campo Ferial de Sarchí Norte | |||||
| Centro Agrícola Cantonal de Sarchí | |||||
| Feria del Agricultor | |||||
| Feria del Agricultor | |||||
| Feria del Agricultor | |||||
| Feria del Agricultor de Grecia | |||||
| Mercado Municipal de Atenas | |||||
| Mercado Municipal de Naranjo | |||||
| Mercado Municipal de Orotina | |||||
| Mercado Municipal de Palmares | |||||
| Mercado Municipal de Poás | |||||
| Mercado Municipal de Puriscal | |||||
| Mercado Municipal de San Ramón | |||||
| Mercado Municipal Grecia | |||||
| Pulpería Los Gómez |
Hotels in San Rafael
2 hotels within city radius — OpenStreetMap data
Restaurants in San Rafael
9 restaurants within city radius — OpenStreetMap data
Clinics in San Rafael
3 clinics within city radius — OpenStreetMap data
Gas Stations in San Rafael
2 gas stations within city radius — OpenStreetMap data
Stadiums & Teams in San Rafael
| Team | League | Division |
|---|---|---|
Airports Near San Rafael
48 airports within the area.
| Airport | IATA | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Juan Santamaría International Airport | SJO | Large Airport |
| Guapiles Airport | GPL | Medium Airport |
| La Fortuna Arenal Airport | FON | Medium Airport |
| Quepos Managua Airport | XQP | Medium Airport |
| Tobías Bolaños International Airport | SYQ | Medium Airport |
| Aerodamas Airport | — | Small Airport |
| Altamira de San Carlos Airport | — | Small Airport |
| Aranjuez Airport | — | Small Airport |
| Boca Naranjo Airport | — | Small Airport |
| Carrizal Airport | — | Small Airport |
| Chacarita Airport | JAP | Small Airport |
| Cóbano Airport | ACO | Small Airport |
| Codela Airport | — | Small Airport |
| Dole Venecia Airport | — | Small Airport |
| Dos Marías Airport | — | Small Airport |
| El Ceibo Airport | — | Small Airport |
| El Ron Ron Airport | — | Small Airport |
| Esterillos / Finca Airport | — | Small Airport |
| Frutez - Pital Airport | — | Small Airport |
| Guatuso Airport | — | Small Airport |
| Hacienda Homuha Airport | — | Small Airport |
| Hacienda La Pacífica Airport | — | Small Airport |
| Hacienda Rancho Grande Airport | — | Small Airport |
| Hacienda Rio Cuarto Airport | — | Small Airport |
| Jaco Airport | — | Small Airport |
| La Garroba Airport | — | Small Airport |
| La Ligia Airport | — | Small Airport |
| La Yolanda Airport | — | Small Airport |
| Las Islas Airport | — | Small Airport |
| Las Piedras Airport | — | Small Airport |
| Mojica Airport | CSC | Small Airport |
| Playa Pájaros Airport | — | Small Airport |
| Playon Sur Airport | — | Small Airport |
| Portalón Airport | — | Small Airport |
| Quebrada Azul Airport | — | Small Airport |
| Quebrada Naranjo Airport | — | Small Airport |
| Rancho Nuevo Airport | — | Small Airport |
| Rio Frio / Progreso Airport | RFR | Small Airport |
| Roxana Farms Airport | — | Small Airport |
| San Agustin Airport | — | Small Airport |
| San Cristobal Airport | — | Small Airport |
| San Pedro Airport | — | Small Airport |
| Santa Marta Airport | — | Small Airport |
| Santa Teresa Airport | — | Small Airport |
| Sarapigui Airport | — | Small Airport |
| Taboga Airport | — | Small Airport |
| Tambor Airport | TMU | Small Airport |
| Ticaban Airport | — | Small Airport |
Churches & Religious Organizations in San Rafael
14 religious organizations (IRS tax-exempt data).
| Name | Address |
|---|---|
| Convento Carmelitas Descalzos | |
| Iglesia de Arias | |
| Iglesia de La Unión | |
| Iglesia de San Juan Bosco | |
| Iglesia de San Martín de Porres | |
| Iglesia de Santa Marta | |
| Iglesia Nuestra Señora del Carmen | |
| Iglesia San Francisco de Sales | |
| Iglesia San Gabriel Arcángel | |
| Iglesia San Rafael Arcángel | |
| Iglesia Santa Cecilia | |
| Iglesia Santiago Apóstol | |
| Iglesia Santísima Trinidad | |
| Iglesia Santo Cristo de Esquipulas |
Quick Facts
🇨🇷 About Costa Rica
Public Holidays in Costa Rica
11 public holidays this year
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Get ReportFrequently Asked Questions About San Rafael
What is the population of San Rafael?
San Rafael has a population of 3,624 residents and is located in Costa Rica. The population density is 306 people per square mile, spread across 11.9 square miles.
What is the weather like in San Rafael?
San Rafael enjoys a temperate climate with an average annual temperature of 70°F (21°C). Winter temperatures average 69°F in January, while summers reach an average of 70°F in July. The area receives 170 sunny days per year, below the national average of 205. Annual rainfall totals 99.9 inches.