Poas Volcano is a stratovolcano in Costa Rica. Very active, he has known at least 39 eruptive episodes since 1828. It is currently experiencing moderate activity. Located 37 km northwest of the capital San José, this volcano culminates at 2,708 m altitude. It is integrated into the Poas Volcano National Park. Its main crater hosts an acidic lake which regularly produces toxic sulphurous steams. It presents several eroded calderas, volcanic cones and three craters aligned, which contain crater lakes. The main crater is about two kilometers in diameter and is 300 metres deep. The green waters of the lake that occupies the bottom (Laguna Caliente) are highly acidic sulfur and hot (up to 85 ° C). You can also see the fumaroles of sulphide in the internal slopes of the crater. On the other hand, the other crater has had its last eruption there are 7,500 years. It is called Botos and its lake has cold water (Laguna Botos) which is connected with the river Angel. Until the volcano became a national park, people went there to fill glass bottles with acidic water from the crater, and they sold it in pharmacies to relieve muscle aches and also to put it in the hole of a cavity to cause the tooth to fall or it was also used to burn the warts, and to treat wounds.
Tips
The Poas is very often covered by clouds so before going there, ask for the weather conditions. And of course, you must be at the gate at the opening (8 h 00) because the clouds come down quickly.
It is almost 1 hour from San José and its access is easy. If you go by car, the parking is near the crater and you must walk a hundreds meters through a paved driveway.
Another option is to take a half-day trip from San José. There is a regular bus to get there. The ticket costs nearly nothing and the entrance to the park is approximately $10.00.
If the weather is good, take a walk to the Botos Lake and its forest of altitude at 2,400 metres, it’s worth it.
