Discover Costa Rica’s awe-inspiring volcanoes

Emphasizing the power of Mother Nature with images of fiery lava and explosive ash plumes, volcanoes have lit up the world news lately.

Mt. Pavlof volcano in Alaska has been intensely erupting since Nov. 12, spewing ash clouds up to 30,000 feet above sea level. The lava flow from Kilauea Volcano advances slowly across the Big Island of Hawaii, continuing its 31 years of near-continuous eruptions.

Costa Rica’s volcanoes also are in the news. The sudden eruption of Turrialba Volcano on Oct. 29 was the largest in 150 years, according to the National Seismological Network (RSN). The massive phreatic explosion ejected ash and rocks from the 3,340-meter-high volcano, the easternmost of Costa Rica's active volcanoes.

Poás Volcano erupted strongly on Oct. 14, ejecting mud and water from its green acid crater lake more than 200 meters into the air, all the way to the observation platform. Northwest of the capital city of San José, Poás is one the most visited – and most active – volcanoes in Costa Rica.

Costa Rica may be a small country but it has abundant active volcanoes lined up down the center like pearls on a chain. There are 10 major volcanoes; among the most active are Poás, Turrialba, Arenal, Rincon de la Vieja, and Irazú volcanoes.

At 3,432 meters, Irazú is Costa Rica's highest volcano, and is opposite Turrialba Volcano. Since a major eruption in 1968 brought it to life, Arenal Volcano has become one of the major tourist attractions in Costa Rica.

Rincón de la Vieja is the largest and most active volcano in the Guanacaste Range in northwest Costa Rica. At 15 kilometers wide, the approximately 9,000-year-old caldera, is known as the “Colossus of Guanacaste.” Rincón de la Vieja also recently increased activity, with phreatic explosions from the main crater starting Sept. 17.

In Guanacaste, Costa Rica, you are ideally located to visit Rincón de la Vieja Volcano when you stay at Hotel Hacienda Guachipelin. The adventure eco-tourism hotel is one of the best Guanacaste hotels, and received the TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence for 2014.

Providing the best Guanacaste, Costa Rica adventure tours, Hacienda Guachipelin also hosts the annual adventure races of the North Face Endurance Challenge and the Rincon de la Vieja Challenge.

Article by Shannon Farley