Atenas is the number 5 canton of the province of Alajuela, Costa Rica. It is located in the western part of the Central Valley. It has an area of 127.19 km² and is divided into 8 districts, of which only 5 are part of the Greater Metropolitan Area. Its limits are to the north with Naranjo, Grecia, Palmares and San Ramón, to the south with Mora and Turrubares, to the east with Alajuela and to the west with San Mateo and Orotina. It was founded on August 7,1868. Its head is the city of Athens. According to the National Census of 2011, the population of the canton was 25,460 inhabitants, of which, 8.2% was born abroad.
The same census highlights that there were 7,472 occupied dwellings, of which, 74.4% were in good condition and there were problems of overcrowding in 2.3% of the dwellings.56.2% of its inhabitants lived in urban areas. Among other data, the literacy level of the canton is 98.0%, with an average schooling of 8.5 years. For the year 2012, it had a high rate of human development according to the United Nations Development Program. The place where it is settled was known as Sabana Larga, and it began as one of the sluts where food and shelter were provided to the oxen who transported the Costa Rican gold grain, coffee, to Puntarenas. The economy of the canton is based on agriculture, mainly the cultivation of coffee, sugar cane, corn, beans and fruit trees. There are also activities of extensive livestock, trade and small industries. In Athens, an artisan dessert made of grapefruit is made, filled with cajeta, unique in the country.
In a publication of 1960, the National Geographic magazine cataloged to Athens like "the city with the best climate of the world", mote with which it has happened to distinguish in all the national scope.