Costa Rica Learn » Poas Volcano National Park

Costa Rica Unique Ecotourism Destinations for the Nature Lover

Ann — Mon, 25 May 2009 02:31:00 +0000

Arenal Volcano: Tortuguero Canals

Rancho Margot

While working many years as a travel agent specializing in Costa Rica, I have had the opportunity to explore most of this small unique country , now on the forefront of “World Ecotourism”

I have my special places which I feel are the most Unique ecotourism destinations for the nature lover traveling to Costa Rica , and I highly recommend them to every ecotourist.

Nature Lover’s Paradise: Unique ecotourism Destinations

1. Tortuguero national park on the Caribbean (Atlanta) side of Costa Rica. Please read my extensive article ( with photos) on Mawamba Lodge and the Tortuguero Canals. Go to page one of www.costaricalearn.com go to the search box and type in tortuguero canals.

Or find them on the web www.grupomawamba.com

2. Poas Volcano National Park, approximately 15 miles north of Alajuela in the “central valley” Poas is inactive at the moment. It is a very large geyser. You can look down into the geyser which is spectacular. It is a large blue-green gurgling pool of hot steam. Please read my extensive article with photos about Poas Volcano. Go the page 1 of costaricalearn to the search box, upper right hand side, Type in Poas Volcano. OR on the web www.costa-rica-guide.com/parks/poas.htm

3. Doka Plantation Four Generations Coffee Tour, Costa Rica , on the road to Poas Volcano, five miles outside of Alajuela. A must do tour. Learn all about coffee, how it is hand picked, processed, and packaged up according to its quality. Taste several varieties and make your own decision and take some home with you. Check them out on the web www.dokaestate.com

4. Arenal Volcano National Park and Arenal Lake, Costa Rica. Most popular tourist destination in Costa Rica. Read all about it by going to page 1 and in the search box at top of page on right- type Arenal Volcano National Park or find them on the

web www.costa-rica-guide.com/Natural/Arenal.html

5. Rincon de la Vieja National Park, in north central Costa Rica A very unique destination! Please go to page 1 of costaricalearn. Go to the search box at the top of the page and type in rincon de la vieja. There you will see my extensive article on this volcano along with photos.

OR find it on the web www.costarica-nationalparks.com/rincondelaviejanationalpark.html

6. Corcovado National Park and Cano Island south western Pacific. One of the most remote national park in Costa Rica. Filled with wildlife and birds. Here you will experience a primary rain forest with unusual trees, some with buttress of 4 meters in diameter. It is recommended to explore this park with a guide. Do not go in alone. It is dense and unforgiving. Cano Island can be reached by boat thru a tour company-located out of the jungle lodges around Corcovado. Uninhabited , Cano Island is a reminder of Robinson Crusoe. With beautiful long stretches of unspoiled beaches to stroll upon. It is a day trip from the mainland. One cannot sleep on the island. Read more about Corcovado on the web www.costarica-nationalparks.com/corcovadonationalpark.html

Special Interest tours- can be done in 1/2 day or 1 day

1. Rancho Margot- Arenal Volcano, Lake Arenal This is a self sustaining ranch (learning center) where all the food is grown organically, electricity is by water powered generator, setting is a unique rain forest with views to Lake Arenal and a mighty river runs through the middle of the property. This is a nature lovers paradise. Take a guided tour of the ranch or horseback ride to the summit with magnificent views of Lake Arenal. The ranch has several very nice bungalows to house their guest and an excellent restaurant. It also has a yoga center situated on the banks of the river. You can learn all about this unique place on the web www.ranchomargot.org please read my in depth article (with photos) Go to page one of costaricalearn , top right is the search box. Type in Rancho Margot

2. Sloth refuge, Aviarios del Caribe located approx. 19 miles south of Limon on the Caribbean coast. Here injured sloths are nursed back to health and released into their natural habitat in the Costa Rica jungle. Judy and her husband Larry, creators of this refuge, offer a tour for around $14 per person. You see the baby sloths and learn first hand about the strange creature’s life style. Buttercup, a mature sloth rescued from the middle of the highway when she was only a few months old, is the star of the refuge. This is indeed a unique place. Please read my more detailed article (with photos) on Aviarios del Caribe. Go to the first page of costaricalearn , the search box at top of page type in Aviarios del Caribe sloth refuge costa rica.

Or find them on the web www.slothrescue.org

Poas Volcano National Park Costa Rica’s most Visited

Ann — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 03:33:00 +0000

Travel Costa Rica to the most visited national park-Poas Volcano National Park. My husband Ken and I left very early in the morning traveling thru Alajuela on our way up to the Poas . We decided to stop at a Coffee Plantation tour called Doka Coffee Tour-Three Generations. Here we sampled several blends of coffee, toured the plantation and processing plant, learning how coffee is grown and all the many steps before it actually becomes a cup of coffee. Highly recommended tour: the $12 entrance fee was well worth it. Time for tour-1.5 hours

Fifty minutes later, after passing fern farms, strawberry fields, and diary farms-all of which look like a Norman Rockwell painting- we reached the entrance to the Poas Volcano park. After paying the $7 each entrance fee, we walked the 20 minutes to the actual crater. Which was bubbling and belching from it’s deep turquoise blue hot water pool (geyser) Quiet a spectacle! We were glad we had worn our old comfortable tennis shoes and all weather jacket. The weather was misty and windy-very cool, because we are 8,000 feet above sea level.

