Santa Cruz is the name of the third canton in the province of Guanacaste in Costa Rica. The canton covers an area of 1,312.27 km², and has a population of 43,333. Its capital city is also called Santa Cruz.

The heart-shaped canton is on the northern Pacific coast between Bahía Potrero to the north and the mouth of the Río Montaña to the south. It includes Cabo Velas, the furthermost western point on the Nicoya Peninsula. The Río Tempisque delineates a small portion of the eastern border.

The canton of Santa Cruz is subdivided into 9 distritos (districts).

# Santa Cruz
# Bolsón
# Veintisiete de Abril
# Tempate
# Cartagena
# Cuajiniquil
# Diriá
# Cabo Velas
# Tamarindo

History

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Santa Cruz was first mentioned as a canton in a decree dated December 7, 1848.