Photo by Alvaro Hernandez on Unsplash
For lovers of extreme heat, challenging hikes, and the immediate danger of death – in other words, volcano enthusiasts – Costa Rica is one of the best locations in the world. Across the country, there are 66 volcanoes to look at and explore.
And don’t worry about the “death” part. Only five of these volcanoes are active, while the other 61 remain dormant. This means you can visit a great deal of them without any fear whatsoever – other than how long it’s going to take you to reach the crater!
If you’re planning a trip to Costa Rica any time soon, however, you’re going to have to narrow down that list of 66. Thankfully for you, we’ve written a list of five of the most impressive volcanoes to visit, and what makes them so special.
Arenal Volcano
This is probably the most popular volcano in the country, and it’s not hard to see why. Located in the north, this volcano towers above the rainforest at 5,436 feet, with a fascinating history that you’re sure to hear about when you visit. Its last eruption was in 2010, and before that, the volcano experienced a major eruption in 1968, burying three villages and affecting ninety square miles of land.
Because it is still active, tourists are unable to climb it, but looking at it from afar is fascinating enough. In fact, one of the best boat rentals in Costa Rica is on Lake Arenal, where you can spend a whole day cruising around the lake with the volcano as your backdrop. Far better – and easier – than climbing it!
Irazu Volcano
If you want to visit the tallest volcano in Costa Rica, then Irazu Volcano is going to be your port of call. Located in the Central Valley – a few miles from the capital city of San Jose – this is a volcano with two main craters, one of which is home to an almost alien-looking green lake. The best thing about visiting Irazu is that you don’t have to hike several hours to gain access to it.
A nearby summit can be driven to, and this gives you a great view of the two craters and, on a clear day, even the Pacific and Atlantic oceans in the distance. Since 1723, there have been an estimated 23 eruptions, with the biggest taking place between 1963 and 1965, which destroyed more than 400 homes.
Poas Volcano
23 eruptions? Pfft. Try 39 since 1828! That’s the eruption count from the Poas Volcano, also near the centre of San Jose. This volcano towers over Poas Volcano National Park, standing at 8,848 feet. One of the most fascinating things about this volcano is the blue-acid lake that sits in one of the biggest craters in the world – almost 0.9 miles in diameter.
Unlike previous entries on this list, you can climb right to the top of this volcano, where there is an observation deck looking over the crater. To ensure a successful climb, make sure to set off in the morning and try to avoid the clouds that cover the volcano in the afternoon. Tickets cost around $15 for adults and $5 for children, but that’s more than worth it for such an epic, once-in-a-lifetime view. At least, it is in our opinion!