Volcán Irazú, Costa Rica
I traveled to Irazú on a last second change of itinerary due to the earthquake in January 2009. At first, I was pretty disappointed with the change of plans, my view changed as soon as we were on the road.
The adventure at Irazú really starts on the drive up. The drive offers breathtaking views of the countryside. It is a sharp contrast to San Jose. Be forewarned, the road is very curvy, so if you have the tendency to get motion sickness, I recommend bringing Dramamine. (If I were you, I would bring it everywhere you go in Costa Rica, all of the roads are curvy).
Once we got to the park, it was quite chilly compared to San Jose. You will want to bring a light jacket or sweater along. Many people in our group complained the entire time we were there and were not able to truly enjoy the views because they were too worried about the cold.
Irazú consists of three craters. One you can actually walk in, as it is at the same level as the rest of the park. The other two craters are below and have the signature blue-green water at the bottom. The views are amazing. Between looking down at the craters and gazing across at the clouds (yes you are level and above the clouds) offers wonderful photo-ops. It also offers a glance at how beautiful nature can be.
There is also a road that leads up to a lookout above the main area of the park. While I was unable to go up to the lookout, others said it was amazing and well worth the the uphill trek to the top.
If you plan on eating or buying something to munch on, watch out for the raccoon-like animals that roam the area. They have made it their livelihood to steal food from tourists and have no fear of people. The little guys climb right up on the picnic tables and steal your food!
So if you plan on visiting Irazú, bring a sweater, take some Dramamine, and guard your food and you will not be disappointed!
