With some stunning views of Costa Rica’s rural countryside, Turrialba is a charming little town in the lush and beautiful Central Valley in Cartago province.
Famous for being a white water rafting hotspot and base camp, this town lies 53 km east of the capital city San Jose and is an excellent place to tour the pre-Columbian ruins at Guayabo, or the rarely visited but lovely Turrialba Volcano National Park.
A quiet town, Turrialba with its charming street corners and gorgeous surrounding sceneries is among the few places in Costa Rica with direct access to a volcano’s crater. From the summit of the volcano, you can on a clear day, see the Irazú, Poás and Barva volcanoes in the distance.
Among the most rarely visited national parks in Costa Rica, the Turrialba Volcano National Park is home of the active Turrialba Volcano, whose last major eruption occurred in 1866. The volcano itself is only 15 km northwest of town. However, it is safe to climb, and though the facilities at the park are rather meager, it is still a worthwhile trip.
If you thrive on adventure and the rush adrenaline to your head, try river rafting along the Rios Pacuare and Reventazón that flow nearby town. These two rivers are famous throughout the world and are sometimes used as training grounds for world-class white water rafters and kayakers.
With dozens of tour operators running in the area to provide fun filled day trips for adventure lovers and family day outs, come here for an unforgettable and incredible vacation.
Map of the Area
Nearby Turrialba is the Guayabo National Monument, which is a wonderful place to explore. Costa Rica’s only pre-Columbian site that is open to public access, these ruins provide a fantastic insight into what life circa 1000 BC to 1400AD must have been like.
If you are an avid naturalist also definitely visit the Center for Agronomy Research and Development, which is among the world’s foremost tropical agriculture research centers. Spread over 2,000 acres, this facility is collects and conducts research on plants/trees that have been collected from all over the world.
Aside from the things to do around town, Turrialba is also famous for baseball. This is because all Rawlings baseballs that are used in Major League games are manufactured in this tiny town.
7 Days / 6 Nights
Starting at $932 per person
10 Days / 9 Nights
Starting at $1,193 per person
