Turrialba is a canton in the Cartago province of Costa Rica. The head city is in Turrialba district.

History

Turrialba was created on 19 August 1903 by decree 84.

Geography

Turrialba has an area of 1,642.67 km2 and a mean elevation of 768 metres. Turrialba is the eleventh largest canton among the eighty two cantons that comprise Costa Rica. The Turrialba River and Atirro River establish major portions of the canton's western border, and the Chirripó River delineates its long southeastern border. The region is home to the active Turrialba Volcano.

Districts

The canton of Turrialba is subdivided into the following districts:

Demographics

For the 2011 census, Turrialba had a population of 69,616 inhabitants.

Transportation

Road transportation

The canton is covered by the following road routes: • CR RNP 10.svg National Route 10 • CR RNS 225.svg National Route 225 • CR RNS 230.svg National Route 230 • CR RNS 232.svg National Route 232 • CR RNT 411.svg National Route 411 • CR RNT 413.svg National Route 413 • CR RNT 414.svg National Route 414 • CR RNT 415.svg National Route 415 • CR RNT 417.svg National Route 417

Economy

Tourism

Guayabo National Monument is a historic archaeological site located 18 km north of Turrialba city, it is located in the Santa Teresita and Santa Cruz districts of the canton. It is one of Costa Rica's only two pre-Columbian sites that is open to the public, together with the Stone Spheres Museum in the south of the country. The Turrialba Volcano National Park is located in the canton, reopened after it was closed from 2012 to 2020 due to eruptions.

Dairy farms

The eponymous Turrialba cheese is produced in this region.

Bananas

Lower Turrialba is within Costa Rica's banana production zone and was important in the origin of United Fruit.