Premier pre-Columbian Ruins
A must-see for those interested in Indigenous Costa Rica, Guayabo is the most extensively excavated and accessible of all the country’s archeological sites.
Located in the rainforest on the southern flank of Turrialba Volcano and near the town of Turrialba, Guayabo shows us the remains of an important settlement that flourished between 1000 b.c. and a.d. 1400, when an estimated 8000 – 10,000 people lived in conical thatch-roofed structures and walked cobblestoned streets. An aqueduct system built more than 2,000 years ago still functions today. Excavations have also revealed cisterns, stairways, mounds, petroglyphs, monoliths, tombs, and 5-ton stone slab bridges.
The makers of these mysterious ruins are gone, but the rainforest still teems with life: toucans, armadillos, sloths, snakes, frogs, leaf-cutter ants and the iridescent and unforgettable Blue Morpho butterflies.
Many local hotels, like the elegant Hotel Casa Turire, will arrange tours for you, or just do a web search for "Guayabo tours" and get a taste of the many tour operators that will take you to the site.
Many artifacts found at this site can be seen in San Jose's National Museum.
This sight is part of the Explore Indigenous Costa Rica itinerary.
Located in the rainforest on the southern flank of Turrialba Volcano and near the town of Turrialba, Guayabo shows us the remains of an important settlement that flourished between 1000 b.c. and a.d. 1400, when an estimated 8000 – 10,000 people lived in conical thatch-roofed structures and walked cobblestoned streets. An aqueduct system built more than 2,000 years ago still functions today. Excavations have also revealed cisterns, stairways, mounds, petroglyphs, monoliths, tombs, and 5-ton stone slab bridges.
The makers of these mysterious ruins are gone, but the rainforest still teems with life: toucans, armadillos, sloths, snakes, frogs, leaf-cutter ants and the iridescent and unforgettable Blue Morpho butterflies.
Many local hotels, like the elegant Hotel Casa Turire, will arrange tours for you, or just do a web search for "Guayabo tours" and get a taste of the many tour operators that will take you to the site.
Many artifacts found at this site can be seen in San Jose's National Museum.
This sight is part of the Explore Indigenous Costa Rica itinerary.
| Area | Central Valley |
| Categories | Activities, Culture & History, Kid-Friendly, Parks & Reserves |
| Adult Price | $4 |
| Price details | $4 adults / $1 children |
| Phone | 506-2559-1220 |
| Website | http://www.costarica-nationalparks.com/guayabonationalmonument.html |
| Hours | Ranger station open from 8 am to 3:30 pm |