Then we hiked the Botos trail to the secondary inactive crater (now a small jade colored lake). Boy were we tired when we got there…quite an incline., but worth it. This took us around forty five minutes up and down.

On the way down we stopped at Fredda Fresas restaurant, Costa Rica for a delicious typical Costa Rican lunch called casada. Rice, black beans, cabbage slaw, locally grown fresh vegetables yucca and chayote, and chicken or shredded beef. Yummy. Plus a strawberry shake made from the locally grown strawberries and desert-of course- was thres leches (three milk cake) recipe originated in Nicarauga. Topped off with a cup of capuchino. Wow! All for $8 a person.

Afterwards, Fredda insisted we visit his home across the street where we met Camilla, his golden retriever and Bambi, the baby deer. Bambi was affectionately licking Camila’s face. Needless to say, they are great friends and companions. Then he took us on a personalized tour of the kitchen run by his wife and children…the highlight being the wood burning stove where we got a lesson on how to make homemade tortillas. Fredda’s warm hospitality is very typical of Costa Ricans. They are gentle, friendly and helpful, and find time for their friends. Not in a rush–like us north Americans.

Well..this kind of laid back life style is definitely rubbing off on us. And as they say here in Costa ”Pura Vida” …. pure life

Ken and I drove our rental car, but this tour can be purchased from several different tour agencys (check at your hotel) And is considered an all day tour. Last I checked cost was around $80 per person. Or hire a taxi (from your hotel) for the day..around $125.00

Clothing- very comfortable walking shoes and all weather light rain jacket. Of course the camera–great photo opportunities.

Try to get there around 10 am or earlier because often clouds cover the crater (the later in the day, the worse it is) However, hang around the crater awhile and the clouds may be blown over by the winds.

Dry season December thru April is best time to visit. Otherwise you may get afternoon rains.

Unfortunate to say, but the other popular tourist attraction located 20 minutes from the Poas Volcano National …The La Paz waterfall Gardens were heavily damaged by the Jan. 10, 2009 earthquake of 6.2 magnitude. And for now is closed, the roads over to the waterfall gardens were very heavily damaged by the quake.

The road which leads to the Poas Volcano is open and in good repair.

Park hours 8:30 to 3:30 all year. Entrance fee $7 per person.

There is a small coffee shop and bathrooms on the grounds of the park. The coffee served there is Costa Rican-of course- and delicious!

Also a small museum displaying the history of the Volcano and also a gift shop.

Remember: Dress warmly- walking shoes and all weather rain jacket. Take camera and bird binoculars. Get there as early in the morning as possible -clouds seem to cover the crater as the day goes by.

What time of year to visit? Dry season is best- December thru April However, since this is 8,000 feet above sea level a misty cloud cover seems to often cover the crater (by late morning) but winds blow hard and with luck the clouds are blown off the crater.

People visit during rainy season also, just try to get there as early as possible. Park opens at 8:30 am and closes early at 3:30 p.m. Entrance fee is $7 per person.

From San Jose the drive 1.5 hours, road is good and easily accessed by car.

Major tour agencies offer day tours (around $80 per person which often includes lunch.)

Poas Volcano National Park One of Top 10 vacation spots in Costa Rica

Ann — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 01:42:00 +0000

Poas Volcano National Park Costa Rica center piece is the beautiful and mysterious Poas Volcano, the largest active geyser in the world. It’s an easy day trip from the central valley of San Jose and Alajuela. It’s best to arrive early when the gate opens, around 8 a.m. if you want best shot to see the crater, because it stays overcast with clouds most of the time.
Bring your camera and wear a rain jacket, and very comfortable walking shoes. It’s 8,000 feet above sea level so the weather is very cool and rainy. You have to walk around 10 minutes from the parking lot to see the actual crater. It is a turquois-blue gurgling pool of hot, hot water with ocasional small eruptions of steam.
It is a must see, if you are staying in the central valley and want an exciting day trip. Also you can stop by the Doka Four Generations Coffee Tour where you learn first hand the history of coffee in Costa Rica, how it is grown, and how it is processed. An excellent tour.. well worth the stop..costs around $12 per person.
The drive up to the volcano is very picturesque with coffee fields, fern farms, small villages, and dairy farms. You can get a good idea of how rural Costa Ricans live. Altogether it all makes for a very enjoyable day’s outing.
Best time to visit: Dec.-mid April is dry season and best chance to see the crater..however tourist also come May-end of August, which is rainy season. Note: September and October are very rainy months and not the best time to visit.

Many tour operators in the central valley offer day trips to the volcano and the region. I highly recommend this tour. Cost around $85 per person. Usually includes a typical Costa Rican lunch.