Pre-Columbian Gems
When you're traveling in Costa Rica, you might encounter traces of pre-Columbian civilizations.
Date: August, 2025
While there aren't large pyramids and ruins like in some other Central and South American countries, there are certainly interesting archaeological sites and artifacts to be found.
If you're visiting the Turrialba region, the Guayabo National Monument is highly recommended. The remains of this city date from 1000 BC to 1400 AD. The site covers approximately 20 hectares and includes stone foundations, roads, and aqueducts. It's estimated that only 10% of the city has been excavated. Little is known about the people who lived there.
'Las Bolas' are also unique. These (almost) perfectly round stone spheres from the southwest of the country range in diameter from a few centimeters to over two meters. They likely originate from the Diquis culture, from 500 AD to 1500 AD. If you're traveling to Drake Bay via Sierpe and have some time to spare, you can visit El Sitio Museo Finca 6, an archaeological site with several of these spheres. The stone sphere in the photo is from the Museo Nacional in San José.
In addition to the Museo Nacional, San José also has the Museo de Oro (Gold Museum). This museum has an impressive collection of pre-Columbian gold artifacts discovered in Costa Rica.
