Turrialba Attractions
TURRIALBA: LAND OF SUGAR CANE, CHEESE AND RIVERS
"The community of SANTA CRUZ is famous for homemade Turrialba cheese; and a visit to LA SUIZA and AQUIARES is highly recommended, as is a rafting trip down the famous rapids of the Reventazon and Pacuare Rivers."
There is something about the people who live in Turrialba that make them extra friendly and hospitable; it is said that Turrialbeños, whose communities are nestled between mountains, plains and rivers, have a wonderful sense of humor, and that the doors of their homes are always open to everyone.
Turrialba has been a key town in the development of the Limon province and the Caribbean coast since its early days. Being on the main route between the capital city and Port Limon, it is a natural stop for people traveling in either direction. This meeting of cultures in a small town created a diversity of customs and social mixing that is still apparent today.
Turrialba prospered with the construction of the Atlantic Railway, as it did with subsequent improvements in roads and public transportation. For many years, a stop in Turrialba was something travelers look forward to, where they could find everything and meet up with friends.
The geography of this area makes several micro-climates possible within a very short distance; for instance, while the town of Turrialba is located at an elevation of 600 meters above sea level, the Turrialba Volcano, at a short distance away, towers over the town at 3349 meters. Because of the different elevation there is a great variety of contrasting flora and fauna.
Two rivers flow through the center of the city: the Colorado and the Turrialba Rivers. The later flows down the mountain slope to join the Reventazon River, a principal white-water rafting destination. Two mountain ranges surround the Turrialba and its neighboring communities: the Central Volcanic Mountain Range and the Talamanca Mountain Range. The communities have built roads among the lower sections and into the nearby hills which provide views of incredibly unique rural beauty that can only be found in this area; on one side visitors have a good view of the Caribbean lowlands, and on the other side of the majestic mountains.
TURRIALBA VOLCANO NATIONAL PARK
The Turrialba Volcano, at approximately 3340 meters above sea level, is the most important protected area in this 1577-hectare, densely forested park. Because this volcano is near the Irazu Volcano, they are often called twin volcanoes. There are many trails and several observation points in the park.
The volcano has three well-defined craters and others that were disfigured by previous volcanic activity. The central crater is the deepest, at approximately 50 meters. There are two possible cones on the flanks of this strata volcano: Tiendilla (2791 meters) and Armado (2750 meters). The last major eruption took place here between 1864 and 1868; currently, the only activities are emissions of gas, sulfuric steam and other vapors. The average temperature is 16 degree Celsius and the rainfall ranges between 3000 and 4000 millimeters a year.
GUAYABO NATIONAL MONUMENT
This monument is a very significant archeological site that represents the high level of socio-cultural development achieved by the Pre-Hispanic peoples in Costa Rica. It was declared a National Monument in August 1973 because it is the largest and most important site that has been discovered to-date in this country. It was inhabited during four cultural periods between 1000 B.C. and 1405 A.D.
Based on the types of construction in this area – aqueducts, roadways, retaining walls for buildings and bridges – it is estimated that between 1200 and 1600 indigenous people lived at this site. The architectural complexity and the extraordinarily artistic elaboration, and the artifacts found in the ruins, suggest that the site was a residential area for people of a high social, political, economic and religious status.
The monument is located 19 km northeast of Turrialba. However, you can also enter by way of Santa Cruz de Turrialba in a 4 wheel drive vehicle. The tourist services offered are: information office, guard post trails, restrooms, drinking water, signs and observation points.
CENTER FOR TROPICAL AGRONOMIC RESEARCH AND EDUCATION (CATIE)
The headquarters of CATIE was established in 1942 in the plains of Turrialba, surrounded by an abundance of tropical vegetation including several of the most important plant collections in all of Latin America. More than 4400 genetic samples, representing over 280 species from different parts of the world, are conserved in this gigantic botanical garden. Visitors can taste, smell and touch a large variety of tropical fruits and get to know medicinal, oleaginous and decorative plants, roots, tubers and trees.
The large property where the research is carried out is divided into different plant collections among which are the palm, coffee, cacao, pejibaye, guayaba and zapote plants. There are also impressive samples of exotic trees from the primary and secondary forests. CATIE is open to the public for guided tours from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
