Volcano Poás
Now we take you to meet the Poás Volcano.
This is one of the country’s greatest natural wonders: an active stratovolcano standing at an altitude of 2,708 meters, with the most visited national park in Costa Rica. The volcano is composed of three craters, the largest of which measures 300 meters in depth and has a diameter of approximately 1.32 km. It holds the title of the world’s largest geyser-type crater. The water in the lagoon has a pH close to zero, making it acidic and toxic, and its brilliant blue color starkly contrasts with the rock. Truly a spectacular landscape!
Highly active between 1952 and 1954, the Poás Volcano woke up again in 2017 with significant eruptions that led to the closure of the park until August 2018. Still active at present, with minor gas emissions and an acidic lagoon, park visits are limited to only 20 minutes, and wearing a helmet is mandatory.
The Poás Volcano region, rich in biodiversity, is surrounded by cloud forests. The main economic activities in the Poás canton are agriculture and tourism. Coffee produced in the canton is among the most renowned in the country, as it’s grown at high altitudes on soil enriched by volcanic material. This part of the country is also known for its high-quality strawberry cultivation, benefiting from fertile soil and altitude. Another highlight of the region is “palmito” cheese, a Costa Rican specialty made from spun milk. Ferns and flowers for export are also grown here.
Given its mountainous nature, it often happens that the volcano’s crater is completely covered by clouds. Hopefully, this won’t be the case and that the view will be clear during your next visit!
