What Are Costa Rica's Most Accessible Volcanoes?
The easiest volcano to view up-close is Irazú. Visitors to this volcano can drive directly to its summit. From the parking lot it's only a 2-minute walk to the viewpoint, where visitors can gaze into its incredible crater. If you decide to see this volcano's summit, you should arrive no later than 10 am, as clouds have a tendency to obscure the crater during the afternoon.
Poás is another volcano that is quite easy to see, but instead of a 2-minute walk to the rim, it is closer to a 5-minute walk. You should arrive no later than 9 am to see the crater.
If it isn't cloudy, it's possible to see the Arenal Volcano from nearly everywhere around the town of La Fortuna, and from the hotels that are scattered around its massive base. You can walk around the lower slopes of Arenal at the national park, but you cannot get close to the top, as it is far too dangerous.
Cerro Chato flanks the Arenal Volcano and is a crater volcano as well. Dense forests blanket its hillsides, making it one of the most beautiful hikes in Costa Rica. But take note - this hike includes a steep ascent along an often very muddy trail.
Rincón de La Vieja is another crater volcano, but it is a grueling 5 mile (8 km) hike from the entrance of the national park to the crater's rim. The ascent up Rincón typically takes around 3.5 hours and should only be attempted by determined hikers.
Turrialba is also a crater volcano, but it has become unpredictable and is therefore no longer accessible to visitors. If the park were to re-open, it is a short hike from the parking lot to the crater.
The Tenorio and Mirravalles volcanoes are up-and-coming destinations. Visitors come for the hiking, the bird watching, and the view of the stunningly blue waters of the Río Celeste.
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See all questionsArenal Volcano National Park
The Arenal Volcano National Park packs all of Costa Rica's allure into one place: incredible hiking, magnificent views, abounding wildlife and the country's most active volcano. Hiking and horseback riding tours allow you to get up close and personal with this incredible area, which encompasses close to 30,000 acres (12,000 ha) and extends into eight different life zones. Overlooking everything is the imposing Arenal Volcano which sits right inside this wonderful park.
Irazu Volcano National Park
Irazu Volcano, still active, last made international headlines when it erupted in 1963 on the day that former US President John F. Kennedy visited the country. The eruption decimated crops in the area but left the soil enriched for decades to come. The last noticeable activity came in 1996, and since then Irazu has been a quiet giant. Reaching upward of 11,260 ft (3,432 m), Irazu is the tallest volcano in Costa Rica.
Poas Volcano National Park
Poás Volcano overlooks 14,000 acres (5,666 ha) of various habitats that make up Poas Volcano National Park (Parque Nacional Volcán Poás). Poás Volcano National Park is one of Costa Rica's most active volcanos, making it an awesome place to visit. At a height of 8,885 ft (2,708 m), Poás remains one of Costa Rica's largest and most active volcanoes. This fact alone is enough to attract thousands of visitors per year
Rincon de la Vieja National Park
This 34,800 acre (14,084 ha) national park is home to an intriguing combination of volcanic geological wonders and pristine tropical forests that span six life zones. Of course the main attraction is the smooth cinder cone volcano, Rincon de la Vieja (6217 ft, 1895 m), comprising of nine contiguous craters that dot the volcanic national park.
Tenorio & Miravalles Protected Zone
Highway 6 is between two volcanic national parks – Tenorio Volcano National Park to the east and Miravalles Volcano National Park to the west. The rugged volcanic landscape is also home to a vibrant tropical forest.
Turrialba Volcano National Park
The Turrialba Volcano National Park (Parque Nacional Volcan Turrialba) remains one of the least visited in the entire country. The volcano sits at 10,919 ft (3,328 m) along the southeast end of the Central Volcanic Corridor. From the summit on a clear day, the picturesque view includes the Atlantic coast to the east and other volcanoes such as Barva, Poas and Irazu.
