Pejibaye District, Jiménez facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Pejibaye
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District
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The town of Pejibaye from the mountains.
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 Pejibaye
Location in Costa Rica
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| Country |  Costa Rica |
| Province | Cartago |
| Canton | Jiménez |
| Creation | 26 May 1967 |
| Area | |
| • Total | 173.85 km2 (67.12 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 643 m (2,110 ft) |
| Population
(2011)
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| • Total | 3,245 |
| • Density | 18.666/km2 (48.343/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC−06:00 |
| Postal code |
30403
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Pejibaye is a lovely district in the Cartago area of Costa Rica. It's part of the Jiménez canton. Pejibaye is becoming a popular spot for ecotourism, which means enjoying nature responsibly. The town is nestled in a valley, surrounded by the La Marta Wildlife Refuge and the Tapantí National Park. It's about an hour south of Turrialba and two hours east of Cartago.
Contents
A Look Back at Pejibaye's History
Pejibaye became an official district on May 26, 1967. It was separated from the nearby Tucurrique area at that time.
Pejibaye's Geography and Location
Pejibaye covers an area of about 173.85 square kilometers. It sits at an elevation of 643 meters above sea level. This means it's located in a hilly or mountainous region.
Population of Pejibaye
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1973 | 2,820 | — | |
| 1984 | 3,175 | 12.6% | |
| 2000 | 3,375 | 6.3% | |
| 2011 | 3,245 | −3.9% | |
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Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos |
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According to the 2011 census, Pejibaye had a population of 3,245 people.
Exploring Pejibaye's Neighborhoods
Pejibaye is an ecological community found in the Jiménez Canton. It's divided into several neighborhoods. Some of these include El Humo, Plaza Vieja, San Joaquin, Los Tigres, Oriente, El Oso, La Veinte (20), and Veinte Seis (26).
Pejibaye is about 65 kilometers from San Jose. It's also 42 miles east of Cartago and 25 kilometers south of Turrialba. You can find it 15 kilometers south of Tucurrique and 10 kilometers west of La Suiza. Buses travel to and from Cartago and Turrialba several times a day.
Getting Around Pejibaye
Road Routes
The district has a few main roads that help people travel. These include:
National Route 225
National Route 408
Pejibaye's Economy
Farming and Agriculture
Pejibaye started as one large farm. Later, it was divided among 70 families who worked the land. The names of some neighborhoods, like La Veinte (20) and Veintiseis (26), show its farming past. Plaza Vieja is the oldest neighborhood, formed in the 1940s.
For many years, people in Pejibaye grew coffee and sugar cane. But in the last 20 years, prices for these crops dropped. So, Pejibaye has started to focus more on tourism instead of traditional farming.
Growing Tourism in Pejibaye
Pejibaye's tourism industry is growing! Small bed and breakfasts have opened for visitors. Many local tourists come to Pejibaye for exciting rafting trips on the Pejibaye river. The river has Class 2 and 3 rapids, which are fun for many rafters. Pejibaye has even hosted the Costa Rica National Rafting Competition!
Nearby, the Pacuare river offers Class 4 and 5 rapids for more experienced adventurers. The area around Pejibaye also has six different waterfalls to explore. The La Marta Wildlife Refuge and Tapantí National Park are close by. These parks are home to amazing Costa Rican animals, including large cats. You can also find hiking, biking, and horseback riding tours of the cloud forest in Pejibaye.
Education in Pejibaye
Pejibaye is proud to have one of Costa Rica's first Environmental High Schools. It's called Colegio Ambientalista Pejibaye. This school was founded in 1999. It has a big gym, a soccer field, and an air-conditioned computer lab. The classrooms are open-air, which is nice.
About 300 students in grades 7 to 11 attend this high school. They learn three languages: English, Spanish, and French. They also study core subjects like Math, Science, and Social Studies. A special course in Environmental Studies is also part of the curriculum. Nearly half of the students from this high school go on to study at universities in Costa Rica. Besides the high school, there are three nearby grade schools. These are located in El Humo, Plaza Vieja, and central Pejibaye. They teach students up to sixth grade.
See also
In Spanish: Pejibaye de Jiménez para niños
