Irazu Volcano National Park houses the tallest volcano in Costa Rica at 11,260 feet in elevation. The volcano has not experienced a true eruption since the 1960s, but is still considered to be active. Periodically visitors will witness fumaroles - toxic steam and pressure - blowing out of the crater. Located in the Cartago Province, Irazu Volcano National Park is comprised of 5,000 acres of land. The entire park is located above the frost line, while most of the summit area is above the tree line due to elevation.
Irazu Volcano National Park is mainly a project in restoring the beautiful land that was destroyed during its latest eruption. This eruption has not left much of an environment for life to flourish in, but the views more than make up for this.
Once on the summit, visitors will see a chartreuse green crater lake and fumaroles. Both the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean along with magnificent views of mountains in every direction can be observed when the weather permits. When coming upon the crater you will notice an unusual coloring of the rainfall, due to the amount of minerals in the atmosphere.
You may not camp in the park, but the trip is a short one from anywhere in the Central Valley. Visitors can make a stop at one of the nearby coffee plantations and botanical gardens on the way.
There are hiking trails in Irazu Volcano National Park through oak and pine forest with nice picnic areas. Admission is 10USD and the park is open from 8 - 3:30 pm Tuesday - Sunday.
Located in the cloud forest, the weather is fairly predictable. Expect cool and damp conditions and dress for rain. Daytime temperatures average in the low 70s with night time lows averaging in the upper 50s. The most consistent rain is experienced between the months of May through November with the heaviest rains September through November.
Visitors should pack shorts, tee shirts, appropriate shoes, rain gear, sun block. It is also advised to bring at least one pair of pants, a long sleeve shirt, and even a sweat shirt or light jacket. Check our packing list article for more ideas.
Fun Fact: Temperatures towards the summit of Irazu Volcano have been known to drop below freezing.
| Turrialba | 59 km |
| Heredia-Poas | 63 km |
| Alajuela | 72 km |
| San Jose | 86 km |
| Grecia | 96 km |
Latitude: N 9° 59' 6.72"
Longitude: W 83° 51' 41.76"
Irazu Volcano National Park is mainly a project in restoring the beautiful land that was destroyed during its latest eruption. This eruption has not left much of an environment for life to flourish in, but the views more than make up for this.
Once on the summit, visitors will see a chartreuse green crater lake and fumaroles. Both the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean along with magnificent views of mountains in every direction can be observed when the weather permits. When coming upon the crater you will notice an unusual coloring of the rainfall, due to the amount of minerals in the atmosphere.
You may not camp in the park, but the trip is a short one from anywhere in the Central Valley. Visitors can make a stop at one of the nearby coffee plantations and botanical gardens on the way.
There are hiking trails in Irazu Volcano National Park through oak and pine forest with nice picnic areas. Admission is 10USD and the park is open from 8 - 3:30 pm Tuesday - Sunday.
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