Biological Reserve & Environmental Education Center
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Biological Reserve & Environmental Education Center
Here you can discover the grandeur of the highest volcano in Costa Rica.
Easily accessible and close to the city, it has five craters and breathtaking views.
Observing the craters of the volcano is the main purpose of those who visit this National Park, located 19.2 miles (31 km) from Cartago city.
With a beautiful mountain setting, low vegetation, and very wet and cold weather, this site presents fog most of the time.
On clear days you can see from its top both Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, much of the national territory and, with a telescope, even the Lake of Nicaragua.
Another sector you can visit is Prusia, which has 9.9 miles (16 km) of roads to travel and spend leisure time in the middle of nature. This sector is the perfect destination for “runners” who want to experience contact with the force of nature while exercising.
Its maximum elevation is 11260 feet (3432 m) above sea level, being the highest volcano in Costa Rica, it has an average annual temperature of 41 Fahrenheit (5 ° C) to 48.2 Fahrenheit (9 ° C.), and rainfall of 9.3 feet (2387 mm) in the Craters sector and 5.0 feet (1527 mm) annually in Prusian sector. It is a stratovolcano (distinct layers of volcanic material), with an irregular sub-conical shape and five distinct craters.
Within this protected wilderness area several rivers and streams are born giving rise to the basins of Reventazón, Sarapiqui, Sucio, and Toro Amarillo Rivers. Due to its height and position in the Central Volcanic Range Irazu Volcano is a strategic point for telecommunications in the country.
Irazú Volcano National Park was created by Law No. 1917 of July 30, 1955, published in the Official newspaper La Gaceta 175 on August 9 of that year. Later the park was expanded by Executive Decree No. 26945-MINAE of August 22nd, 1988, for having a current area of 2000 ha.
The origin of its name comes from an Indian village that existed in the volcano called Iztarú, a word meaning, for them, the hill of tremor and thunder. However, through the years through verbal communication, the name was changed to Irazú.
Records of the eruptive activity of the volcano date back to 1723 when a strong eruption occurred, according to documented records by Diego de la Haya Fernandez, Governor of the Province of Cartago at the time. During the nineteenth century, the volcano fumaroles presented several periods of the activity described by foreigners traveling in the country.
In 1963, a buildup of volcanic materials in the bed of Reventado River caused an avalanche that destroyed about 300 houses in Taras de Cartago City.
In 1994 a sudden explosion occurred on the north wall of the main crater producing an avalanche that slipped into the bed of the Rio Sucio River, reaching beyond the bridge over the same river, located in the Braulio Carrillo highway. Since then, the volcano has only presented fumaroles on the north wall of the main crater.
Craters Sector of Irazu Volcano National Park has available the services of parking, cafeteria, sanitation services suitable for people with physical disabilities, and information booth located on the route to the main sightseeing, plus three ranches for lunch sites.
In Prusia Sector you will find the trails El Roble, Micaela, La Cave, Chiverrales, Cabeza de Vaca, El Ahorcado, El Puma and Los Abuelos, also you will have picnic areas, restrooms and water.
It is important to note that, as in other protected areas, at Irazú Volcano National Park, the following are not allowed:
Feel free to reach out and we’re happy to answer any questions you may have.