Guayabo
National Monument:
Travel
to Costa Rica
This is Costa Rica's
premier archeological site. Although not on a par
with the large-scale pre-Columbian architecture found
in some other parts of the New World, Guayabo offers
a fascinating insight into the lives of the people
who once populated the region.
The peaceful park-like
setting of the area adds to the pleasure of contemplating
the raised mounds of earth supported around their
bases by large rounded stones and interconnected by
cobblestone walkways. It is assumed that buildings
once stood atop these mounds, but because they were
built of perishable materials, no evidence of them
remains. Other preserved features include a still-functioning
aqueduct system, burial sites, and numerous petroglyphs.
Many high-quality examples of pottery, gold, and stone
workmanship on display at the National Museum came
from this site. Archeologists estimate that half of
the village area still awaits excavation.
Given that the monument
only protects 217 hectares of land, wildlife viewing
potential is rather limited. Among the creatures that
might be seen at Guayabo are the Nine-banded Armadillo,
Montezuma Oropendola, Central American Coral Snake,
and Blue Morpho Butterfly. A variety of orchids also
grow in the trees in the wooded portions of the monument
grounds.
Getting there:
From the town of Turrialba (64 km. east of San José),
it is 19 km. to Guayabo and signs mark the way over
a road which is paved as you leave town and eventually
becomes a gravel road which is passable year-round.
Climate: Guayabo
is located in the premontane rain forest life zone,
and as such has mild temperatures and abundant rain
fall.
History: The monument
area was first given government protection in 1973
when 65 ha. were preserved due to their archeological
significance. In 1980, another executive decree enlarged
the site to its present 217 ha., principally to protect
areas of forested habitat along the Guayabo River
canyon.
Although there is evidence
that people may have lived in the area since as much
as 2,500 years ago, it was only during a 500 year
period from 1200 to 700 years ago that Guayabo reached
its zenith both culturally and politically. Based
on the geographic position of the site, in the mountains
between the Atlantic coast and the Central Valley,
and the excellent quality of the craftsmanship found
in excavated pieces of ceramics, stone, and gold,
it is thought that this chieftanship was one of power
and privilege. However, for unknown reasons, prior
to the beginning of the Spanish Conquest in the New
World, this once thriving indigenous settlement slid
into decline and finally abandonment.
The site was discovered
in the late 1800's, presumably by colonists who were
clearing the land for coffee plantations, and in 1882
the first excavations took place under the guidance
of Anastasio Alfaro, director of the National Museum.
Following those initial digs, many years passed until
in 1968 Carlos Aguilar, working through the University
of Costa Rica, established a program of permanent
excavations on the site. Much of what is known today
about Guayabo is owed to the efforts of Aguilar and
his colleagues.
