Irazú Volcano National Park

The Irazú Volcano National Park spreads across 5,705 acres (2,300 ha). It contains both primary and secondary montane forests and is home to armadillos, owls, rabbits, foxes, woodpeckers, and hummingbirds. Named for its resident volcano, the Irazú Volcano is an active volcano in Costa Rica, close to the city of Cartago. Its name is probably from the combination of indigenous words "ara" (point) and "tzu" (thunder) often translated as “thunder mountain” in English. In Costa Rica it is known by the name of "El Coloso" (The Colossus) due to the catastrophes that it has provoked in the past. The summit of Irazú has several craters, one of which contains a green crater lake. At 11,260 feet (3,432 m), the Irazú Volcano is the highest active volcano in Costa Rica. It is easily visited from San José, with a road leading right up to the summit craters. It is thus a popular tourist spot. From the top it is possible to see both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans on a clear day. However, such clear days are rare, and the volcano's summit is usually cloud-covered.
© Flickr/Andrea