Poás Volcano National Park

Parque Nacional Volcán Poás

An active volcano featuring one of the world's largest active craters with a steaming, turquoise acidic lake. Easily accessible trails and viewpoints make it a top day trip from the Central Valley.

Things to do

• View the Main Crater — Walk the paved trail to the overlook of the massive active crater and its steaming turquoise acid lake, Laguna Caliente.
• Hike to Laguna Botos — Follow the Sendero Botos trail through cloud forest to a serene, cold-water crater lake formed in an extinct vent.
• Explore the Visitor Center — Learn about the volcano's geology, eruptions, and safety protocols through informative exhibits before heading to the crater.
• Walk the Sendero Escalonia — Stroll this forest loop trail lined with giant Escallonia trees, ferns, and endemic birds like the fiery-throated hummingbird.
• Reserve your timed entry online — Book a mandatory advance ticket and watch the safety video, as the park limits visitors and requires helmets for eruption preparedness.
• Birdwatch in the cloud forest — Spot resplendent quetzals, sooty robins, and volcano juncos in the misty highland vegetation around the trails.
• Visit nearby La Paz Waterfall Gardens — Combine your trip with this popular nature park featuring waterfalls, wildlife, and a hummingbird garden just down the mountain.

Food to try

• Fresas con crema — Fresh local strawberries topped with cream, sold at roadside stands along the route up to the volcano through Fraijanes.
• Casado — A hearty typical plate of rice, black beans, plantains, salad, and your choice of meat, ideal after a chilly hike.
• Café de altura — Sip a rich cup of high-altitude coffee grown in the Poás and Central Valley slopes at local sodas and cafes.
• Sopa negra — A warming black bean soup topped with a poached egg, perfect for the cold, damp mountain climate.
• Queso Palmito — A local stringy, braided fresh cheese often sold at farm stands in the dairy region around the volcano.

Local customs & good to know

• Dress for cold and rain — At over 2,700 meters the summit is chilly, windy, and often shrouded in fog, so bring a warm jacket and rain layers.
• Arrive early for clear views — Clouds typically roll in by mid-morning, so aim for the first entry slots to actually see the crater and lake.
• Follow gas safety rules — Sulfur dioxide levels can force sudden closures, so heed ranger instructions and limit time at the crater viewpoint.
• Support local vendors respectfully — Greet with a friendly 'pura vida' and buy strawberries or cheese from family stands on your drive up.

Nearby

• La Paz Waterfall Gardens — 8 km
• Barva Volcano (Heredia) — 16 km
• Sarchí — 18 km
• Zarcero — 18 km