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Location: Alajuela Province, 55 km from San Jose and 37 km north of Alajuela
See San Jose Tourism Region
Size: 16,000 acres
Max Elevation: 8,900 ft.
Date of Creation: January 1971
Part of: Central Volcanic Conservation Area
About:
The accessibility, spectacular views and otherworldly craters of Poas Volcano make it one of the country’s most popular national parks with more than 250,000 visitors each year.
Just over a two hour drive from San Jose or Alajuela, the park is wheelchair accessible, has paved roads and a sensational view of the second-widest crater (9/10th of a mile) in the world. Poas is one of Costa Rica’s five active volcanoes and has erupted several times over the past century, sending huge ash clouds into the air.
The park is blanketed in giant ferns and poor man’s umbrella plants, their massive leaves nearly three feet in diameter. The acid rains generated by the volcano allow few other species to flourish in the area. From the crater lookout, visitors can observe a lagoon of aquamarine water. At a depth of nearly 1000 feet, it is the largest volcanic lagoon on Earth.
Poas is comprised of three craters, only one of which is active. One of the dormant craters has transformed into a cold-water lake, known as Laguna Botas which flows down the mountain and feeds the Sarapiqui River.
The park contains four major habitats: arrayans, cloud forest, stunted forest and areas with little or no vegetation. Hikers will be pleased to learn that this is the most accessible active volcano in the world, though not all may consider "accessibility" to a live volcano a positive attribute.
Several tour companies in San Jose offer excursions to the volcano, often including stops at other area attractions such as coffee plantations or butterfly farms. Tours usually run between $45 and $80 and include transportation, a naturalist guide and lunch.
Nearby Attractions:
Another sight worth seeing in the area is La Paz Waterfalls, the most photographed waterfall in Costa Rica. It is located outside La Paz Waterfall Gardens, about 4.5 kilometers northwest of the hamlet of Poasito. La Paz is a mammoth place – a nature park, wildlife refuge, butterfly garden and serpentarium all wrapped up in one.
A hot spot on the tourist trail, La Paz Waterfall Gardens has landscaped grounds and nearly three miles of trails that are lush with bromeliads and orchids. From Poas take the road east from Poasito for 3 kilometers, turn left at the crossroads and drive about ten kilometers north.
Travel Blogs:
Read our experiences with tours to Poas and Irazu Volcanoes (May 2007)
Weather:
Annual Rainfall: 140 inches
Temp: 45 °F – 70 °F
Activities:
Light hikes and bird watching are the major activities in the park. Camping is not permitted.
Facilities:
There is a visitor center with a small cafe, gift shop, museum and auditorium.
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Trails:
Hiking is permitted on the park’s three marked trails. Crater Trail is a 750 meter-long paved path to the lookout of the main crater. Botos Lake Trail is about 1 km long and winds through chilly cloud forest to Laguna Botos, a cold-water lake that occupies an extinct volcano crater. The thirty minute hike ends at a wonderful spot for a picnic. Escalonia Trail (about 1 km) starts at the picnic grounds and, with fewer hikers, is the quietest of the three trails.
Flora & Fauna:
The park is home to eighty or more species of birds, including sooty robins, black guans, the resplendent quetzal, toucans, flame-throated warblers, squirrel cuckoos, great curassows, purple-throated mountain gems, golden-hooded tanagers and hummingbirds.
Less commonly seen are Baird's tapirs, coyotes, squirrels, rabbits and bats.
Vegetation includes banderita espanola orchids, royal broom zorrillos and poor man's umbrellas, famous for having the largest leaves of any plant in Costa Rica.
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Fees and Schedule:
Admission: $10
Hours: Open daily from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Getting There:
The trip is an easy one, whether arriving by taxi, bus or car:
Taxi: A taxi from San Jose to the main entrance of the park costs between $45 and $50 dollars (up to four people are allowed in one taxi ). A taxi from San Pedro de Poas costs $25 - $30.
Public Bus: There are two buses from San Jose to Poas Volcano. A private bus leaves from Parque La Merced Sundays at 8 a.m. The bus stops at Restaurant El Poas in the hamlet of Poasito and arrives at the park around 10 a.m., returning.to San Jose at 1:30 p.m.
There is also a daily TUASA bus from Avenida 2, Calles 12/14 in San Jose at 8:30 a.m. that makes one stop in Alajuela's main bus terminal at 9:00 a.m. en route to Poas Volcano. The journey is usually a little more than two hours each way, and only one return bus departs Poas for San Jose (via Alajuela) at 2:30 p.m.
Car: From San Jose take the Pan American Highway west to Alajuela. Follow signs into town on Calle 2. Continue on this road all the way through town, following numerous volcano signs to Poas. The route is scenic and takes roughly one and a half hours. Alternatively, from San Jose, take highway 3 or 5 to Heredia, then 126 north through Barva and Roble to Varablanca where you head west towards Poasito, following signs 10 km farther to Poas Volcano National Park.
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Places to Stay:
There are no hotels within the park, however the quaint town of Poasito is dotted with lodges that offer rustic cabins for rent, each equipped with a heater or fireplace. Cabins usually rent for $30-40 per night. In nearby Vara Blanca, a comfortable mountaintop lodge provides slightly more luxurious accommodations, with well appointed suites and a billiard room. Both Poasito and Vara Blanca are a short drive from the park.
Recommendations:
The best time to visit the park is during the dry season (December through April) when crater visibility is most consistent. Visitors are more likely to get a glimpse of Poas Volcano in the early morning, though clouds can roll in and out periodically throughout the day. Don’t forget to bring a light jacket or sweater as daytime temperatures can dip into the 50’s. Weekends are always more crowded, as Ticos pour in from San Jose and surrounding cities.
Nearby Parks:
Juan Castro Blanco National Park
Braulio Carrillo National Park
Contact Info:
Poas Volcano Park Office Tel: 506-2-482-2165
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