The observatory is at the south west side of the volcano, about 3300 ft. above sea level which got built in 1987 and is also test station for the university of Costa Rica. Also known as Hacienda Macadamia and offers 5 rooms with bath and hot water to rent to tourists. Access only with a jeep because several rivers have to be crossed and street is in ad condition.

In or near La Fortuna, you will find lots of cabins, restaurants, souvenir shops, tourist information offices and more. Latest construction for the youth is the discotheque with view to the volcano. Dancing until they drop and once a while watch an eruption......

Barva
has a height of about 8700 ft. above sea level in the west part of the national park Braulio Carrillo. It is extinct since thousands of years and the small craters filled up with water. Tow of them, lagune Barva and lagune El Copey are reached via a nice and easy to walk trail of about 2 miles. It goes through dense cloud forest vegetation. On half way, there is a place to make picnic. At the end of the trail, a steep way leads down to the lagune, which has a diameter of about 600 ft.
A small and often slippery way leads to a nice point of view. Enjoy the absolute quietness at this volcano which is not frequently visited by tourists. Do not forget your binocular. With a little good luck you will see exotic animals like for example the shy 3 toed sloth. You have to register at the ranger station and pay the entrance fee of US$ 6 per person. Camping is allowed next to the ranger station. Park is open daily from 8 am to 5 pm.

Irazu + Diego de la haya
the highest volcano with about 10.300 ft. has an active round main crater with a diameter of 3000 ft. and a depth of about 900 ft. A yellow green lake lets out sulfur steam from the bottom. The neighbor crater of Diego de la haya has a diameter of about 2100 ft. and a depth of 300 ft. It is extinct since a long time and covered with volcanic ash. During the rain period, a small lake developes at its bottom. The temperature at the volcano is between  23 and 59 Fahrenheit. Since 1723 some eruptions are documented, the last have been from 1962 to 1965. Park is open daily from 8 am to 4 pm. Entrance fee US$ 6 per person.

Poas
the active crater of the volcano is located in the center of Poas national park. It has a diameter of 4500 ft. and a depth of 900 ft. The steaming lake has about 1050 ft. and  temperatures from 104 to 158 Fahrenheit. The average temperature at the volcano is about 54 Fahrenheit, why you should not forget to take some warm clothes with you.
The oder of multy eggs tells about the slow stopping of the activity, but several thousand years will pass until it is finally extinct. The strongest eruption happened in 1910, when the volcano through out his ash 5 miles high. The most active period with several small outbreaks was between 1952 and 1955. A trail leads from the main crater to a smaller crater with the lagune Boto at the bottom, which has a diameter of 1200 ft. and cristal clear water. The park is open daily from 8 am to 3:30 pm. Fee US$ 6.

Rincon de la vieja und Santa Maria
these two volcanoes are located in the national park Rincon de la vieja. Santa Maria has a height of about 5000 ft. and is extinct, Rincon de la vieja with 5700 ft. is one of the so-called sleeping volcanoes. South east of the main crater, you find the lagune Jilgueros with a small island in the middle. Access to the crater is kind of difficult. There is always much wind and the hills are steep. Main attraction are the hot springs with about 113 Fahrenheit, which collect in natural pools as well as the bubbeling mud holes. Park is open daily from 8 am to 4 pm. Entrance per person 6 US $.

Turrialba
a sleeping volcano in the north east of the Irazu mountain. The last eruption was in 1866. Since this time, only steam and gas come from the crater, a sign of the sleeping period. The volcano is undeveloped for tourism and climbing to its top takes about 6-8 hours. Organized tours are offered.

Miravalles and Tenorio (6100 ft., 5750 ft.)
not developed for tourism

Orosi
is about 4450 ft. high and located near national park Guanacaste. It is also undeveloped for tourism. Tours are offered. Climbing up takes about 4 hours.