Information about Turrialba volcano
The Turrialba volcano is the twin of the Irazú volcano that with a height of 3340 meters high is the second highest volcano in Costa Rica. This is an oval stratovolcan. In addition to the main crater, the largest craters include the ‘Cerro Tiendilla’ at an altitude of 2,791 meters and the ‘Cerro Armando’ at 2,750 meters.
However, due to constant activity, other small craters open, of which sulfur vapors and other gases escape. You can constantly see a steam on the volcano or even ash clouds.
History and news of the Turrialba volcano
The name of the Turrialba volcano has a particular history. Throughout his life he has presented a constant activity, primarily to issue white smoke. The first Spanish settlers, seeing this characteristic of the volcano, called it Torre Alba, which translates as ‘white smoke’ resulting in its name today: Turrialba.
Turrialba, the old Caribbean door
The city of Turrialba is located 61 km east of San José. From there, the National Park is a short distance by vehicle.Previously the city was the core of exports to the Costa Rican Caribbean and the entire central valley through its roads and railways.At present, the city provides warmth and serves as an adventure day to its different tourist destinations, such as the pre -Columbian ruins of the Guayabo National Monument, the cataract of Aquiar, among others.
Turrialba volcano rashes
The volcano had its last great eruptive cycle in 1866. Then it was inactive for 130 years and it is from 1996 when relevant volcanic activity again begins, presenting water tables, acid rains and constant smoking activity.
In 2010, he got to expel sediments on a 3KM radius around the active crater.In October 2014, the volcano starred in another great eruption of Magma, generating large clouds of ash that caused the closure of airports, covering a large part of the national territory with ash.This eruptive cycle of 2014, (level of activity 3- in eruption-ovsicori), of eruption of ash, gas, mud and sometimes, Magma, have caused the Turrialba Volcano National Park to remain closed until it is safe to receive visits again.
Recent volcanic activity
The eruptive activities with ashes remain constant, while the ‘spontaneous combustion’ has decreased..
The year 2016, was the period of greatest volcanic activity, in its last 20 years, throwing pyroclastic flow with incandescent rocks with ash columns that reached 4000 meters above the crater, affecting the central valley and causing the closure of the Juan International AirportSanta Maria.
During 2017, the Turrialba volcano remained with degasing and frequent eruptions with low ash content. Being more activity in the months of September and October, registering columns over 1000 meters high.
In 2018, the Turrialba volcano continued with the intermittent eruptions, which were characterized by its low energy and ash columns less than 500 m high, highlighting: on November 24, 2018, important eruptive activity was recorded, with an emanation of ash andExplosions with projection of incandescent material outside the crater.The ash column reached about 300 meters high on the crater, dispersed by the winds west and northwest.On December 8, 2018, the Turrialba volcano registered another eruption, with a gas column that reached 500 meters above the crater and 3,840 meters above sea level, registered in the Turrialba Volcano Chamber. The direction of the winds to the west, directed the ashes to some areas of the Central Valley, such as Coronado, Goicoechea, Moravia and several cantons of Heredia.
At present, volcanic activity has been decreasing little by little, with short -term passive emissions. There have been small intermittent emissions of Ash, which were visible from May 19 to 20, 2019.Due to the current situation of the volcano, the National Park is closed for the general public.
Contemplate the Turrialba volcano
The visit to the National Park is limited to the public. Tourists are not allowed on a three -kilometer radius around the crater due to volcano activity.However, it is worth driving to safe areas and not losing the opportunity to contemplate closely one of the most impressive volcanoes in the country.
Arrival to the volcano
To reach the vicinity of the volcano, the main reference is the hacienda the central, there you can park the vehicle and take a landscape tour. From San José, to the central one is 62 km, and it is done in 2 hours approx.Adobe Rent a Car has 16 offices nationwide, including a Rent a Car in San José and an office in Carthage, located in the southwest corner of the Central Park, 550 meters west.
Before, the route was allowed to the top, located 2700 meters high, very close to the Turrialba volcano and on a clear day and with luck you enjoyed a panoramic view of the Caribbean plain and other volcanoes as high as the Barva volcano, the volcano Poás and the Irazú volcano.
Enjoying the route during the ascent and descent is a mystical experience where a different atmosphere would breathe, observing the green slopes, dairy farms and their local fauna being close to one of the most imposing volcanoes in Costa Rica.
Currently due to the closure of the park, you can make the “walk between volcanoes” that goes from the Irazú volcano, to the conical base of the Turrialba volcano. This walk has an approximate 11km between the volcanoes and is done by ballast. If the conditions of time favor it, you can very easily observe the beautiful views of rural farms in the passage as well as the immense volcanoes.
Flora and fauna of the Turrialba Volcano National Park
Since their old forests still remain as a refuge from the native wildlife, the National Park is not only recognized by its volcano, but also by the species of birds that are found in it, including quetzales and hummingbirds. Particular trees such as oaks, oaks, deer, sage and mouse are also found.
Turrialba volcano slopes, wooded areas.
If you are a lover of bird observation, without a doubt, this Costa Rica National Park will be ideal for you. In it, more than 84 bird species have been identified, being the most representative in the area:
The red tail hawk (Buteo jamaicensis), the peak of the speech of the hummingbirds (Doryfera Ludoviae) and the spark volcanera (Selaphorus flammula), jilguerillos (catharus ustulatus), tangaras (tangara spp.), Carpenters (villosus peak).
11 species of mammals such as coyote (canis lasrans), rabbit (sylvilagus sayi), armadillo (dasypus novemcinctus) and the smelly fox (Epatus semi -seartstar) have also reported.
Important data and general information of the Turrialba National Park
Better time to visit
The Turrialba volcano, is an important tourist destination that can sometimes be very humid, with fog and strong winds in the rainy season. The temperature can even lower the 15ºC and reach a thermal sensation of the 5ºC.
The maximum temperature in the summer months is 27 ºC and the average precipitation is between 3.000 and 4.000 mm per year.
We recommend that you have a layer, even in the dry season if you are going to make the walk between volcanoes.
For security reasons, the entrance to the park is currently not allowed. Regular schedule, prior to closure, was understood from: 8:00 am until 3:30 pm.
Input prices
- ¢ 1000 national and resident adults.
- ¢ 500 national and resident children (2 to 12 years).
- $ 12 non -residents over 13 years.
- $ 5 non -resident children (2 to 12 years).
Without a doubt, the visit to the Turrialba volcano offers them an unmatched experience, with views and sunsets that will make their stay a totally different day.
Live transmission of the Turrialba volcano
The Vulcanological and Seismological Observatory of Costa Rica (Ovsicori) has at its disposal two cameras broadcasting live on its website. These are located within the National Park. One of them is focusing the main crater, with which you can see the current situation of the same at any time of the day. The second camera is located outside the volcano to measure the maximum height of eruptions.
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