Turrialba Volcano National Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Turrialba Volcano National Park |
|
|---|---|
|
IUCN Category II (National Park)
|
|
.jpg)
Turrialba Volcano
|
|
| Location | Costa Rica |
| Area | ~3,900 acres (16 km²) |
| Established | 30 July 1955 |
| Governing body | National System of Conservation Areas (SINAC) |
| Lua error in Module:Location_map at line 420: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). | |
Turrialba Volcano National Park, also known as Parque Nacional Volcan Turrialba in Spanish, is a special natural area in Costa Rica. It is a National Park located in the Central Conservation Area. This park protects the land around the amazing Turrialba Volcano in Cartago Province.
The Turrialba Volcano has erupted many times in the past. Big eruptions happened between 1864 and 1868. Starting in 2014, the volcano became much more active. It sent out clouds of ash that covered parts of Costa Rica. This ash was like gritty dust. Sometimes, it even caused the Juan Santamaría International Airport in San Jose to close for a while.
Contents
Visiting Turrialba Volcano National Park
When you visit Turrialba Volcano National Park, you can see amazing sights. You get great views of the volcano's crater. You can also look out over the Caribbean plains. The beautiful Turrialba valley and the Talamanca mountain range are visible too.
Wildlife in the Park
The park is home to many different animals. There are eighty-four types of birds flying around. You can also find eleven different kinds of mammals living here. Keep an eye out for them!
Hiking and Entry Information
There is a hiking trail for visitors. It is considered a moderate to difficult hike. You need to make a phone reservation before you go. The entry fee is ₡1000 Costa Rican colones for residents. For visitors from other countries, it costs $12 US dollars. You also need to pay for a tour guide. This guide fee is ₡6000 Costa Rican colones. Tours usually start between 6:00 AM and 10:00 AM.
Park Closures and Reopening
The park was closed to visitors for a long time. This was because of the volcano's eruptions. It was closed from 2012 until December 4, 2020. When it reopened, new safety features were in place. Emergency shelters were built for visitors. The visitor center was updated and railings were added at lookout spots. For safety, you still cannot go within two kilometers of the crater.
How to Get There
The main road to the park is Route 417. However, there was a disagreement about this road in December 2020. Some farm owners wanted to make it a private road. Because of this, the government has marked an alternative route. You will see signs for this other way to get to the park.
See also
In Spanish: Parque nacional Volcán Turrialba para niños
