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Poás Volcano National Park: Visitor’s Guide

Poas Volcano Summary

The Poás Volcano National Park in Alajuela, Costa Rica, is the third most visited national park in the country, being one of the main tourist destinations. Its geyser-shaped crater is famous for being one of the largest in Central America and the world. It is one of the most active volcanoes in Costa Rica, and also the closest to San Jose.

Getting to Poás Volcano National Park

Located about 40 kilometers (24.5 miles) from San José, , it can be reached by various types of transportation.

By car

Driving to Poás Volcano National Park from San José takes approximately 1.5 hours. The journey takes you through mountains, small villages, and beautiful views of the Central Valley. Which makes it a good opportunity to see rural Costa Rica on the way.

You do not need a 4×4 to reach the park, the roads are all paved and in good condition. However, in some sectors, the road is narrow and curvy, so it is advisable to drive slowly and carefully. Pay attention to the road and you will have a safe and pleasant trip to the park.

  • You can see below the route’s links:

By Public Transportation

To get to Poás Volcano National Park by public transportation you need to get to Alajuela first. Buses leave from downtown San José to Alajuela every 10-15 minutes. You can also take the train to Alajuela but it leaves every 45 minutes and only has schedules in the mornings and afternoons.

Once in Alajuela, you’ll need to take a bus to Poasito. These buses leave every 30 minutes from Monday to Friday and every hour on Saturdays and Sundays. When you get to Poasito you’ll need to take private transportation to get to the volcano. Options include hiring a taxi or using services like Uber or Didi.

On Saturdays and Sundays, there is a direct bus from El Roble Terminal in Alajuela to the park. This bus leaves at 9:30 and returns from the park at 14:00, costing approximately $8.

While taxis or services like Uber or Didi from San José to Poás are also an option, they can be expensive, costing around 20,000 colones or more. And finding a return service can be challenging due to the park’s distance from the Central Valley.

By Tour

For those seeking a more structured experience, numerous tour operators in San José offer day trips to Poás. These tours often include knowledgeable guides who provide valuable insights into the volcano’s history and ecology.

Poas Volcano Road

Entrance Fee & Opening Times

Poás Volcano National Park has specific visiting hours and an entrance fee system to ensure conservation and safety due to its status as an active volcano.

The last entry is at 14:00 p.m., but the park is open from 8:00 to 15:30, every day of the year. If volcanic activity increases, be aware that the park may close or change its schedule.

If you plan on exploring by yourself, you have to book in advance through the park’s official website. First, you have to open an account, then search for Poás Volcano National Park, choose the day and a time slot, enter your personal details and check out. After making payment through this platform, you will receive reservations via email for presentation at the gate when entering into the park.

For those going with a tour operator, the company will handle ticket purchases instead you. It is common for the tour operator to ask for your passport number or other identification, as this information is required for the reservation.

The entrance fee is $16.95 for adults and $5.65 for children The Park also charges a parking fee of ¢2,750 that could be made either in cash or card payments at the park.

Entrance fee

Buy tickets: SINAC- National Park Reservation System

Poas Volcano Entrance

Things to do in Poás Volcano National Park

Visitor Center

After entering into the park, the first thing you’ll see is the visitor center, which serves as a welcome area for visitors. At this spot, you can find several services like a souvenir shop, a small coffee shop, and bathrooms. But there is also a small showroom, where you can learn interesting things about the volcano, its history, and the surrounding wildlife.

Poas Volcano Crater

Exploring the Crater

Next to the visitor’s center, you will find a well-maintained pathway that led to the main attraction, the Poás volcano’s impressive crater. The journey to the crater along the main trail is easy and comfortable; even people in wheelchairs can use it without problems, as it has no uneven sections. This trail has a distance of 600 meters that can be covered in 15 to 20 minutes.

Not only is Poás Volcano crater one of the largest but it is also one of the most active in the world. Usually, this main crater has a lake, but due to increased volcanic activity this year (2024), the crater lake has almost disappeared.

