GENERAL INFORMATION

    One of the most important and of bigger size archeological area discovered in this country. Protects archeological structures such as: stone roads, mounds, bridges, acueducts and water collecting well; over 3000 years antique. It also protects patches of high evergreen typical forest of the premountain pluvial forest.

ARCHEOLOGICAL HISTORY

    Investigations have reveal that this archeological site was occupied since 1000 B.C. up to 1400 A.D, the mayor development of the chieftainship was 800 A.D. when the stone structures where discovered.

    The economy of this group was based on agriculture, the hunting and fishing. By the discoveries made there, the archaeologists infer that this city was inhabited by people specialized in different fields, directed by a indian chief (cacique) or chamán, that exerted the political and religious power on the region. Not yet the reason by which this one place was selected to be inhabited or so that is known reason was left, even though there are some hypothesis.

    The Guayabo site belongs to the cultural region called INTERMEDIATE AREA, that includes from the Alajuela in Costa Rica to the plains of the Orinoco river in Venezuela and the North of Ecuador. This site is known from end of the last century, due to the works made by Anastasio Alfaro. The first scientific studies begin in 1968 by the archaeologist Carlos H. Aguilar Stone. The archaeological area includes/understands of 15 to 20 hectares, of which only 4 hectares have been excavated.

FLORA AND FAUNA

    The vegetation that surrounds the archaeological area is characteristic of a premontano pluvial forest of dense foliage and evergreen. The forest species abound species such as: Caragra (Cassia sp), Magnolia (Talauma gloriensis), oerstediana Cantarillo (Conostegia), Higuerón (costaricana Ficus), valeriana Quizarrá (Phoebe), White Burío (Heliocarpus appendiculatus); places setting by great amount of epifite plants like bromelias and orchids

    There are found birds like the tucan (Ramphastos sp.), oropéndolas (Psarocolius montezuma), trogones (Trogon sp),woodpeckers (Melanerpes sp.), squirrels (Piaya), yigüiros (Turdus grayi) and chachalacas(Ortalis vetula); mammals like armadillos(Dasypus novemcinctus), conejos (Silvilagus brasiliensis), coyotes (Canis latrans), perezosos (Choloepus hoffmanni and Bradypus griseus), tolomucos (Eira barbara), martillas (Potos flavus), ardillas (Sciurus sp.) and pizotes (Nasua narica). Also the serpents, frogs, small lizards and butterflies are frequent.

TURISTIC INTERESTS

    It is suggested to visit the footpath homing guidance the Knolls that lead to the archaeological site and allow to observe the pre-Columbian structures. Another called Natural Footpath the Cantarrillos takes it to make a route by a forest in recovery and access to the Lajitas river; being able to observe great amount of birds and insects

SERVICES AND FACILITIES

• Information
• Foot paths
• Viewpoints
• Communication System
• Sanitary Services
• Pic Nic Area
• Visitors Center
• Camping Area
• Potable Water

How to get there ?

  By Car: Take the road to Cartago, Cervantes, Turrialba, Santa Teresita, National Monument. 84 kilometers from San José.

  By Public Bus: Departs from San José to Turrialba from its terminal next to Echandi Pet Shop. From Turrialba the bus departs to the National Monument everyday at 11 a.m. and 5 p.m., from its regional terminal in downtown Turrialba.