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Turrialba Costa Rica

Scenic Turrialba is located in the province of Cartago in Costa Rica. Known as the door to the Atlantic, this piece of paradise will take you out of the Central Valley and into the lowlands of the Caribbean through a scenic road surrounded by sweeping valleys and rolling hills and the towering Turrialba volcano. It is the southeastern most Holocene volcanoe, a large vegetation-covered stratovolcano located northeast of the Irazu Volcano. Three well-defined craters are located at the upper end of a broad summit depression that is breached to the northeast. This colossus has been quiet since a series of explosive eruptions in the 19th century that were sometimes accompanied by pyrolastic flows. Fumarolic activity continues at the summit craters. This area of Costa Rica is made up of fertile farmlands, stunning rustic scenery and bright green pastures blanketing the mountains, with hotels and lodges folded away into nooks in this bucolic environment. Turrialba’s principal activity is agriculture: here you can see large acreages of coffee, sugar cane and macadamia nuts, as well as the only milk processing plants and cattle ranches that are allowed to produce the popular Costa Rican “Queso Turrialba”, their traditional cheese. The town has approximately 80,000 habitants distributed in a 1,040 square miles area (1,664 square km). The constantly pleasant weather and friendly atmosphere make this a wonderful location to purchase real estate.

Costa Rica has some of the world’s best river runs. Turrialba has gained international recognition because of the Reventazon and Pacuare Rivers. The Reventazon is a wonderful river that offers an exciting experience for people that want to try rafting for the first time. The Pacuare has been selected as one of the most scenic rivers of the world. Along its course lie several densely forested gorges which shelter jaguars, ocelots, monkeys and more. You can run the Pacuare rapids on one day or take the overnight option where you stay at a jungle lodge midway and explore the area. While some travelers are enjoying the rivers during the rainy season, others stay a night or two on the way to Costa Rica’s most significant archaeological area, Monumento Nacional Guayabo (The National Monument of Guayabo), located 12 miles (19 km) northeast of the city. Besides the rivers and Monumento Nacional Guayabo, you will can find the Aquiares Waterfalls, a beautiful example of a tropical rain forest waterfall.

Turrialba was established in 1841, initially it was a place of residence for many people who lost their homes due to a big earthquake in Cartago. Just a few families were willing to move to that region, but of those few, Turrialba was born. When you go into the city, stop by and visit the CATIE campus, a scientific and educational institution & Parque y Serpentario Viborana, which is a place with a great collection of exotic snakes and frogs as well as beautiful orchids. And we cannot forget about the wonders of the Turrialba volcano. Surrounded by rich vegetation, Volcan Turrialba is the perfect choice to submerse yourself in Costa Rica’s unique culture and nature. Definitely something you don’t want to miss! Take a horseback ride that crosses natural trails and impressive green fields surrounding the volcano. While enjoying Turrialba, you will immediately notice the warmth and kindness of the people in this town. There are many attractions to visit, so taking a few days to enjoy everything, is the best thing to do in order to appreciate the magnificence of this area.