The volcanoes of Costa Rica have achieved international notoriety for many reasons related to tourism, and also episodes of eruptions from six active volcanoes.
Volcanology is a serious pursuit in Costa Rica, and from primary school on students learn about the impressive megastructures that make up the Costa Rican landscape. These enormous powerhouses also contribute to the country in more than just academia. There is already a major geothermal power plant at the Miravalles Volcano with plans to bring another into the Rincón de la Vieja area.
In regards to tourism, the volcanoes are major attractions. For many years Arenal made almost nightly displays of lava flows from its iconic cone shaped precipice in the sky. The volcanoes are also populated by adventure activities, hot spring and spa retreats, major resorts and unique plant and wildlife observation opportunities. There is an endless array of reasons to go to the volcanoes in Costa Rica.
Currently, Turrialba is the most active volcano in Costa Rica, and Irazu is the highest volcano. Arenal is probably the most widely recognized volcano of Costa Rica, but Tenorio and Miravalles may be closing in on that with the Celeste River. The sky blue river and accompanying waterfalls are considered one of the seven wonders of Costa Rica, and Poás may be best known for the coffee produced on the outskirts of its high rock face and craters.
Then there’s the activities that people regularly pursue in the area of the volcanoes and there national parks or protected reserves. Hiking to the summit of Barva Volcano might make for a good day trip, or overnight it if you want to go camping. You can jet around Arenal on an ATV tour, or go on a slower pace through the trails of Rincón de la Vieja on Horseback. The cloud forest might be calling your name, and you can see it on a forest canopy tour which there are many of at the volcanoes in Costa Rica.
The volcanoes of Costa Rica are loaded with opportunities for the adventure seeker, the nature lover or the hobbyist volcanologist. The grandeur of these natural structures will impressive even the most ardent critics
