Costa Rica National Park Irazu

Near the city of Cartago, you find the highest active volcano of Costa Rica named Irazu, which means "point of thunder". The first eruption was seen in 1723. When US president Kennedy visited Costa Rica in 1963, the volcano did spit out ash and smoke after 20 years sleeping. The event lasted for 2 years. The sad result was an area of 300 square kilometers covered with ash as well as 100 square kilometers of ruined landscape.

In this moment, 4 craters can be seen. The main crater has a diameter of about 1100 yards and a depth of about 300 yards. At it´s bottom, there is a yellow-green steaming sulfur lake. The small neighbor called "Diego de la Haya" has a diameter of about 700 yards and a depth of 100 yards. The other two craters are extincted already.

Just follow the signs from Cartago, the street leads about 20 miles up the hill and offers very nice views down to the valley of Cartago. It ends almost at the edge of the crater, where you have to pay the entrance fee of US$ 6 per person. The surrounding is impressive. Next to the main crater, there is a giant lava platform. A fast food trailer sells food and drinks. Try to be there in the early morning and bring some warm clothes, because sometimes it can get very cold. On your way back down, you will find several restaurants with a view. In one of them you find the largest business card collection of the country. Wouldn´t you like to ad yours too?