Turrialba Volcano

Turrialba rises to three thousand three hundred and forty metres beside Irazú and it is the most consistently active volcano in the country: after a long quiet period it began erupting again in 2010 and has produced ash columns repeatedly since, occasionally dusting San José and closing the international airport. The national park around it has been closed for long stretches and opened in limited form when activity allows, with restricted access to a viewpoint rather than the crater rim. The slopes below are dairy and cheese country, and the road up passes farms producing a local cheese that has protected origin status.

Highlights

• The active crater - viewed from the permitted distance when open.
• The ash landscape - vegetation killed by repeated fallout on the upper slopes.
• Turrialba cheese - made on the farms along the road up.
• The view to Irazú - the neighbouring volcano across the saddle.

When to go

December to April is the dry season and the best chance of a clear view. Access depends entirely on current volcanic activity: the park has been closed for years at a time and opens under restrictions. Check the current status with the national parks service before planning.

Practical notes

This is an actively erupting volcano and access is genuinely conditional; assume the park may be closed and treat any visit as a bonus. Ash has damaged crops, roofs and lungs on the surrounding farms, so the eruption is not a spectacle for the people who live here. The road up is rough. Volcanic gas can be hazardous close to the vent.

Nearby

Turrialba town and the Pacuare are below; Irazú is across the saddle.

Key facts