Visit Irazú Volcano National Park

Irazú Volcano National Park

Your guide for visiting Irazú Volcano

The Irazú volcano and national park are located in the region of central Valley. This vulcano is the highest located volcano in Costa Rica You will find this volcano on a hour and a half's driving from the capital San José. From the capital you drive in the direction of Cartago. This sleeping giant is located at an altitude of 3432 meters.

The trip to the Irazú Volcano

The thing that makes the Irazú volcano so interesting is that this giant is relatively easy to reach. Especially by car, this is the easiest volcano to reach. However, you do have to travel a considerable distance up the mountain. Fortunately, the road leading to it is in excellent condition.

If you leave from San Jose you start at an altitude of 1000 meters. So you need to climb more than 2.5 kilometers to get to the edge of the volcano. During this ride to the top, you will drive through a beautiful agricultural area where many flowers, onions and potatoes are grown.

About the Irazú Volcano

This giant is an active stratovolcano. Explosions took place in the early 60s and 90s. Do not let this stop you from visiting this beautiful location. Visiting this volcano is completely safe. Researchers continuously measure the activities around the volcano. If necessary, warning signals can be issued in time.

When you visit National Park Irazú, the volcano is of course the highlight. This volcano is not only the highest located volcano in Costa Rica, but also the largest. The volcano has a diameter of over 1 km. If you visit the crater, you will find yourself in a flat and impressive lunar landscape.

Before you get to the volcano, there is also an extinct crater to admire. This crater has a diameter of 560 meters and a depth of 170 meters. The name of this extinguished crater is Diego de la Haya.

4 Tips for visiting Irazú Volcano National Park

You can park fairly close to the entrance of the National Park. The secure parking lot is a 5-minute walk from the volcano, It is recommended to wear good walking shoes but it is not essential. Here are 3 more tips

Warm and water repellent clothing is recommended though. The wind and rain can make it very cold.
It is advisable to pack the contents of your (back) bag in a plastic bag. This way you protect it from getting wet.
Apply sunscreen. You may not expect it, but apply sunscreen. You can certainly get burned even in cloudy weather.

Is Irazu Volcano worth visiting?

Yes absolutely, Irazu Volcano is a must-see for any traveler to the area. With its beautiful natural surroundings, it's easily one of the most special volcanoes in all of Central America. Irazu Volcano is located in Cartago, Costa Rica, and it's a very special site for a number of reasons.

First, it's one of the most active volcanoes in Costa Rica—it has erupted more than 20 times since 1723. It's also one of the most accessible volcanoes in the country because its crater rim is open to visitors. You can drive right up to it and take in the view!

This Volcano is also a perfect place to take a hike and enjoy the scenery, or just sit back and relax in one of the restaurants that you will find beside the route to the entrance.

Frequently asked questions about Volcano Irazú National Park

What is the entrance fee to visit Volcano Irazú?

The entrance fee for an adult is $15 per person. For a child between the ages of 2 and 12, the entrance fee is $5. Admission for children under the age of 2 is free.

What are the opening hours of Volcano Irazú National Park?

You can visit Irazú Volcano National Park every day between 8 am and 3:30 pm.

Where can I buy an entrance ticket to visit Volcano Irazú?

You can buy your entrance ticket online. To do so, go to this website https://serviciosenlinea.sinac.go.cr/ and order your tickets. You can also buy your entrance ticket upon arrival.

When is the best time to visit Irazú Volcano?

It is best to visit the volcano in the morning. Usually the volcano is still rising above the clouds in the morning. You will have a much better view because of this.

Tip after visiting Volcano Irazú National Park

After you visited the Volcano there is a great stop on your way down from the montain. It's called Restaurante Linda Vista. This restaurant is highly recommended. You can eat well here for great rates. They have an extensive menu. In addition, you can enjoy a magnificent view that the restaurant has to offer. The interior of the restaurant can be called authentic. This restaurant is wallpapered with messages and posts from previous visitors. You will see notes from people all over the world.

The location of Restaurante Linda Vista at Volcano Irazú

2km north of Sanatorio Carlos Durán, San Juan de Chicuá 219, Province of Cartago, San Juan de Chicuá, 30703, Costa Rica.

Linda Vista Volcano Irazu