The pleasant agricultural town of TURRIALBA , 45km east of Cartago on the eastern slopes of the Cordillera Central, has sweeping views over the rugged eastern Talamancas, though there's little to keep you here long. Tourists are most likely to see it as part of a trip to the Monumento Nacional Guayabo or en route to a whitewater rafting or kayaking trip on the Ríos Reventazón or Pacuaré. Many of the mountain lodge-type hotels nearby have guided walks or horseback rides up dormant Volcán Turrialba , though the lack of trails means that the volcano is otherwise inaccessible to independent visitors.