The Pacuare and Reventazón Rivers are notable for whitewater rafting, making Turrialba a mecca for the sport.

"Several cities developed and prospered as a result of the building of the railroad to the Caribbean; Turrialba is one of these, and its architectural, spatial and ethnic makeup is different from other towns.

Declared a City of National Archeological Interest, this town is the entryway to the Costa Rican Caribbean.

[9] The town is also home to the only official Major League baseball factory, moved there from Haiti by Rawlings in the late 1980s.

The town's football club is Turrialba FC, who have spent several seasons in the Costa Rican Primera División.