Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
of Cartago (one of the craters is named in his honor). Since the 18th century, 15 major
eruptions have been recorded.
One of the most memorable occurred in March of 1963, welcoming visiting US Presid-
ent John F Kennedy with a rain of volcanic ash that blanketed most of the Central Valley
(it piled up to a depth of more than 0.5m). During two years' worth of subsequent activity,
agricultural lands northeast of the volcano were devastated, while clogged waterways
flooded the region intermittently. In 1994 Irazú unexpectedly belched a cloud of sulfurous
gas, though it quickly quietened down. At the time of research, the volcano was slumber-
ing peacefully, aside from a few hissing fumaroles.
The national park was established in 1955 to protect 23 sq km around the base of the
volcano. The summit is a bare landscape of volcanic-ash craters. The principal crater is
1050m in diameter and 300m deep; the adjacent Diego de la Haya Crater is 690m in dia-
meter and 80m deep; and the shallowest, Playa Hermosa Crater, is slowly being colonized
by sparse vegetation. There is also a pyroclastic cone, which consists of rocks that were
fragmented by volcanic activity.
Tours
Tours are arranged by a variety of San José operators and cost US$40 to US$60 for a half-
day, and up to US$100 for a full day combined with lunch and visits to sights such as the
Lankester Gardens
or the Orosi Valley.
Tours from hotels in Orosi (US$25 to US$40) can also be arranged - these may include
lunch and visits to the basilica in Cartago or sights around the Orosi Valley.
Eating
Restaurant 1910
COSTA RICAN
(
2536-6063;
www.restaurant1910.com
;
mains US$9-22;
11:30am-9pm Mon-Thu, to 10pm Fri &
Sat, to 6:30pm Sun; )
On the road to Irazú, 300m north of the Christ statue marking the Guayabo turnoff, this
homey spot with a glass-walled front deck is worth a stop just to see its collection of old
photographs documenting the 1910 earthquake that completed the destruction of colonial
Cartago. Expect a long list of Tico specialties, and a sumptuous Sunday buffet (adult/child
US$22/10).
