Two popular to visit in the Turrialba area have closed temporarily as continued rainfall and saturated ground raise the risk of landslides and other emergencies. The public areas of Turrialba Volcano National Park and Guayabo National Monument closed today and will remain off-limits until further notice. The measure goes for tourists, guides and government personnel working at both sites.
The National System of Conservation Areas said the closure responds to unstable weather conditions and the orange alert in effect for the canton of Turrialba. Officials will reassess both sites once the emergency period ends before deciding whether visitors can safely return. The decision is tied to the weather rather than a change in volcanic activity at Turrialba Volcano.
Authorities said the purpose is to prevent people from entering areas where heavy rain may have weakened the ground, affected trails or increased the possibility of falling material. Visitors should not attempt to enter either protected area while the closure remains in place. Tour operators and travelers with planned visits are being advised to check official updates before traveling to the area.
Guayabo National Monument protects Costa Rica’s most important pre-Columbian archaeological site. Its stone roads, aqueducts, foundations and ceremonial structures offer a look at a settlement that flourished centuries before the arrival of Europeans. Turrialba Volcano National Park, meanwhile, gives visitors access to one of the best-known active volcanoes here in Costa Rica.
The park’s location and elevation also make it particularly exposed to rapidly changing weather, strong winds and difficult trail conditions. The closures come as Costa Rica continues dealing with the effects of consecutive tropical waves. More than 1,300 people remained in emergency shelters Tuesday, while authorities delivered assistance to isolated communities in the Caribbean and mountainous Indigenous territories.
Heavy rainfall has also caused flooding, landslides and repeated road closures. Although conditions improved in some locations Tuesday, emergency officials warned that saturated soil could continue producing incidents even when rainfall temporarily decreases. SINAC will determine when Turrialba Volcano National Park and Guayabo National Monument can reopen after reviewing conditions and receiving updated guidance from emergency officials. No reopening date had been announced as of yet.
