Irazú Volcano

Information

Elevation

3.432 m

Country

Costa Rica (CR)

Location / Range

Cordillera Central, Cartago Province, Costa Rica — protected within Parque Nacional Volcán Irazú

Mountain type

Complex stratovolcano (active)

Volcanic?

Yes — volcano

Coordinates

9.9792, -83.8522

Difficulty

Easy (the summit can be reached by vehicle; a short crater trail is available for all fitness levels)

Best Season

December–April (Costa Rican dry season; best crater visibility in the morning before midday fog)

Permits & Rules

An entry ticket MUST be bought online via SINAC (sinac.go.cr); 2025 price: USD 15 (foreign tourists); limited capacity of 150 people/hour in the crater sector; the park is open 08:00–16:00, last entry 14:00

Hazards

Toxic volcanic gas near the crater; very cold summit (5–9°C, colder with wind chill); strong wind and thick fog after midday; the access road may close in bad weather or raised volcanic activity; minor seismic activity still monitored by OVSICORI

Description

Irazú Volcano (3,432 m) is Costa Rica's highest active volcano, rising above Cartago Province in the Cordillera Central. It is best known for its dramatic multi-crater complex — the Principal Crater (1,050 m diameter) adjoins the Diego de la Haya crater, which once held a striking turquoise-green lake from sulphur-rich groundwater. On clear days the summit offers a rare double-ocean view: Pacific on one side, Caribbean on the other. Accessible by road from San José (~50 km, 1.5 hours), it is one of Costa Rica's most visited natural sites. Its largest eruption (1963–1965) blanketed the capital in ash. Today Irazú is monitored at Alert Level 1 of 5 (safe to visit), with ongoing minor gas emissions and seismic tremors.