Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Information
Pay admission and parking fees at the
ranger station
( 2200-5025, in Cartago 2551-9398;
pnvolcanirazu@accvc.org
; park admission US$10, parking US$2.20; 8am-3:30pm)
at the park's
entrance, 1.5km before the summit. There's a basic cafe and gift shop inside the park. Note
that cloud cover starts thickening, even under the best conditions, by about 10am, about
the same time the bus rolls in. If you're on one of those buses, do yourself a favor and
head straight for the craters. If you have a car, make an effort to arrive early and you'll
likely be rewarded with the best possible views and an uncrowded observation area. The
park is busiest on Sunday and holidays, when a line of cars up to 1km long queues at the
entrance.
At the summit it's theoretically possible to see both the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean
Sea, but it is rarely clear enough. The best chance for a clear view is in the very early
morning during the dry season (January to April). It tends to be cold and windy up here
and there's an annual rainfall of 2160mm - come prepared with warm, rainproof clothes.
From the parking lot, a 200m trail leads to a viewpoint over the main crater. Wooden
railings prevent visitors from getting too close to the edge, but you're welcome to leave the
paved trail and wander the volcanic sands of the adjacent Playa Hermosa crater. About
300m above the main parking lot, a rutted 1km side road allows walkers and intrepid
drivers to climb to Irazú's summit. While hiking, be on the lookout for high-altitude bird
species, such as the volcano junco.
Getting There & Away
A daily bus to Irazú (US$9) departs from San José at 8am and arrives at the summit
around 10am. The bus departs from Irazú at 12:20pm.
A round trip taxi from Cartago to the summit will cost about US$45; drivers usually al-
low you one hour to explore up top.
If you're in a group, renting a car is the best deal, as you can get to the park early before
the skies cloud over and the crowds arrive. Take Hwy 8 from Cartago, which begins at the
northeast corner of the plaza and continues 31km to the summit. The road is well signed.
