Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Guayabo to Turrialba at 7am, 12:30pm and 4pm daily. You can also take a taxi from Turri-
alba (about US$25 round trip, with one hour to explore the park).
Parque Nacional Volcán Turrialba
This rarely visited active volcano (3328m) was named Torre Alba (White Tower) by early
Spanish settlers, who observed plumes of smoke pouring from its summit.
Turrialba was declared a national park in 1955, and protects a 2km radius around the
volcano. Below the summit, the park consists of mountain rainforest and cloud forest,
dripping with moisture and mosses, full of ferns, bromeliads and even stands of bamboo.
Although small, these protected habitats shelter 84 species of bird and 11 species of mam-
mal.
Turrialba's last major eruption was in 1866, but a century and a half later, the slumber-
ing giant has begun showing sustained signs of life. Since 2010 it has regularly been
belching forth quantities of sulfuric gas and ash, damaging the road to the summit, killing
off trees and other vegetation and displacing small farming communities from the vol-
cano's western slopes.
At the time of research visitors were only being allowed to climb as far as the park en-
trance gate, 3km below the summit; the park itself remained closed, pending completion of
road repairs and construction of a protective bunker at the summit. For up-to-the-minute
canturrialba@gmail.com
;
8am-3:30pm)
. At research time it was anticipated that, when the
park does reopen, entrance fees will be higher than at other national parks, as all visitors
will need to be accompanied by an official guide.
In the meantime, a good way to experience some of Turrialba's magic up close is via a
guided horseback excursion along the volcano's western flanks, offered by
Volcán Turrial-
ba Lodge
.
Sleeping
Volcán Turrialba Lodge
LODGE
(
2273-4335;
www.volcanturrialbalodge.com
;
per person incl breakfast US$45;
)
