Poás Volcano

An active volcano renowned for its massive crater and striking turquoise crater lake. It offers breathtaking views and a well-maintained visitor center, making it a popular destination for nature lovers and adventure seekers.

An hour and a half from SJ, depending on traffic and rain. Cannot enter unless you book online $15-20, parking fee is about $5-6, It is a short walk to the viewing area, however you won't see anything when it's a cloudy day. I took an extended hike and it is very steep and dangerous when it's raining. I was glad to make it out without getting hurt. Park closes at 4 pm, stops allowing anyone after 2 pm.

Amazing experience!! It's a very short trip from San José and there's a beautiful waterfall on the way there. Someone said the journey is scary and that's just a bit extreme lol. The roads are fine. It seems to rain a lot though and it's chilly so bring a poncho and jacket. Try to order your tickets online as it makes life easier when you get there. The last entry is around 2PM. If there's cloud cover when you arrive, wait a bit and it will clear even if just for a moment because that's what happened with us. Got there and it was just clouds but after about 10 or so minutes it cleared nicely. When leaving, you're going to see some trails, be careful because we ended up on one that was very long and very far and very difficult with lots of stairs and there's hardly any signs to guide you. By time we got to the end we were beat. Overall I'd definitely recommend this experience!

Beautiful location but you can't see anything due to cloud cover. The guide indicated that 75 % of the time visitors can't see the volcano. We spent $166 US to travel round trip to the site, plus the fee to enter the National Park. After 30 minutes we were able to see a little, but not much. I wouldn't recommend it unless it's a clean day.

Meh. It was fine, wouldn’t pay the entrance price again but it’s a short drive from San Jose and if you’re in Costa Rica and can’t make it to a better volcano, this is fine.

A must visit for anyone staying in San José or nearby. Pleasant walk up to the viewing point for the volcano crater, after a short video explaining the history and dangers etc. The view is spectacular, over the crater and out towards the ocean. The volcano was quite active, and the air filled with the smell of sulfur released, so it was fascinating to see it 'in action' from a safe distance.

Hey, it was an amazing experience! You should definitely bring a raincoat and a light sweater. If you hate the cold, wear pants too. It was raining and freezing on July 15th, 2024. The sulfur smell is intense, and you can only stay for 20 minutes, but they're not too strict about it. The drive there is terrifying, but it's an adrenaline rush. The roads are super narrow with lots of turns. I suggest you find a skilled driver. The plants look like they're straight out of a Jurassic Park movie! Unfortunately, due to the recent increase in his activity, we weren't able to see the lagoon or do the trails.

This place is very dependent on weather. Arrive early morning and check cameras before getting too far up the mountains to avoid disappointment. Buy entry tickets ahead of time for the park. The first kiosk is to give your entry ticket. You can hand them your phone. Second is to pay for parking and they do accept credit cards. Overall it is a breathtaking experience. Literally and figuratively. If you are sensitive to altitude, take it slow walking up the road.