POAS volcano: Is this a magical Costa Rican site? Or not?
 

When you first caught site of the Poas volcano and its beautiful lake...was this a magical moment for you? Was this one of your more memorable experiences in Costa Rica? Or not? How was it for you?

I'm wondering how other travelers feel about their first visit to the Poas volcano. We have 2 nights at the end of our second trip to Costa Rica to plan. I am thinking of staying 2 nights at the end of our trip in a hotel that is convenient to both the Poas volcano and to the SJO airport for our flight home.

Is Poas a good choice, I wonder? The best choice for our last 2 days in Costa Rica? Your viewpoints would help me decide what is best for us. Feel free to answer very subjectively!

On this trip, we will also be staying for the first time at Bosque del Cabo on the Osa. We also need to stay on the coast near Jaco for a destination wedding. (Villa Caletas)

On our first trip to Costa Rica, we visited Arenal, Monteverde, and Manuel Antonio.

Peace Lodge and Xandari are almost booked already...if I don't decide fast they will be booked. But they are very pricey. We are already stretching the budget by staying at Bosque del Cabo. I'm also considering Orchideas.

As for accommodations, a quiet night's rest is probably my #1 priority.

What about Los Angeles cloud forest? Is Poas volcano a better choice?

Thanks to anyone who'd like to share their memories of their first view of the Poas volcano and lake.

Melissa, regarding Xandari, I got a letter in the mail from them yesterday that they are having a special promotion - stay 2 nights and get the 3rd night free. Not sure if it will still be in effect when you go, but wouldn't hurt to ask about specials.

Regarding Poas, we did several trips to CR before we saw it, but it was always on my list. We did a trip there from the Peace Lodge. Despite going early in the a.m., our first view was of a big cloud bank, wouldn't have even known there was a volcano crater there. But we were patient and the clouds lifted, and yes, we thought it was really cool and worth seeing. The crowd actually cheered as the clouds parted.

Wow, that's a loaded question! What is magical for one person certainly might not be magical for another! Poas is an interesting place to visit; not too special when you don't get to see the crater. We've been 3-4 times, have seen the crater 2 of those times. Early is critical, usually. Volcan Irazu is also very interesting, with its emerald green water. Poas used to have turquoise water, but a few years ago, there was some activity, and the water (last time I saw it) is whitish-gray.

I know a lot of people talk about the lake at Poas, but we honestly didn't think that was any big whoop. We walked and walked and then got there, and it was a lake. I could have given that part a pass. For us, the crater was worth it. There's also a little museum there, but interestingly it was all in Spanish. Would have loved for it to be bilingual.

Poas can be spectacular if you catch it early AM

when all is clear otherwise sort of a crap shoot.

VERY close to Xandari head up there one clear AM

If you get to see the crater, it's awesome. And, I thought the lake was even more stunning, especially if you have clouds rolling over it. The magic of the place is probably in its cloud forest atmosphere.

If your priority is a quiet night's sleep, I'd save the money on Xandari/Peace Lodge and go with Orquideas at less than half the price. It's very convenient to Poas, has an excellent restaurant, nice pool, and is relatively close to the airport.

Melissa, we did get some great pictures of Poas after the clouds parted; people that see them always say, "Wow!" and ask about it. You should do it.

Everyone's replies have given me a clearer viewpoint on Poas and the accomodations convenient to Poas! Thanks!

RAC: Your reply is interesting. I can picture the clouds rolling over the lake, and I hadn't realized Poas has a "cloud forest atmosphere", which I appreciate knowing now. I think Monteverde Cloud forest was one of my favorite places to experience in Costa Rica. Naturally we won't know what the weather will be like at Poas, and we would be sure to go early. Your description plus other people's comments have helped me to "see" the place better. I'm still considering Orchideas and considering whether Xandari/Peace Lodge would be worth the price in our case. I appreciate your advice.

I think I would like Peace Lodge or Xandari but I also have to consider whether it's my husband's kind of place as well. Orchideas does sound good too although I'm afraid we'd miss their breakfast if we need to get up to Poas so early...which makes Peace Lodge enticing due to location... Except for the rebuilding still going on at Peace Lodge since the unfortunate earthquake last January...

shillmac: Yes I like to ask those "subjective" questions, because it sparks people to give me their own "take" on things. Guidebooks are often too objective if you ask me. I like hearing about other peoples highlights, bloopers, disappointments, magical moments...it makes a place come alive for me and helps me to get a feel for whether it could be our highlight or not... Did you like Poas or Volcan Irazu better, or both the same? I'm glad you told me last time you saw Poas' water it was whitish grey since I was picturing it as green & beautiful but I guess not any more.

I wonder if we could get a weather report before heading up to Poas, and have an alternative plan in case it doesn't look like a good day for Poas?

volcanogirl: Thanks for the tip about the Xandari special. I think it might only be good through a December stay...I think I saw it on their web-site.

Poas water was very bright blue when we saw it a year ago - very pretty. There's also some very big cool plants nearby with huge leaves; I love that they're all around the edge of our pictures. They look like big green umbrellas.

There are two lakes, to be clear. There is the small lake in the main Poas crater. Then there is the Botos Lagoon, which is an extinct crater and surrounded by trees.

Orquideas will get breakfast early for you if you ask the night before.

We thought Poas was beautiful. We went after taking a bus load of supplies to the earthquake destroyed school at Poasito, so didn't arrive until 11-ish. Walked up through the mist, the huge gunnera (poor man's umbrella), flowering plants to the crater and saw - a huge bank of white fogs/cloud, you would never know there was a crater there. Went back down to the visitors center for lunch, then the clouds started to break. We walked back up and slowly the clouds lifted and we had fantastic views! The water was very gray/white as shillmac says, but I wasn't sure if it was because of the foggy day or what.

We thought it was a great experience and were very glad we did it.

The Poas crater was blue for us; that's the one I was referencing. It was really beautiful. The lagoon is the part that I thought was no big thrill and okay to skip if you're pressed for time. Col, thanks for the name of the plant - we love those. Wonder if we could grow those here?

VG - Gunnera grows really well in England and mountains of CR, so I think our heat and humidity in La. and Houston would knock its socks off. Better off sticking with the warm weather tropicals such as the heliconias, justicias, cannas, cupheas and salvias.

I was amazed to see 15' firebush and turks cap in Rincon de la Vieja, always gets knocked back here in winter and resprouts in spring.

I was thinking tropical CR, but you're right - that area is really cool and misty. Our 100 degree temps would do it in. Bummer. We have a hibiscus bush that's taking over though, lots of hummingbirds out there too!

Dreaming of all the magic... Thanks everybody.

Melissa - If you go with Orquideas, go knowing that the rooms are very basic. Probably not like Xandari at all, but absolutely acceptable and the pool is great as well as the restaurant and bar. I stayed in a deluxe room the first time, it was fine, and Darly's Suite the next, which was nicer and had a large private balcony. As a place to lay your head and have a great meal, maybe hang out in the Marilyn Monroe bar and use the free internet, it's a convenient place to stay close to SJO or for day trips. They also have spa treatments if you want some pampering on your last night.

Yes
just pray that there are no clouds or poisonous gases on the day you go there
Itineraries should be made so that you have some time for a second chance...

Nice photos! Thanks for sharing.