Turrialba is nestled among the abundant green mountains of the Central Valley, Costa Rica. This picturesque little town is well known for its rich shade-grown coffee, amazing green mountains and macadamia plantations and also for whitewater rafting opportunities. It is located 53 kilometers east of San Jose with amazing views of the rural countryside and lush Central Valley. Once this little town was a flourishing town and a direct stop on the train that ran between San Jose and the southern Caribbean hamlet of Puerto Viejo. That rail system was destroyed by a terrible earthquake in 1991 and Turrialba residents also lost much of their trading income. But it went back to its coffee plantation. This town has a direct access to the Turrialba Volcano National Park that has the active Turrialba volcano.

Accommodation:

There are many luxury hotels and rustic lodges in the area. Several of them offer visitors guided treks and horseback rides through the mountains. Due to high elevation, temperatures can fall into the 40’s at night, so bring warm clothing.

Rancho Naturalista:

Set in the mountains of Cordillera Talamanca, Rancho Naturalista is premier birding lodge in Costa Rica. This lodge provides warm and relaxed atmosphere. Its staff are very hospitable and welcoming. This lodge also famous for its delicious food which are prepared with fresh local ingredients. You will see many hummingbirds from its large, open upstairs balcony and from there you can also see distant smoking volcano. This lodge is featured with a main lodge that has a large communal balcony upstairs and it also has 4 comfortable cabins. ‘Casita’ is one of the cabins that features a living room and a kitchen. This also has rooms for drivers and guides.

Call: +506-8704-3217
http://www.ranchonaturalista.net

More info: http://www.costaricajourneys.com/rancho-naturalista-2/

Hotel Wagelia Turrialba:

This hotel is nestled in Turrialba, just 50 km from Escazu and 43 km from San Jose. It features an on-site restaurant, free private parking and also provides free WiFi. It features 18 rooms with flat-screen TV, private bath with hot water, wireless network, fan and certain rooms also provides amazing views of the mountains, garden and town. This property also has a 24-hour front desk service. This hotel is 48 km from Hotel Wagelia Turrialba and 8 km from Santa Cruz.

Call: 25561566 / 25 56 11 42
http://www.hotelwageliaturrialba.com

Hotel Villa Florencia:

This hotel is nestled in the middle of Sugar Cane plantations and surrounded by tropical gardens and mountains. At this hotel you will enjoy family type atmosphere as well as get all the facilities that you might find in a boutique hotel. It has an open air gym, trails to walk on your own. It also features a beautiful swimming pool and a wonderful Jacuzzi, 11 guest rooms including personalized service and a warm setting. In all rooms, you will find private bath with hot water, coffee maker, satellite TV, safety deposit box, and hair dryer. It also features a gourmet restaurant ‘Veroliz’ that serves a variety of menus including special diets upon request and also special menu for kids. All the dishes are prepared with fresh products and creatively.

Call: +123-456-789/ 2557-35-36/2557-74-74
http://www.villaflorencia.com/

Hotel Interamericano:

This hotel provides homely like environment and hotel privacy at hostel prices. It is a family run business set right in the center of Turrialba town. In close destination you will find restaurants, bars, shops, banks, and also post office. This hotel provides 22 rooms of several categories with private or shared bathroom. It also provides laundry service, a healthful, filling breakfast at your request. You will also get safe keeping, luggage storage short or long term and internet connection.

http://www.hotelinteramericano.com/

Hotel Casa Turire:

This hotel features 3 suites, 12 standard rooms and one master suite. All the rooms are equipped with full bathroom including hot water, hair dryer, safe, direct dial telephone, coffee maker, ceiling fan, satellite television and private balcony. In all the suites you will get hot tub in the bath and hydro shower, plasma television with DVD player and there are also air conditioning. This hotel property also features a year-round outdoor pool, kid’s playground and sun terrace, a 24-hour front desk and gift shop.

