 Turrialba, a small farming town of about 60,000 people lies in an area 65 k (45 miles) east of San Jose, known as “Little Switzerland." The valleys and mountains in this part of Costa Rica are known for their rich, fertile soil and majestic mountain scenery.
The town grew up around the Pacuare and Reventazon rivers with their breathtaking gorges and foamy rapids. The Pacuare has been designated by National Geographic Magazine as one of the top five most beautiful rivers in the world for rafting. There are also bountiful opportunities for canyoning (rock climbing), hiking and camping.
Turrialba was once a busy hub for traffic between San Jose and the Caribbean Port of Limon, but the advent of a new highway just to the north caused the town to become a sleepy backwater until recently. Now it is emerging as a center for retirement and adventure for a new generation of world-class travelers who seek a haven from the traffic and overcrowding of the Central Valley and the capital, yet one that is close enough to visit for shopping, theaters and restaurants.
The town is surrounded by mountains including the Turrialba Volcano (dormant for 120 years) and the brooding, mysterious “Chitaria.” It was atop this imposing and unique mountain that the ancients fixed their eyes and who knows what astronomical instruments on the stars from which they believed they could foretell future events.
On the southern slopes of the Volcano 17 k (11 miles) from Turrialba lie the ruins of the ancient town now known as the Guayabo National Monument. For 2400 years between 1000BC and 1400AD the town was occupied by up to 10,000 inhabitants and while this site does not match the excitement of the
Myan ruins it is significant and well worth
seeing.  The site exhibits stone
walkways and a main street leading from the entrance gates to the center of the village which points exactly to the cone of the volcano. Cone shaped bamboo houses resembling teepees were built on a foundation of stones with walkways between them. The water supply was composed of a large tank and aqueducts still in operation after more than 1500 years. One fascinating artifact is the large rock on which an ancient artist has carved a picture of a jaguar and an alligator.
Turrialba cheese is famous throughout the country and can be found in many shops, on highway stands and at the cheese factory. and the weekly fruit and vegetable market is famous for it’s quality of produce.
The streets of Turrialba always seem to be bustling with activity. New businesses are opening almost every day and more and more tourists are coming to Turrialba all the time. Some even say that the girls of this town are the prettiest in all of Costa Rica, but I’ll leave that to the experts to judge.
What I do know is that around Turrialba is some of the most beautiful scenery I have seen, the weather is wonderful and it’s just a good place to live.
I hope to see you here very soon.
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