
🌎 Costa Rica 🇨🇷
⭐
📍 Poás Volcano
✈️ Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO)
🚗 37.4 KM
⏱️ 1 hour, 35 minutes
Poás Volcano National Park offers an accessible and popular natural attraction in Costa Rica, featuring one of the world's largest active craters. Accessibility is generally good, with paved roads to the entrance and relatively flat, paved paths at the main viewpoint, making it suitable for most visitors, including those with limited mobility. Visits can be self-guided, but online reservations for specific time slots are mandatory and must be made in advance; guided tours are available and often include transportation, offering deeper insights into the volcano's geology and surrounding ecosystem. The park is open year-round, but visibility of the crater is highly weather-dependent, with early mornings during the dry season (December-April) offering the best chances for clear views; closures due to volcanic activity can occur, so checking the official SINAC website before visiting is crucial. Entrance fees for foreigners are approximately $15-20 USD, plus a small parking fee, with typical visit durations at the crater limited to around 20-30 minutes to manage visitor flow and gas exposure, though the entire park experience might take 1-2 hours. Visitors should dress in layers as temperatures can be cool and windy, and be prepared for potential volcanic gas odors.