Travel to Irazú Volcano in Costa Rica

Volcán Irazú is an active volcano located in Cartago province, in Costa Rica. A road climbs up to 3.366m (11,043ft) above the sea level. It is the tallest volcano in the country.

Set high in the Cordillera Central range, the road is totally paved. It’s called Route 219. The road ends on a parking lot. It’s in good condition and signs mark the route clearly. The drive up through the hills provides an excellent opportunity to see the Central Valley below. The Irazú Volcano is active and is the highest volcano in the country. West of the parking, a private paved road leads to Antenas Volcán Irazú (communication facilities) at 3.434m (11,266ft) above the sea level.

The road to the summit is pretty steep. Starting at Tierra Blanca, the ascent is 19.3 km (12 miles) long. Over this distance the elevation gain is 1.346 meters. The average gradient is 6.97%. The turnoff for Irazu is well marked and right before Tierra Blanca. Irazu Volcano last made international headlines when it erupted in 1963 on the day that former US President John F. Kennedy visited the country. To avoid the wettest months, the best time to visit is during March and April, although cool temperatures and high winds are common year round. Visitors can view both the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans from Irazu’s summit on a clear day. The best time to view the craters is early in the morning, as cloud cover usually thickens after 10 a.m.
Pic: Robert Di Pietro