Active Volcanoes of Costa Rica
The volcanoes of Costa Rica run along a chain in the middle of the country as the result of the north east subduction of the Cocos Pacific tectonic plate underneath the Caribbean tectonic plate, Costa Rica is home of more than 300 different volcanic structures where most of them are dormant or they are already extincted, some of the active volcanoes nowadays in Costa Rica are turrialba, poas, irazu, arenal, tenorio and Rincon de la vieja.
Turrialba
Turrialba Volcano form a single system in conjunction with the Irazú Volcano. It is a stratovolcano oval and its formation is due to explosive and effusive lava events, it has three craters with presence of dry lava flows on their flanks. With Tropical Rainforest and Premontane very Humid Forest.
It has a maximum elevation of 10958 feet above sea level (3340 m s.n.m.), it is the second highest volcano in the country and has an average temperature of 60 Fahrenheit (16 ° C.) and an average rainfall of 9.8 feet (3000 mm) to 13.1 feet (4000 mm).
Irazu
Here you can discover 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 a 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, 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 a rainfall of 9.3 feet (2387 mm)
Arenal
Until 2010, it was Costa Rica’s most active volcano. Much to the enjoyment of its visitors, Arenal spewed enormous amounts of lava, gas and ash on a regular basis. That eruptive cycle which began with the infamous eruption of 1968, ended recently.
In October 2010, Arenal entered into an indeterminate resting phase, For the time being, visitors will be unable to watch the much loved explosions, although that could change within a matter of months or years. Travelers to Arenal will still enjoy its bountiful sights, sounds and activities, there are Hot springs, mountains to be explore and the beautiful Arenal Lake.
Rincón de la Vieja
This Costa Rica volcano is situated in the dry tropical forest, The National Park is the ideal setting to explore one of the most interesting regions.
Likewise, is one of the most active volcanoes in the Guanacaste province of Costa Rica, you will be able to experience one of the most interesting regions in Costa Rica. Rincon de la Vieja Volcano is located 25min from Liberia downtown in Guanacaste, Costa Rica, about 1hr away from the Guanacaste International Airport.
This area is well known for being one of the main attractions tourists visit. Here you can do: Hiking in the forest, Zip Lining, River Tubing, Horse Back Riding, visit Waterfalls and more
Tenorio
Located about 20 minutes from Bijagua, Alajuela, Tenorio Volcano National Park is best known for Rio Celeste the river and waterfall that seem to have been painted blue by a brush.
Rio Celeste Waterfall is a 30 meter waterfall that thunders into a bright-blue pool of water, a turn-off from the main trail will send you down a long staircase to the lookout point. La Laguna Azul is a small lagoon of intense blue color, this is visible from the main trail, and a left turn will bring you closer.
Los Borbollones is also a spot in the river where hot volcanic gases bubble through the water, then El Teñidero: The spot where two rivers meet to form Rio Celeste turning the water from clear to blue.
Poas
The Poas volcano has one of the largest craters in the world, it is located in the forests of Central Mountain Range, with magnificent natural landscapes this is one of the most visited National Parks in the country.
Being located in the province of Alajuela, it offers visitors easy access from major cities of the country.
The Poas is a volcano that rises to 2,708 meters above sea level, since 1989 has increased markedly the emission of gases causing acid rain phenomena that have damaged the flora in some sectors of the Park and surrounding agricultural plantations to the area.
At the top there are two craters, the principal of 1.5 km in diameter and 300 deep, and the Botos lagoon, cold water and source purely rain, that drain into the Caribbean slope. Today the volcano emits large amount of gas and water vapor from the different fumaroles that are located in the inner cone of the crater
