Location: 34 miles from San Jose; 19 miles northeast of Cartago
See San Jose Tourism Region
Size: 5,703 acres
Date of Creation: August 1955
Elevation: 11, 260 above sea level
Part of: Central Volcanic Conservation Area
About:
The landscape of Irazu Volcano National Park is the only place in the Central Volcanic Range system that has rainforest and sub-alpine paramo – wind-swept, treeless plains situated from 10,827 to 13,124 feet.
The area around the volcanic craters resembles a moonscape, a vast expanse coated with black ash. One of Costa Rica’s active volcanoes, Irazu infamously erupted in 1963, raining clouds of ash on Cartago, San Jose and most of the Central Valley for nearly three years.
Volcanologists speculate that Irazu Volcano has been erupting for over 500 years. It has recently entered a dormant phase to the great relief of farmers and property owners along the slopes.
On a perfectly clear day, visitors can see both the Caribbean and Pacific coasts from atop the volcano. The principal crater, some 3445 feet in diameter, is filled with lime green water. Depending on mineral concentrations, the lagoon can also take on a red hue.
The craters here are fringed with a battered collection of bushes and trees, the remains of forests and grasslands damaged by eruptions and vapors. Wind-twisted oak and cedar trees, interspersed with poor man’s umbrella plants and patches of scrubby grass add to the area’s otherworldly feel.
Temperatures hover around 45-55 ºF, and strong winds are common, so bring a sweater. The best time to view the craters is early in the morning, as cloud cover usually thickens after 10 a.m. Visitors during the dry season (December- April) are more likely to get clear views.
In San Jose, tour companies offer half-day trips to the national park for $35 to $50. Alternatively, visitors can book a full-day combo excursion that includes visits to Irazu, Lankester Botanical Gardens and the Orosi Valley.
Travel Blogs:
Read our travel blog for details on our trip to Irazu Volcano National Park.
Weather:
Temperature: 40º F annual average
Precipitation: 80 inches annual average
Activities:
A trail leads from the information center to a lookout point over the craters. Visitors should keep an eye out for high-altitude wildlife such as the sooty robin and volcano junco. A visit here is strictly a day trip, as there is no place to stay inside the park, and camping is forbidden.
Facilities:
There is a restaurant with restrooms and a gift shop at the top in the parking area. Open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Trails:
There is one trail with views to the volcano’s crater. More trails are available in the Ricardo Jimenez Oreamuno recreation area.
Flora & Fauna:
Flora: Arrayan and arracachillo, cedar, black oak and poor man's umbrella
Birds: Volcano junco, sooty robin, woodpeckers and hummingbirds
Mammals: Coyote, rabbits, weasels and armadillos
Fees and Schedule:
Open: 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Entrance Fee: $10
Getting There:
From San Jose, take Highway 1 south to Cartago. Follow signs to Irazu Volcano. There is a paved road that leads through the mountains and continues to the park where a small information center is located. A bus goes to Irazu Volcano National Park on weekends and public holidays, leaving at 8 a.m. from San Jose's Gran Hotel Costa Rica (for information call 2272-0651).
The fare (one-way) from San Jose is $4; from Cartago, $2.25. The bus drops visitors off and picks them up in the parking area of the main crater where there are restrooms and an information desk. The bus stops at the Restaurant Linda Vista, which has wonderful views, and returns to San Jose at 1 p.m.
Nearby Parks:
Turrialba Volcano National Park
Braulio Carrillo National Park
Contact info:
Ranger station: 2551-9398