Laguna Hule

Laguna Hule fills a crater on the northern flank of the Poas massif at around seven hundred metres, a lake of about sixty hectares in a bowl of dense forest with two smaller craters, Congo and Bosque Alegre, alongside. The descent from the rim takes twenty to thirty minutes on a steep track and the climb back is the work. The lake is used for fishing from small boats, with introduced species, and for swimming, and the forest around it holds howler monkeys, whose calls carry across the water, and a good bird list. Access is through private land with a community charge, and the road in from the highway is rough.

What you actually see

• The crater lake - the water in its forested bowl.
• The descent - the steep track from the rim to the shore.
• Howler monkeys - the troops in the surrounding forest.
• The neighbouring craters - Congo and Bosque Alegre nearby.

When to go

December to April in the dry season, when the track is passable and the descent safer; the wet season makes both difficult. Mornings are best for birds and monkeys and before cloud builds.

Honest expectations

The access road is rough and often needs four-wheel drive. The descent is steep and the return climb hard. Access is through private land with informal charges. Facilities are minimal.

Nearby

Poas volcano lies south; Rio Cuarto is north.