PARQUE NACIONAL VOLCÁN POÁS

The craters must be seen early in the morning to best appreciate the gaseous manifestations against a backdrop of blue skies and views of the valleys. It is a unique opportunity to walk on the lunar lands of a volcano in full activity! Indeed, there have been no less than 40 eruptions since 1828. The first crater, 300 m deep, measures more than 1 km in diameter. A lake of hot sulfurous water occupied its bottom until a few years ago, but the intensification of the activity of the volcano accelerated the evaporation and there is not much left. Inside this crater, another tiny crater has appeared, the last one from the most recent eruption (1953). The second crater is filled with cold water. The clouds of steam and fumaroles are easily observable from a platform built on the southern rim of the huge crater. In addition, a road overlooking the beautiful scenery of the Central Valley leads directly to the administration of the Poás National Park. On the route that we follow on foot, we can see the evolution of the damage to the surrounding vegetation due to the acid rain, itself caused by the volcano. Holes disfigure the "poor man's umbrella" (the sombrilla del pobre, whose leaves are ideal for protection from the rain), and the coffee crops are less beautiful around the volcano than in the rest of the valley. Besides, the expedition is not recommended for people with respiratory problems or sensitive eyes. For the others, do not stay more than 20 minutes at the edge of the crater; your eyelids will start to burn before that time anyway. The emissions are sometimes so severe that the park closes for a few days. If you are afraid of sulfurous gases, a handkerchief soaked in vinegar water should get you close to the crater. In 2017, the park closed for over a year, as the fumes were too dangerous at the time. By the end of 2022, access to the crater, picnic area and trails was once again available. However, check the official website of SINAC before going there, as the volcano is in full activity, the access conditions can be changed at any time. It can be cold at high altitudes compared to the mild temperatures of San José, so remember to take a little wool and a raincoat if it is the rainy season.