Walk the paved trail about a quarter-mile from the visitors center (where a gift shop and restrooms can be found) to the top of the volcano crater. Poas is located in the Alajuela Province about 40 miles north of San Jose and is considered the most popular volcano to visit in Costa Rica.

You may need to wait your turn on a crowded day to stand along the fence for the perfect photo depending on the tourist crowd that day. But you also want to stay at the volcano a maxium of about 20 minutes as the volcanic minerals in the air are not good to breathe in for long periods of time. This active volcano, with one of the largest craters in the world that’s more than a mile wide, last erupted in 1994. Try to plan your visit for the morning when the sky is most clear of clouds because by the afternoon, the clouds likely will roll in and obscure the greenish blue volcano crater.

Also, remember to bring a jacket as the temperature is much cooler atop the volcano and the altitude is much higher. Take it slow walking up the trail. This is a good spot for a selfie stick too.

Hours
8 a.m. to 4 p.m.