Parque Nacional Volcán Poás

Wonderful national park in Costa Rica! The view is stunning. You need to take a light jacket because it could be cold up there. Also, be sure to have a good pair of walking shoes. There are warning lights in case the volcano gases rise to dangerous levels. The national park is well located just about one hour drive from the airport. Nice place don’t miss it in case you come to visit Costa Rica.

A must if you are in the San Jose area. Not only the volcano itself, but the drive and surrounding areas and restaurants getting there. The place itself needs better signage as once inside not sure what is what. Also there are no gift shops, coffee shops etc, which is a pity. There are two view points via walking oaths, around 30 to 45 minutes in all that on a clear day provide beautiful sites of the volcano, mountain and so on. There are other paths but as there are no signs one is not sure where they go. There are toilets on site. Yes you have to pay to enter and park but it is not expensive.

Definitely worth visiting. This is the 1st time I experienced the crater of a volcano so accessible, just a short walk. Volcano became a bit stirred during our visit, so couldn’t go off the main path, but the view and experience are worth while. But tickets beforehand, everything is done through their website.

A must visit in Costa Rica. The ambience and the peace you feel is amazing. We were not able to see the volcano due to clouds and weather but still was an amazing experience.

The Poas Volcano National Park is only about 1.5 hours drive from San Jose and is unique in that it contains an active volcano (Poas) that can be seen from a very short distance. We bought tickets online before the visit and even though we booked a later time, we were allowed to get in as soon as we arrived. The park is well staffed and well maintained and visitors are guided into the parking lot to make sure there is no traffic bottleneck. Starting from the visitor center, there is a circular trail about 3km around and along this trail the main attractions are the Poas Volcano and the Laguna Botos. There are viewing areas and sign boards made at both sites. With a brisk hike, this trail may be covered in about 1.5- 2 hours. We went on a cloudy day so a crystal clear view of the Poas Volcano was not possible. However, the clouds drifted every now and then and we were able to catch glimpses of the crater quite well. It is active and steam keeps spurting out continuously. There is also a volcanic gas monitoring station next to the viewing area which constantly measures the concentration of toxic volcanic gases in the area. The hike to Laguna Botos was a little steep but the view was completely worth it. Clear visibility, blue water with a greenish tinge and surrounded by greenery, the lake presents a very pretty picture from the viewing area. This is the crater of a dead volcano, where water has accumulated. The volcanic basin makes the water slightly acidic and so it is not abundant in life except for acidophilic microorganisms. The circular trail is a paved path running through a dense trees, shrubs, creepers, epiphytes and moss. Many plants have thick leaves, a protective adaptation against volcanic gases and acidic rainwater. Thick layers of moss also grow on the ground, tree trunks and rocks. They absorb rain water like sponge, support and water growing vegetations. A large number of trees with strong trunks are also home to numerous epiphytes, some being almost completely covered in large varieties of the latter. Overall, this natural preserve is a treasure trove of flora, foliage and volcanic formations. Highly recommended!

Poas Volcano is one of the active volcanoes in Costa Rica. The hike was easy and approx 700 mts from the info center. However when we went, it was completely covered in fog and raining. Nevertheless it was a new and incredible experience to learn about the history of this volcano and I was able to smell something like sulphur..

This hike was absolutely gorgeous. It was a pretty easy hike to the mirador but you can continue and get an active hike in if you complete the whole trail. Well worth the visit and we saw some cool wildlife.

Poás Volcano is still active, which means that some areas—or even the entire park—may be closed upon your arrival. Important to know before your visit: Tickets must be booked in advance on the official SINAC website, and there is also a mandatory parking fee to enter the park. A presentation is given before heading to the crater (which is just a short walk from the entrance), but we had to ask the staff to find out that part of the park was closed—something that wasn’t clearly mentioned. If you're choosing between volcanoes, we personally found the Arenal Volcano visit much more enjoyable and immersive.