Amazonia Travel

By: Mark Mcewan
The story of the conservation of Poás Volcano began in Tennessee's Great Smoky Mountains National Park in the 1960's. Mr Mario Boza from Costa Rica was a student when he visited The Great Smoky Mountain park in the United States and was so impressed that he developed a plan to manage the area around Poás Volcano in a similar way. He presented the plan as his masters thesis, and subsequently pursued its implementation.

Poás volcano is a powerful example of the geothermal forces that formed Costa Rica. 

When visiting the volcano and the mist and clouds part, you'll see the sulfuric lake at the bottom, surrounded by smoke and steam rising from fumaroles. Water from the lake is constantly seeping through cracks in the hot rock, evaporating and building pockets of steam. When the pressure in these pockets exceeds the weight of the water above, the steam breaks through in geysers that rocket up to 820 feet (250 meters) high! Not to worry about getting a sulphuric shower though, the crater is 1,050 feet (320 meters) deep and almost a mile (1.6 km) across.

Poás volcano has the largest active crater in the world!

Poás is active, but don't expect to see an eruption or even any lava flow here, the most recent period of eruptive activity ended in 1954. The last major activity was in 1910 when nearly a million tons of ash was ejected from the volcano along with an immense column of smoke and steam.

A modern visitors center with wheel chair access and a small museum, explains and interprets the geothermal and ecological attractionsin the park. There are also souvenirs and art on sale here. There is food and beverages available, but avoid these as there are much better options just a few minutes from the park.

The volcano provides an excellent and extreme example of the effects of acid rain. Around the caldera, and for several miles downwind, the vegetation is stunted brown and black by the tainted moisture that precipitates from the omnipresent acidic clouds near the peak.

Trails that lead throught stunted and twisted cloud forest, demonstrate the effectsof not only volcanic emissions but the rigors of the cold windy high altitude habitat. Lake Botos fills an extinct crater at the end of one trail, and is home to many cloud forest birds including hummingbirds, tanagers, flycatchers, toucanets, Costa Rica's national bird the clay-colored robin, and the area's most famous avian resident, the resplendent quetzal.

Near the entrance to the National Park you will find some lodges that seem aged and generally run down, or completely inaccesible. However, the best option for meals and lodging is Poás Lodge and Restaurant. There are many good reviews of the lodge online. It is just 3 miles from the entrance and offers truly amazing views and service.

It is a well run establishment that has been refurbished and is a treasure in the area.