Line © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), checked by Global Adventurer.
The walk
From the visitor car park, a one-way paved path climbs gently through low cloud forest, where the huge leaves of poor man's umbrella grow beside the way, to the viewing terrace on the rim of the main crater. The crater is about 1,320 m across and 300 m deep; its floor holds a hot, acid lake when the water has not boiled away, with fumaroles steaming around it. The return follows the parallel exit path back to the car park.
It is 1.9 km round with 42 m of ascent; allow about half an hour, plus your time at the viewpoint. The grade is Easy: paved all the way.
Poás is an active volcano. Since 28 August 2026 SINAC requires a safety helmet on the open trails and lets 56 people at a time stay at the viewpoint for 20 minutes. The park can close at short notice when gas or eruptions increase, and the Laguna Botos trail is closed. Cloud often hides the crater by late morning, so book an early slot, and bring a warm layer: it is cool at over 2,500 m.
Entry is only by booking a time slot online with SINAC (US$16.95 for non-residents). The park opens 8am to 4pm, last entry 2pm, and parking costs ₡2,750 by card. Leave nothing of value in the car.
Route drawn by Global Adventurer along OpenStreetMap paths (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL), with figures worked out from it. Check the forecast and the ground on the day: paths change.
Good to know
- Poás's main crater is about 1,320 m across and 300 m deep, and holds a hot, acid lake when it is not boiled dry
- In 1910 an eruption sent a column of ash some 8,000 m into the sky
- The cloud forest on the way up is full of poor man's umbrella, a plant with leaves big enough to shelter under
- Laguna Botos, a cold lake in an older crater, is off limits while its trail is closed
Getting there
Start: Poás Volcano National Park car park. 10.18475, -84.23620
Directions to the start
Places to stay nearby
Rooms in and around Central Valley: Booking.com → Expedia → Hotels.com →
Affiliate links: if you book, Global Adventurer earns a small commission at no cost to you.
Paths change, and the weather decides the day. The line and figures come from OpenStreetMap and our own checks; take a map, check the forecast, and turn back if it isn't right.