Stand at the crater lookout
Walk the paved trail to the main viewpoint over the vast steaming crater and its acid lake.
Alajuela
Volcán Poás
9+ tours available
Overview
A giant active crater
Poás Volcano National Park protects one of the largest and most accessible active craters on earth — a steaming, turquoise crater lake ringed by cloud forest. Just over an hour from San José, it is the country’s easiest big-volcano experience.
Highlights
- One of the world’s largest active craters
- Turquoise crater lake views
- Cloud forest and Botos lagoon trail
- Coffee and strawberry farms nearby
- Easy day trip from San José
Volcán Poás
Watch the experience
Things to do
Hike to Botos Lagoon
Follow a cloud-forest trail to a serene rain-fed lagoon in an extinct crater.
Tour a coffee or strawberry farm
Visit the fertile slopes of Poasito to taste mountain-grown coffee and fresh strawberries.
Visit La Paz Waterfall Gardens
Combine your trip with this nearby nature park of waterfalls, butterflies and rescued wildlife.
Breakfast with a view
Start early and enjoy a mountain breakfast before the clouds roll over the summit.
Best time to visit
The dry season (December to April) gives the clearest crater views. Year-round, early morning is best before clouds cover the summit by midday.
Getting there
About a 1.5 hour drive north of San José through coffee country. Entry requires a timed reservation, which we arrange as part of the tour.
Travel tip
Book your timed entry in advance, arrive as early as possible for clear views, and bring a warm layer — the summit is cold and often misty.
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