The cobbled roads
Stone-paved causeways that led through the settlement and out to other places.
Turrialba · Cartago · Costa Rica
Guayabo National Monument
The largest pre-Columbian city site in Costa Rica, with aqueducts, mounds and stone roads in the forest near Turrialba.
- Monument since 1973
- About 230 ha
- Pre-Columbian city
- Guided visit recommended
About the park
Guayabo is the most important archaeological site in Costa Rica: the remains of a pre-Columbian settlement on the slopes of Turrialba Volcano, inhabited for about two thousand years until it was abandoned before the arrival of the Spanish. It is a National Monument, not a national park, and the site is surrounded by forest.
The visit goes along cobbled roads and past circular stone foundations, mounds, an aqueduct that still carries water and stone carvings with animal figures. A guide helps to understand a place with no written history, and the surrounding forest has good birdwatching.
- Aqueducts, mounds and stone roads
- A settlement with no written history
- Forest around the site, good for birds
- Easy to combine with Turrialba, rafting and coffee
Wildlife
Toucans and trogonsSquirrels and agoutisButterfliesMany forest birds
What to see
Mounds and foundations
Circular stone-founded structures that were the bases of large houses. The largest is about 30 m in diameter.
The aqueduct and tanks
A system of covered channels and basins that carries drinking water, still working today.
Rock carvings
Stones carved with animal figures and geometric shapes, some in place and some in the visitor centre.
Plan your visit
- Opening hours
- Daytime, a few hours in the morning and early afternoon. We confirm the hours of the day you want.
- Entrance
- Paid per person per day according to the SINAC fee schedule, which changes from time to time. We confirm the current price in your quote.
- Guide
- A guide is recommended to understand the site; our tours include one.
- Best time
- The dry season from December to April; the mornings are clearer. The trails are muddy in the wet months.
- What to bring
- Walking shoes, a rain jacket, insect repellent and water.
Book your entrance yourself
Entrance tickets to the national parks are sold online through the official SINAC reservation system. Booking your own ticket there is the quickest and cheapest way.
If you book a tour, a stay or an itinerary with us, we can also arrange the reservation for you.
Dates, areas and conditions are approximate and based on published information from SINAC and the National Museum; hours, fees and rules can change. We confirm the current conditions when you book.
Getting there
By road
About 2 hours from San José via Cartago and Turrialba; the last stretch is on a paved mountain road of about 19 km from Turrialba.
Transfer
We arrange private transfers and tours from San José and the airport. Ask us for a quote.
Tours around Guayabo and Turrialba
Guayabo National Monument — Costa Rica’s Ancient CityTurrialba Coffee & Cheese Farm TourTurrialba Volcano ViewpointAquiares Waterfall & Coffee Estate WalkCATIE Botanical Gardens & BirdingPacuare River White-Water Rafting (Class III–IV)
Coffee, Banana & Vanilla Farm Tour — Botón de Oro, TurrialbaFrom $35 per person
Coffee, Banana & Vanilla Farm Tour — Botón de Oro, TurrialbaFrom $35 per personWhere to stay
Frequently asked questions
Is it a national park?
No, it is a National Monument, protected for its archaeology.
How old is Guayabo?
The site was inhabited for about two thousand years and abandoned before the Spanish arrived.
How long does the visit take?
About two hours with a guide.
Where do I stay nearby?
We offer Guayabo Lodge near Turrialba.