Volcano · Costa Rica
Poás
Famous for its acid crater lake.
Status right now
No current reports
Poás is not in the latest Smithsonian weekly report or the GDACS volcano alerts. That usually means it is quiet, but not every change is reported straight away. For official alerts, follow the local volcano observatory.
Checked 4 Nov 2026, 22:36 UTC.
Key facts
- Country
- Costa Rica
- Region
- Central America
- Type
- Stratovolcano
- Summit
- 2,697 m (8,848 ft)
- Coordinates
- 10.200° N, 84.233° W
- Smithsonian number
- 345040
What kind of volcano is it?
Poás is a stratovolcano. A stratovolcano is a tall, steep cone built from layers of lava, ash and rock from many eruptions. Its sticky magma traps gas, so eruptions are often explosive, with ash columns and fast-moving pyroclastic flows.
Eruption history
NOAA's Global Significant Volcanic Eruptions Database lists no significant eruptions here. It records eruptions that caused deaths, notable damage or a tsunami, or that were very large (VEI 6 or more), so many smaller eruptions are not in it. The Smithsonian record for Poás lists every known eruption.
Nearby volcanoes
- MasayaNicaragua · 290 km
- PacayaGuatemala · 833 km
- FuegoGuatemala · 864 km
- Santa MaríaGuatemala · 942 km
- Nevado del RuizColombia · 1,145 km
- ReventadorEcuador · 1,355 km
Not an official warning service. In an emergency, follow your local authorities.