Irazu Volcano: All you Need to Know About Costa Rica's Highest Volcano

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If you’ve read my other blog posts, you probably already know I used to live. In 2019, my family came to visit me (and it was so fun!). Before driving down to Manuel Antonio, we stopped in the Cartago area (the mountains) for two nights. There, our main activity was to visit Irazu Volcano National Park. In Costa Rica, we live by the beach.. so it was a nice change of scenery to go explore the mountains for a few days. For those of you interested in visiting this beautiful National Park and Volcano, here is everything you need to know. Happy reading!

The volcano

With an elevation of 11 260 feet (3432 meters) above sea level, Irazu Volcano is the highest and largest active volcano in all of Costa Rica. On very clear days (which don’t happen often), you can see both the Pacific and the Atlantic oceans from the highest point! The name “Irazu” is actually an old Indigenous word which means “thunder and earthquake mountain”. The volcano is still active although its last eruption dates back to 1994 (so it is perfectly safe to visit).

What also makes this volcano so special is that it has five distinct craters. The two main ones (which you can see from the lookout) are the Crater Principal and the Crater Diego de la Haya (which is named after the man who documented the volcano’s very first known eruption in 1723).

Getting there

Irazu Volcano is the easiest volcano to access in Costa Rica. The National Park is about 30 kilometers from the city of Cartago (which used to be the capital of Costa Rica and is approximately 50 kilometers from San Jose). You can access the park by car or bus (if you choose an organized tour).

Entrance

The entrance costs 9000 colones or 15$US per person (for non-residents of Costa Rica) and the parking is free.

MY BIGGEST ADVICE: get to the National Park as soon as it opens (8:00 am). They only let a certain amount of people in the park at the same time. We got there around 9:30 am and had to wait in line (in our car on the street) for almost 2 hours before we were granted access. Also, the park closes at 3:30 pm so if you don’t go first thing in the morning, keep in mind that it closes relatively early too.

READ: MANUEL ANTONIO ULTIMATE CITY GUIDE

What to expect

The Weather

If you are planning a visit to Irazu Volcano National Park, you need to dress accordingly. Because of its high elevation, the area is definitely a lot chillier than most areas in Costa Rica. I recommend bringing long pants and a sweater. During our visit, the weather stayed around 17 degrees celsius (which was not bad) but apparently it can reach as low as 5 degrees Celsius on some days. Also, bring an umbrella and/or a rain jacket!! The volcano is right in the clouds so you may get wet (make sur you come prepared with the right clothes).

The area

This park protects 2309 hectares in the middle of the mountains and cloud forests. The only area open to visitors is the small area around the two main craters. Within that small public area, there are lookouts to see the craters, many cool hiking trails, a parking, public restrooms, a little souvenir shop, and a small cafeteria. It is important to know that there is no accommodation in the park.

Also in the public area, you will see Playa Hermosa (not to be confused with a beach haha). Playa Hermosa is basically a very flat and desert-like area between the craters. Is it very fun to walk/run around when the clouds start coming in (feels like you’re lost in the middle of the sky).

The Experience

No trip to Costa Rica is complete without visiting Irazu Volcano National Park (in my opinion). The drive to the park, the views of the volcano and its different craters, the many incredible hiking trails, and the fact that you are standing above the clouds truly make this experience worth it. If you are lucky like us, you will have enough clear sky to see the Crater Principal and its beautiful blue/green lake. Hopefully you will also have the chance of being completely surrounded by a clouds.

: Part of my family

: Irazu volcano

: Highest point

Here you have it: everything you need to know before your visit to Irazu Volcano National Park. Costa Rica is such a diverse country and I think it is so important to not just visit its beaches. This volcano and national park definitely have a special place in my heart and I would recommend it to anyone. The experience of walking above the clouds (and even walking through them) is one I will never forget. I truly wish that this will inspire you to add Irazu Volcano National Park to your travel list of Costa Rica!

Costa Rica, Central America, America Latina, Cartago, Irazu, volcano

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