The observation deck is easily accessible to anyone and, on a good day, the view is simply breathtaking. The deck even has small shelters for use in the event of an eruption.

Update: Additional measures have been taken following the recent eruptions in mid-January 2024. All visitors must wear a helmet provided by park staff. In addition, only 56 people are allowed at the lookout point for a period of 20 minutes at a time, in order to ensure safety and manage crowd control in case of an eruption.

Botos Lake_Poas Volcano

The Wonderful Botos Lake

Once you have viewed the crater, head over to Botos Lagoon. This path is near the crater and completely tarmacked. You should be able to get there in about half an hour from the crater — it’s only 20-30 minutes away. However, this trail is of easy to moderate difficulty, as some of its sections are a bit elevated and can be slippery if it has rained. The distance of the trail is 1,400 meters (0.87 miles).

Botos Lagoon is a greenish-blue lake in an inactive crater. It is surrounded by dense green jungles and has peaceful and beautiful views. The contrast between the lush vegetation and the clear water is striking and offers a unique view of the park’s natural beauty.

You can either come back along the same path or take Laguna Botos trail on the other side, that brings you back to the parking lot. Keep in mind that this trail also requires moderate effort, it’s 1800 meters (1.1 miles) long. But it takes more time and gives another view of lagoon and forest around it.

Update: After recent eruptions in 2024, the path from the crater to Botos Lagoon is closed now. To get to the lagoon, one must take the path near the parking lot instead. This way people can still see this beautiful place but stay away from any volcanic activity that might occur.

Poas Volcano Trail_2

Wildlife and Birdwatching Opportunities

Birdwatchers will be very lucky here as there is an incredible variety of bird species living in this park including quetzal – one of the most colorful birds on Earth! To improve your bird-watching experience, join a guided tour and walk along Laguna Botos trail which covers 1800 meters (1.1 miles). These tours increase chances for spotting different birds and learning about their natural habitat within Park.

Poas Volcano Trail

Best Time to Go to Poás Volcano

The best time to visit Poás Volcano is during dry season, especially in January, February and March, when there are fewer clouds in the sky which usually means clearer views into crater itself too!  

Visiting the crater during the rainy season is possible, but you should always do it in the early morning hours, and if you arrive before the park opens it is better. This advice has worked for me most of the time, although I have not always been lucky.

Regardless of the time of year, it is advisable to visit in the morning. During the dry season and especially due to its altitude the afternoons are usually cloudy and foggy and during the rainy season, the afternoons are usually rainy. Arriving early helps to avoid these weather conditions and enhances the visit.

Me at Poas

Tips for Visiting the Poás Volcano National Park

As a local, these are some of the tips for visiting the Poás Volcano National Park

  • Arrive Early: No matter if you’re going during the dry or rainy season, aim for a morning visit to enjoy clearer views of the crater before clouds set in.
  • Check the Weather: For real-time weather updates and to know if you’ll have clear views, check the park’s live camera.

Poás Volcano Live

  • Shoes: Wear waterproof hiking shoes with good grip, as trails can be slippery, especially after rain. Even during the dry season, rain is possible. During my last visit in January, it had rained the night before and the trails were wet.
  • Gear: Bring a light backpack, a refillable water bottle, sunscreen, and insect repellent.
  • Clothing: The weather at Poás can change quickly so dress in layers. A waterproof jacket is important for sudden rain and a sweater can be handy as it gets windy with an average temperature of 12°C (53.6°F).
  • Volcano Activity: Keep in mind, this is a live volcano. The most recent major eruption occurred in April 2017. Listen to guides and park rangers. You can watch the eruption on this video

April 2017 Eruption

  • Sulfur Smell: Once you get to the parking lot, you’ll probably start smelling the sulfur — sometimes it’s a little stronger in the crater, but it’s normal and usually not that bad.

Poás Volcano National Park Tourist Map

Below you will find a map of the national park, public transportation, as well as recommended locations of other attractions, restaurants and hotels/Airbnb’s nearby.

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