An Amazing Guide to Irazu Volcano National Park in Costa Rica

When my friend Katie thought we should go on a four-day trip to Costa Rica, I jumped on the opportunity. Our main priorities were to experience one of the San Jose volcanoes and rainforest in Costa Rica. We chose to see Irazu Volcano National Park because it was close to San Jose (an hour and a half) and we only had four days in Costa Rica. Irazu Volcano was such an excellent choice for the limited time we had.  Driving to the volcano was an experience in itself. The drive was one of the best rides I have ever experienced. I was also impressed by the views of the volcano. So if you have half a day to spare and want to experience a great national park with stunning views, then keep reading.

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you click one of them, I may receive a small commission (for which I am very grateful for) at no extra cost to you.

Map of Irazú Volcano National Park

Below is a map of the national park as well as where we stopped to eat lunch.

 Irazu Volcano Weather

The chart above is the average temperature 20 miles away from Irazu National Park. As you can see, you can visit this national park comfortably all year round. I would make sure to bring a rain jacket during the rainy season. Also, if the sun is not out, it might get chilly as this area is high in altitude.

Where To Stay In San Jose

The easiest way to experience this national park is by staying in San Jose. Here are some of the best hotel options in this city.

• Hotel Presidente San Jose Center: If you want to stay at the best of the best hotels in San Jose, then this is your spot. You get a free breakfast buffet, a great location, and great service. >Click here To Book My Friends!
• Grano De Oro, San Jose: This is a luxurious hotel located in the center of San Jose. Seriously the inside of the hotel looks so unique. The style is colonial with wood decoration. >Click Here To Book Now

Irazu Volcano Visiting Hours and Entrance Fee

The hours of the national park are from 8:00 am to 3:30 am 7 days a week. I recommend getting there early in the morning to avoid the crowds and the clouds that tend to cover the views in the afternoon.

As of right now, the price is around $15 for adults $5 for kids. But keep in mind that this might change. I paid USD $15, but if you look around the internet, it seems like many people have paid less or more, so bring extra cash just in case. Also, when we went to the national park, it was cash only.

Irazu Volcano Directions

Irazu Volcano is located about an hour and a half east of San José (around 55km) and about 45 minutes away from Cartago. You can drive a car which is what we did, or you can take a bus. You can catch the bus at the National Theater (Teatro Nacional) at 8:00 am, and the bus leaves the park around 12:30 pm.

Irazu Volcano Facts

• It is an active volcano
• The active crater is 980 feet deep
• There are four craters, but only two can be seen
• It is 11,260 feet above sea level

The Drive To Irazu Volcano National Park

I usually wouldn’t write about driving in a blog post but driving to Irazu Volcan was probably one of my favorite drives of all time. The views were spectacular, and the bright sun radiating down on us made the ride even better.

There were green rolling hills that went on for days, green lush tall mountains, fluffy white clouds that you felt like you can reach out and touch, farms that were filled with horses and cows that were happily chomping on the sprouting green grass, and many locals that were biking up the roads in the beautiful morning. The ride was gorgeous, and we couldn’t help but stop to take pictures every few minutes.

As seen in the picture above, the clouds were at the same level as us. Below you can see the multiple farm animals that were happily grazing. This drive is a great chance to stop and take in the views and feels of this beautiful country.

Irazu Volcano National Park

Highest Viewpoint

We drove to an area that was at a higher elevation and took some great shots of the top of the volcano. The area wasn’t as crowded as we expected, but it is probably because you couldn’t see the view of the shimmering green lake. They had a building where you can walk upstairs and get even more views from above.

Diego De La Haya Crater

Diego De La Haya is one of the two craters you can see in the national park. It isn’t as popular as the main crater due to the lake being mainly dried up.

Main Crater

The next area we went to was the main crater lake area, which was extremely crowded. Getting a picture was a hassle with the crowds. There was also a fence to make sure people didn’t get too close to the edge.

Playa Hermosa Near the Main Volcan Irazu

After viewing the crater, we decided to walk around the park some more, and we took some pictures around the magnificent, green, lumpy trees that resembled giant broccoli. This area is called Playa Hermosa.

Where to Eat Near Volcano Irazu

Ok, so if you are visiting Volcano Irazu in the early morning as we did, then I highly suggest you stop at this restaurant called “Restaurante 1910” either before or after your trip. I have marked it in the Google Map above for you. 

What I loved most about the restaurant was how colorful and vibrant it felt. The flourishing green garden caught my eye as well as the brightly, lighted patio where you can sit down, drink some coffee, and feel the incredible views of the luscious green mountains.

The food and coffee were delicious, and the servers were amiable. Just spending the late morning at this restaurant with incredible views, really made me realize how much I liked Costa Rica.

So do yourselves a favor and stop at this restaurant. It is on the way to the national park. No, this post is not sponsored; I just really loved the food!

Last Thoughts On Costa Rica Volcano Irazu

Costa Rica was a country that I wish I had more time to experience. I was surprised by how much I loved and adored it. The Irazu Volcano was such a great and easy highlight to the trip. Driving to the destination was one of my favorite drives I have ever taken, and I would recommend this to everyone. Make sure to check out my other post on another national park in Costa Rica: Corcovado National Park.

Irazu Volcano Costa Rica: Pin For Later