Costa Rica: Volcanoes

Costa Rica has over two hundred geological structures of volcanic origin although only five volcanoes are currently in various stages of activity: Arenal, Irazu, Poas, Rincon de la Vieja, and Turrialba.

All active volcanoes and most of the larger dormant/extinct? volcanoes (Barva, Cerro Cacao, Miravalle, Orosi, Tenorio) are part of Conservation Areas that include a wide variety of ecosystems on their slopes. Fortunately, most of these volcanoes have trails and infrastructure that makes visiting reasonably easy - unless trails are closed because of volcanic activity.