DESTINATIONS - TURRIALBA, COSTA RICA

History

The canton was established by a decree of August 19, 1903.

Turrialba is the name of the fifth canton in the province of Cartago in Costa Rica. The canton covers an area of 1,642.67 km2, and has a population of 78 217. The capital city of the canton, Turrialba, is a small town with a population of 25 886. Turrialba is the 11th largest canton among the 81 cantons that comprise Costa Rica. The Río Turrialba and Río Atirro establish major portions of the canton's western border, and the Río Chirripó delineates its long southeastern border. The region is home to the active Turrialba Volcano.

The creation of Turrialba as a county in 1903, allows the inhabitants of the valleys Reventazón and Turrialba to organize a central place for development, which turns into the main focus of economical activity during the first decade of the XX century. Thus, crops such as coffee, bananas and sugar cane start growing in great proportions (mainly because of the exportation of the products) and the large landed estates of the region came out. Properties such as Aragón,Florencia and Aquiares stand out as a clear example of the type of agricultural progress linked to foreign commerce. This situation enables the growing of large landed estates, as well as the development of the local agriculture and industry characterized by the presence of sugar cane and coffee grinders (known as beneficio de café, trapiche and ingenio azucarero in Spanish). Therefore, these coffee and sugar cane landed estates is the center base for the economical activity of the region and make up the county´s agricultural future throughout the XX century.

The region is home to the active Turrialba Volcano, and famous rafting rivers such, Pacuare, Reventazon and Pejiballe. Nevertheless, the largest archeological site in Costa Rica “Guayabo National Park” is located in Turrilaba.

The canton of Turrialba is subdivided into 12 districts:

1. Turrialba District
2. La Suiza
3. Peralta
4. Santa Cruz
5. Santa Teresita
6. Pavones
7. Tuís
8. Tayutic
9. Santa Rosa
10. Tres Equis
11. La Isabel
12. Chirripó

Other beautiful destinations in Costa Rica are:

• San José
• Tamarindo
• Santa Teresa
• Jaco
• Turrialba
• Varablanca Poas
• Manuel Antonio
• Dominical