Sarapiquí (canton)

Sarapiquí is the tenth canton in the province of Heredia in Costa Rica.

History
The canton was established by law on November 18, 1970.

The Sarapiquí River played a very important role in the defense of national sovereignty, because on 10 April 1856, the filibusters under the command of the American William Walker arrived in Costa Rica through the Sarapiquí River, where the battle of Sardinal was fought. This river and region allowed the export of goods to Europe.

Geography
Sarapiquí has an area of 2,140.54 km2.

The canton includes the major portion of the Province of Heredia, and is named for its major waterway, the Sarapiquí River. The western half of the canton gives way to the San Carlos Plain. Heredia's provincial border with Alajuela, which runs through the middle of the San Carlos Plain, marks the canton's western limit. The southern boundary of the canton is established by La Virgen River.

Economy
The main agricultural activities in the region are: banana, pineapple, coffee, corn, cocoa, cardamom, citrus, palm, foliage, ornamental plants, fruit trees and livestock.

The tourism has had an important development in the last years, thanks to the recreational activities practiced in the Sarapiquí river.

Demographics
For the 2011 census, Sarapiquí had a population of 57,147 inhabitants.

Districts
The canton of Sarapiqui is divided into five districts:


 * Puerto Viejo
 * La Virgen
 * Horquetas
 * Llanuras del Gaspar
 * Cureña

Road transportation
The canton is covered by the following road routes: • CR RNP 4.svg National Route 4: For San Carlos, where agricultural crops such as pineapples, palm hearts and ornamental plants are observed.

• CR RNS 126.svg National Route 126: The traditional route or route of the heroes (Vara Blanca), where you can see the San Fernando and La Paz waterfalls, mountains, rivers and volcanoes, next to the Sarapiquí river canyon.

• CR RNS 229.svg National Route 229

• CR RNT 505.svg National Route 505

• CR RNT 506.svg National Route 506

• CR RNT 507.svg National Route 507

• CR RNT 510.svg National Route 510

• CR RNT 745.svg National Route 745

• CR RNT 817.svg National Route 817