Call: (506) 2531-1111
http://www.hotelcasaturire.com/

More info: http://www.costaricajourneys.com/hotel-casa-turire-turrialba-costa-rica/

Turrialba Bed & Breakfast:

Located only 50 m from the town’s main park, Turrialba Bed and Breakfast provides a relaxing atmosphere. It is a family business featured with 11 rooms near to the Aventura and in the heart of the Turrialba. In each morning, it provides local-style breakfast and within 450 m of the property there are a variety of restaurant serving national and International cuisine. It is within a minute’s walk from the Quesada Casal Park and 12 km from the Guayabo National Monument and 18 km from the archaeological site of Guayabo de Turrialba. Its 11 TV-free rooms are featured with complimentary WiFi and private bathrooms, some add bunk beds. It also features free parking, a lounge area with hammocks and a pool table.

Call: +506 2556 6651
http://www.turribb.com

Restaurants:

Restaurante Rancho del Sapito:

This restaurant specializes in Costa Rican food such as it serves tortillas with cheese, beef pot, fried cheese, trout. It features large gardens, kid’s area and lake trout fishing. It is perfect place to delight your palate with your friends and family.

Call: +506 2534 1818
http://www.ranchodelsapito.com

Casa Turire Restaurant:

This restaurant serves some of the finest cuisine in Turrialba. In its menu, its chef adds taste and extraordinary traditional cuisine of the Costa Rican variety. You can have complimentary coffee that you will find available from 5:30 a.m. to 6:30 a.m. With an extra cost you can also have room service. It serves special menu in public holiday and special occasions.

Call: + 506-2531-11-11
http://hotelcasaturire.com/restaurante.php

Turrialtico Restaurant:

Opened to the public in 1968, Turrialtico Restaurant serves Costa Rican meals with a personal touch of the original owners who kept and maintained the innovative recipes. You will find all the foods are served with high standards and quality. Its main dishes include tasty meat served with freshest vegetables, yuca or delicious plantains and the traditional Tayuyas Guanacastecas. Set on a hill above the valley, this open restaurant overlooks the amazing town of Turrialba.

Call:  2004 – 2011
http://www.turrialtico.com/restaurant.html

La Garza Bar and Restaurant:

This restaurant is nestled on the northwest corner of the central park. If you want to escape the noisy Turrialba streets, you can go to this restaurant. It has a very plain interior such as it is decorated with blond-wood tables and chairs and has big windows overlooking the view of the central park. It specializes in seafood though serves up typical Costa Rican dishes for  $3.00 and hamburgers for $2.00. It also has a pleasant bar that serves a variety of snacks.

Call: +506 2556 1073
https://www.facebook.com/Bar-Restauran-La-Garza-436638403042946/

Restaurant la Feria:

This pleasant, family style restaurant is a permanent exhibition of local art. It has the usual midscale Costa Rican fare, ranging from fast food to filet mignon. Its speciality is beef tenderloin topped with a Spanish-inspired-red-wine-and-mushroom sauce. It also serves Gallo Pinto, Casados, chicken and seafood dishes. You will also get home-baked apple pie for dessert.

Attractions:

Guayabo National Monument:

It is the largest archaeological site of Costa Rica which once was home to more than 20,000 people. Not only for the ruins but also because its great natural beauty makes it a very special site to explore. The ruins mostly consist of paved roads, houses, stone bridges and temple foundations and aqueducts, some petroglyphs and gravesites. These ruins provide a fantastic insight into what life circa 1000 BC to 1400 AD must have been like.

Catie:

It is one of the world’s foremost tropical agricultural research center. Its 2,500 acres area include beautiful botanical gardens, some of the best agricultural research centers in the region and also an extensive library.  It is an International entity with a unique combination of science, graduate education and innovation for development. Its strategy is to promote the development of climate-smart territories as a tool to achieve sustainable and inclusive human well-being.

Call: (506)2558-2000
https://www.catie.ac.cr/en/

Turrialba Volcano:

In central Costa Rica, Turrialba volcano is an active volcano. Most recently in September 2016, there was an eruption. During the time of 2014 to 2016, volcanic activity was increased and for that reason Turrialba Volcano National Park had to be closed. From the Atlantic slope town of Turrialba The stratovolcano is 10,958 ft high and is about 45 minutes.

Activities:

White Water Rafting:

Turrialba is renowned as one of the hot spots of Costa Rica for white water rafting. Reventazon and Pacuare rive are close to the town which provides good rush of adrenaline. Both of these rivers can also be used for training by top white water rafters and kayakers.