Turrialba, Costa Rica

Capital City

Turrialba feels like Costa Rica’s quiet middle child—close enough to San José for supplies, but far enough to avoid the chaos. The volcano looms over daily life; when it’s active, ash coats everything and the air smells like sulfur. You’ll need a car here. Public transport exists but won’t get you to the cheese farms or river trails that make this place unique.

Expats in Turrialba are either agro-tourists or retirees who traded beach humidity for cooler highland weather. The town itself is functional, not pretty. Groceries are cheap, but imported goods cost double. Locals are friendly if you speak basic Spanish, but bureaucracy moves at its own pace—expect to visit multiple offices for a driver’s license.