Barva Volcano

The Barva Volcano is a dormant shield volcano rising behind Heredia, and the hike to its cloud-forest crater lake is one of the best half-day walks accessible from the Central Valley. The trail begins at the Porrosatí ranger station, reached by car from Heredia via the town of Sacramento — the road is rough in places and a 4WD is useful after rain.

The trail to the main crater is around 2.5 kilometres of moderate walking through dense cloud forest that often hosts resplendent quetzals, especially during the February to April nesting season. The crater lake at the summit reflects the sky when the mist clears, which it does unpredictably. Bring a waterproof layer and start early — the clouds typically roll in by midday. Entrance to Braulio Carrillo National Park is required; pay at the ranger station.

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The Barva crater lake sits at 2,906 metres above sea level — high enough that the surrounding cloud forest is almost always wrapped in mist. The lake is one of three water-filled craters on the Barva volcano complex; the two others, Copey and the unnamed secondary crater, are smaller and harder to reach. The whole massif is part of Braulio Carrillo National Park, one of the most biologically diverse protected areas in Costa Rica, covering the gradient from the Central Valley floor at 400 metres up through tropical wet forest, montane forest, and cloud forest.

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