| Costa Rica has much to offer tourists, especially those | | | | Poás Volcano National Park opens at 8am daily and if |
| who are interested in nature and adventure activities. | | | | you stay in the area, it is easy to be there as the park |
| Costa Rica is situated in Central America between | | | | opens. |
| Nicaragua and Panama and is easily accessible | | | | There are many accommodation choices in the area. |
| because of its close proximity to the USA and | | | | The lodge closest to Poás, Lagunias Lodge is not |
| Canada. Often it is just a short flight away. | | | | accessible unless you have a powerful 4 wheel drive |
| One of the major attractions in Costa Rica is Poás | | | | vehicle. Lo Que Tu Quieras Lodge is only 4.5 |
| Volcano. Situated just an hour from downtown San | | | | kilometres from the entrance, but is in serious need of |
| José, it is easily accessible on good roads. | | | | an upgrade and tends to be unkept. |
| Poás Volcano is an active stratovolcano. Poás has | | | | My favourite is Poás Lodge and Restaurant. It is just |
| erupted 39 times since 1828. There are two crater | | | | 4.7 kilometres from the entrance to the national park |
| lakes near its summit. | | | | and is the best value for money in the area and also |
| The northern lake is known as the Laguna Caliente. It is | | | | enjoys an unparalleled view of the central valley. |
| one of the world's most acidic lakes, with a pH of | | | | Eating in the area does present much choice since |
| almost 0, and as a consequence supports little or no | | | | most of the restaurants in the area tend to serve the |
| aquatic life. Lake Botos, the southern lake, fills an | | | | same style of dishes. Colbert’s near Vara Blanca |
| inactive crater, which last erupted 7500BP. It is cold | | | | has lovely French food, but lacks ambience. |
| and clear, and is surrounded by a cloud forest located | | | | I have eaten at Poas Lodge and Restaurant |
| within the Poás Volcano National Park. | | | | whenever I have been there and have found their |
| Poás is well known for often being clouded over and | | | | menu to be more varied than the other eateries in the |
| as a result the craters may often be invisible. Because | | | | area. Their prices are good and the service has been |
| of this it is best to visit the volcano early in the day, | | | | excellent, with many of the staff members speaking |
| that way you have the best chance of seeing the | | | | English. |
| main crater. | | | | |