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Archaeological Sites

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Costa Rica's most important and popular archaeological sites are depicted here.

Browse Archaeological Sites

Spheres Park, Diquis Valley Archaeological Sites, Costa Rica

Diquis Valley Archaeological Sites

44 photosCabuyo River, El Farallon National Monument, Costa Rica

El Farallon National Monument

20 photosPark entrance, Guayabo National Monument, Costa Rica

Guayabo National Monument

19 photos

Selected photos: Archaeological Sites

Cabuyo River, El Farallon National Monument, Costa RicaCabuyo RiverEl Farallon Petroglyph Wall, El Farallon National Monument, Costa RicaEl Farallon Petroglyph WallSpiral Petroglyph, El Farallon National Monument, Costa RicaSpiral PetroglyphEl Farallon Petroglyph Wall, El Farallon National Monument, Costa RicaEl Farallon Petroglyph WallSpiral Petroglyph, El Farallon National Monument, Costa RicaSpiral PetroglyphFish Petroglyph, El Farallon National Monument, Costa RicaFish PetroglyphSpheres Park, Diquis Valley Archaeological Sites, Costa RicaSpheres ParkGrinding Stones, Diquis Valley Archaeological Sites, Costa RicaGrinding StonesPetroglyphs Map, El Farallon National Monument, Costa RicaPetroglyphs MapSpheres, Diquis Valley Archaeological Sites, Costa RicaSpheresCabuyo River, El Farallon National Monument, Costa RicaCabuyo RiverEsferas, Diquis Valley Archaeological Sites, Costa RicaEsferasSquares Petroglyph, El Farallon National Monument, Costa RicaSquares PetroglyphEl Silencio Stone Sphere, Diquis Valley Archaeological Sites, Costa RicaEl Silencio Stone SpherePetroglyph with holes, El Farallon National Monument, Costa RicaPetroglyph with holespetroglyph, El Farallon National Monument, Costa RicapetroglyphMetate, Diquis Valley Archaeological Sites, Costa RicaMetateTour Group, El Farallon National Monument, Costa RicaTour GroupEntrada al Museo, Diquis Valley Archaeological Sites, Costa RicaEntrada al MuseoPetroglyphs Map, El Farallon National Monument, Costa RicaPetroglyphs MapSquares Petroglyph, El Farallon National Monument, Costa RicaSquares PetroglyphPark entrance, Guayabo National Monument, Costa RicaPark entranceTour Group, El Farallon National Monument, Costa RicaTour GroupFish Petroglyph, El Farallon National Monument, Costa RicaFish PetroglyphDon Juan Bautista, Diquis Valley Archaeological Sites, Costa RicaDon Juan BautistaPetroglyph with holes, El Farallon National Monument, Costa RicaPetroglyph with holesLopez Brother, El Farallon National Monument, Costa RicaLopez Brotherpetroglyph, El Farallon National Monument, Costa RicapetroglyphMuseo Finca 6, Diquis Valley Archaeological Sites, Costa RicaMuseo Finca 6View of Guayabo, Guayabo National Monument, Costa RicaView of GuayaboCarved spider web in stone, Guayabo National Monument, Costa RicaCarved spider web in stoneBuried Stone Sphere, Diquis Valley Archaeological Sites, Costa RicaBuried Stone SphereMain Mount, Guayabo National Monument, Costa RicaMain MountFelino de Piedra, Diquis Valley Archaeological Sites, Costa RicaFelino de PiedraGuayabo Mock-up, Guayabo National Monument, Costa RicaGuayabo Mock-upLopez Brother, El Farallon National Monument, Costa RicaLopez Brother

What are the stone spheres of the Diquís?

In 2014 UNESCO inscribed four settlements of the Diquís delta, Finca 6, Batambal, El Silencio and Grijalba-2, as a World Heritage property. The settlements date from about 500 to 1500 CE, and the spheres range from 0.7 to 2.57 metres in diameter; the largest is at El Silencio. The Museo Nacional reports that most are made of gabbroic rock from the Cordillera Costeña, with a few in limestone and sandstone.

A stone sphere more than 2.5 meters in diameter, worn by the hot, humid climate of the area. Sitio
A stone sphere more than 2.5 meters in diameter, worn by the hot, humid climate of the area. Sitio Arqueológico El Silencio, Museo Nacional de Costa Rica, Palmar Sur.

This photo shows the sphere captioned as El Silencio's largest, a heavy dark boulder on short grass, its lower edge stained green. Their purpose is still uncertain. Researchers suggest they marked rank, power and ethnic identity, and some may have stood in open plazas of major settlements. See Diquís Valley Archaeological Sites.

What is Guayabo?

Guayabo National Monument, near the city of Turrialba, was occupied from about 1000 BC to 1400 AD according to SINAC, with its major development around 800 AD. Its structures include 43 mounds, three aqueducts, two plazas and two roads, all built from river stones. Naturalist Anastasio Alfaro first reported the site in 1886, and Law 5300 of 13 August 1973 declared it a national monument. Why the place was chosen, and why it was abandoned before the Spaniards arrived, is not known. See Guayabo National Monument.

Found laying around the site, Diquis Valley Archaeological Sites, Costa Rica
Found laying around the site.

Small finds are less dramatic than the spheres. This photo shows two flat stones with a rounded stone placed on top, captioned as grinding stones found lying around a site.

What is El Farallón?

Monumento Nacional El Farallon Finca de los Lopez Sandillal de Cañas, Guanacaste, El Farallon
Monumento Nacional El Farallon Finca de los Lopez Sandillal de Cañas, Guanacaste

El Farallón, in the Cañas area of Guanacaste, is a large rock wall carved with petroglyphs beside the Cabuyo River. In this photo a group of visitors passes below the grey face. The Museo Nacional found the site in 1987 and it was declared a national monument in 1998. The engravings include human figures, animals such as monkeys, birds and fish, and a sun, and are attributed to the Corobicí. It sits on private land, so access is arranged with the owners; see El Farallón National Monument.

For more on how finds are studied and displayed, see the National Museum. Access, schedules and conditions at all of these sites change, so confirm with the managing institution before travelling.