Situated about 2 hours drive from the capital city of San Jose, Guayabo National Monument tells the story of an ancient civilization that once occupied a portion of the interior of Costa Rica.

 

Guayabo is Costa Rica’s lost city; the former home of some 10,000 residents who lived from about 1000 BC until the time of Columbus’ explorations in the early 16th century. As archaeological sites go, this is the most important one in the entire country, but few tourists actually take the time to travel there. Tour guides report that even during peak season, trips to Guayabo National Monument are anything but abundant.

 

Though archaeologists uncovered the ruins about a century ago, there’s still much they do not know about the area, including the name of the town or its inhabitants. They have, however, to the best of their knowledge, reconstructed a road and other various key structures in the village. A self-guided walk along the 1,200-meter (4,000-foot) Los Montículos nature trail will lead you to thatched huts, “coffin graves”, ceramic artifacts, and what’s believed to be Costa Rica’s first bridge.

 

Guayabo National Monument is an easy drive from San Jose or guests can book a guided tour with transportation. Exploring the trail takes about an hour, possibly more if you stop for bird and butterfly watching.