Irazu Volcano National Park

Irazu Volcano National Park is another park that is great for a one day tour. Irazu Volcano is close to San Jose and with a paved road that leads to the crater. Irazu Volcano at 11260 feet above sea level is the highest volcano of Costa Rica. This National Park was created in 1955 to protect a round shape area around the Irazu Volcano of about 5705 acres. The activity of this Costa Rica volcano has been recorded since 1723. Currently the activity of Irazu Volcano is limited to gently smoking fumaroles. Once you get to the summit you will encounter a habitat that looks more like Mars than Earth. The areas around the four craters that Irazu National Park has are mostly barren, covered with ash and very scarce vegetation. The principal crater of Irazu Volcano contains a diameter of about more than half mile and is and 984 feet deep. The second largest crater of Irazu National Park is called Haya Crater with a diameter of about less than half mile and is 328 feet deep. The other two craters are smaller and one of them has a lake. On clear days, especially during the early morning, it is possible to see both the Caribbean Coast and the Pacific Coast from the summit of Irazu Volcano.

Temperatures at Irazu National Park can be below the freezing line, and the weather is usually windy, moist, bitter cold, and cloudy. The greenish color of the Irazu Lake is caused by rainfall that dissolves the minerals along the walls of the crater. The surrounding vegetation of Irazu Volcano is said to be premontane and montane wet forest, partly lichen draped interspersed with open grass and scrublands. The eruptions of Irazu Volcano over the centuries have made the surrounding soil farther from the volcano very fertile. A few altitude birds can be found at Irazu National Park, such as the volcano junco, clay colored robin, hop around, and volcano hummingbirds among others. Mammals that can be seen in Irazu National Park are coyotes, tiger cats, and long tailed weasels. Same recommendation as in Poas Volcano, you have to bring warm cloths, and rain gear.