Q COSTA RICA — The Comisión Nacional de Emergencias (CNE), or National Emergency Commission, announced a green alert for Poás Volcano National Park after registering increased seismic activity, eruptions, and gas emissions.
According to the CNE, the measure aims to reinforce safety protocols for visitors, in coordination with the National System of Conservation Areas (SINAC). The decision, formalized on Friday, August 28, includes restrictions and new regulations for access to the protected area.
According to the CNE, Poás Volcano National Park will remain open to the public, although under strict regulations that seek to minimize risks given the recent increase in volcanic activity. The authority announced that only the main trail to the viewpoint and the trail known as Sombrilla de Pobre will remain open, both requiring the use of safety helmets for all visitors.
In addition, the maximum capacity of the crater viewpoint was reduced to 56 people per shift, and the total number of daily visitors was limited to half of the usual capacity. The president of the CNE, Alejandro Picado, explained that the new measures are part of the alert protocol for active volcanic areas.
Among the main recommendations, the CNE asks the public and tourists not to enter the park illegally and to respect all instructions from park rangers. Access via unauthorized routes represents a high risk due to the possibility of sudden eruptive events or exposure to toxic gases.
Poás Volcano National Park is one of the most visited tourist destinations in the country, renowned for its main crater, considered one of the largest in the world, and for the frequency of its volcanic activity.
According to CNE data, the site receives thousands of visitors each month, so the reduced capacity and the requirement to wear helmets directly impact the tourist experience.
Recent background of the volcano and continuous monitoring
During the last decade, Poás Volcano has shown varied volcanic activity, marked by different phases. Between 2006 and 2016, a series of phreatic eruptions predominated, with notable episodes in 2012 and 2014 that produced fumaroles and released sulfur dioxide, generating concern in nearby communities.
The year 2017 marked a turning point when the volcano experienced a major magmatic phase. In April of that year, a phreatomagmatic explosion almost completely destroyed the historic crater dome, ejecting ash and incandescent material several kilometers away and causing the acidic lake to evaporate, forcing the park’s prolonged closure for over a year.
After a period of relative calm between 2018 and 2023, the lake was temporarily restored, advanced monitoring systems and protective structures were installed, and the park was reopened under strict regulations.
Since 2024, the volcano has experienced reactivation, with frequent ash plumes, strong degassing, and the ejection of rock blocks, while the crater lake has been drying up. This situation has caused ashfall and a sulfur odor in nearby communities such as Alajuela and Poasito, as well as in parts of the Central Valley.