WHAT: A (half)daytrip to Monumento Nacional Guayabo, an archeological pre-Columbian site WHERE: Costa Rica, near Turrialba, 63 km from San José HOW LONG: Approximately 2 to 3 hours, if you take it slow HOW MUCH: Admission is $6,- for non-residents and ₡1000,- for residents. Informative signs are situated next to the roads, but you might consider a guide for some extra insight explanations
Looking for some nature and culture to refresh your level of energy this weekend? The ancient ‘Monumento Nacional Guayabo’ is your perfect day trip from San José. Just a two-hours ride away from the capital you’ll find this quiet spot between rolling green hills, coffee and farm fields on the south side of the smoking Turrialba.
Guayaba is the most important archeological and pre-Columbian site of Costa Rica and the first one ever opened to the public. Though rather small compared to other archeological findings in Central America (for example the Mexican temples), Costa Ricans consider the place as very important and even sacred.
A lot, well let’s say basically everything, is still unknown about Guayabo. Due to that lack of knowledge, the lush place feels very mysterious and leaves its visitors a lot to the imagination. After all, why would 10.000 people want to live right here in the middle of the country between 1500 B.C. and 1400 A.D.? How did they name themselves? And why did all of them suddenly leave? Nobody knows. There even aren’t records left with descriptions of the ancient civilization.
The Indiana Jones and the unknown kingdom
After the site was deserted, jungle swallowed the place, covering up all its previous vivacity. It took a while before people would again conquer the piece of forest. At the end of the 18th century Anastasio Alfaro, explorer and the director of the National Museum of Costa Rica, rediscovered the site. He thought he had discovered a cemetery. Guayabo’s true archaeological significance was unfolded in 1968, by Carlos Aguilar Piedra. Piedra was an archeologist from the University of Costa Rica, and together with his team he began to excavate a big part of the area.
Currently approximately five hectares is exposed. A large stretch is still to be explored, but nevertheless you can already admire the hills, view petroglyphs and aqueducts that are even fully restored. The excavations give a nice glimpse of a lost culture that was developed in fields such as architecture, engineering and urbanism.
Senderos for the visitors
There are two routes that will guide you through the area: the Sendero de los Montículos (a 1,6 km long path that leads next to El Mirador Encuentro con Nuestros Origines) and the Sendero de los Cantarillos (a path that leads straight through the jungle, where you can encounter a lot of birds and some mammals).
The most remarkable sites are to be found along the Sendero de los Montículos. The ‘Monolitho Jaguar y Lagarto’ for example; a petroglyph that depicts a mythical creature. The stone shows both the head of a jaguar and a lizard, and each side is created by a different person. Archeologists think this stone had to symbolize the cultural bridge between the settlements that once existed to the north and south.
If you want to continue exploring the pre-Columbian ancient civilization after your visit to Guayabo, you might consider heading to the Museo Nacional in San José. A lot of findings (tools and ornaments) of the civilization are glistering inside of the former fortress. They will give you further insight into this fascinating and mysterious piece of pre-Hispanic culture.
