Santiago is the capital city of the canton of Puriscal in the province of San José in Costa Rica. It is also the name of the distrito (district) that includes the city. The district of Santiago covers an area of 34.58 km², and has a population of 11,697.
The city lies at an elevation of 1,105 metres above sea level in the coastal mountain range, 42 km southwest of the national capital city of San José and 77 km north of the city of Parrita on the Pacific coast.
The old cathedral was built by Fr. Juan Cortez de Paja who took a vow of celibacy after an Indian Princess died from Influenza that she had caught from him. On the centennial of her death an earthquake destroyed the edifice.