Experts' Choice Award Guayabo National Monument
What the experts agree on
Costa Rica's largest pre-Columbian site showcases sophisticated infrastructure and mysterious petroglyphs from 1000 BC, though it lacks the grandeur of Mayan pyramids. Worth visiting for its archaeological intrigue rather than dramatic ruins.
“The most impressive find at Guayabo is the aqueduct system, which may have served more than 20,000 people in AD 800, the height of the city's prominence.”
– Lonely Planet
Michelin Guide 2 Stars
"On the southern flank of the Turrialba Volcano lies the largest pre-Columbian site in Costa Rica, founded around 1000 BC." Full review
