Volcan Poas National Park

Visit the world’s largest geyser crater

The crater of Botos Lagoon in Volcan Poas National Park will remind of you old tribal movies scenes in which, clear, deep blue water is surrounded by the dense green vegetation and few tribal people are ready to sacrifice a maiden into the lagoon. The place very much looks similar to scenery seen in the jungle movies, with abundant foliage, wild animals and colorful birds. Volcan Poas National Park is one of the most visited  parks in Costa Rica because of two reasons; first, it’s near to San Jose city and secondly, because of its basaltic volcano, it has dense forest. The total area of the park is five thousand six hundred hectares and the altitude of the volcano is eight thousand and two hundred feet above sea level.

There is one crater which measures, one point five kilometers and is nine hundred feet deep. Underneath this crater, there is a lagoon which emits sulphurous gas. Unlike this lagoon, Botos Lagoon is filled with cold water which flows towards Rio Angel and than To Rio Sarapiqui. The Poas Volcano is known as world’s largest geyser for its emission of muddy water and steam. It also has a long history of eruptions which dates back eleven years ago. It is well known for its eruption of ashes and rocks nearby area in 1910 and in 1952-54. But now there are no such records of eruption happened. Even though there were no eruption of ashes and rocks but park was closed because of the volcano emitted harmful sulphurous gas in 1989.

Don’t just tour around and collect information about the volcano, the park is also known for its four different and unique habitats which are; area of scanty vegetation, a stunt forest, arrayanes and cloud forest. It’s also the home for seventy-nine colorful birds including robin, hummingbird and quetzal. It gives shelter to mammals such as coyotes, long-tailed weasels, skunks and some small felines. The specialty of the forest is green-yellow looking squirrel which is to be only found in Poas and nowhere else.

You will be impressed by the stunted forest for its ecosystem as the forest features some of the unique tough ferns and bonsai type trees which are stunt because of the acid rain caused by the volcano. You can’t miss out The La Paz waterfall, the most photographed waterfall in Costa Rica which is just twenty minutes away from the park.

There are three trails which go around the volcano and through the forest. The longest trail is Crater Overlook Trail, which is seven hundred and fifty meters long and other trail, is to Botos Trail which takes only twenty to thirty minutes to reach there. Another trail is “Escalonia Trail” which goes through the forest and takes thirty minutes. These all trails give wonderful views of the forest and the magnificent volcano. Remember this, even though the climate is humid here, you path is muddy so bring good shoes, raincoats and sweaters.

To reach at this park is not difficult task though coming by public bus will be hectic as bus from San Jose drops at San Pedro de Poas which is at distance of twenty-eight kilometers away from the volcano. So rent a car to reach here directly, divided in four or five passengers will minimize the fair individually. Make sure you bring your own plenty food, hot coffee or chocolate in thermos, water bottles, and lunch because you wont get any eateries shops nearby or inside the park. Try to reach early in the morning before ten or you will miss the most amazing show of crater as mostly after ten clouds starts covering the craters.

Even though city is near by, you will get good fair of lodges and cabins nearby park. The rates here varying too like on mountain lodges their rates are high, and the economical cabin you will find at Lo que tu quieras.