Nestled at the top of the province of Cartago is a beloved national landmark, Volcán Irazú or Irazu Volcano. The volcano is a now dormant site with two open craters, a lagoon, ash fields, and endless views of neighboring mountaintops. The last eruption was a small one in 1994, but fine ash from the volcano still falls around Cartago and sometimes even San José. Its proximity to those two major cities and plentiful natural landscapes makes it one of the most popular tourist spots in the country.
The nature is not without a few man-made intrusions. As one of the highest peaks to the east of the Central Valley, the southern rim of Irazú hosts an army of satellite and signal towers that blast the capital city of San José with wifi and TV signals. There’s also a two-story observatory at the peak, recently restored by LL Bean, that allows for an even deeper glimpse into the main crater. At the entrance to the volcano is everything you would expect from one of the most popular tourist attractions: restrooms, maps, a parking lot, and gift shop.
Visibility is everything when visiting Irazú and Fall students in Sustainability & Social Justice landed on just the right day. After their first day of orientation at nearby Business in Cartago, it was nothing but blue skies and clear views. The first of several excursions in the Fall semester, the day-trip gives students a chance to connect, break in their hiking shoes, and see some of the natural beauty of Costa Rica.
Even the ascent through the Cartago mountainside provides students great first glimpses of rural neighborhoods, farm life, and views of the Cartago and San José cities below. Known for its rich, fertile soil, Cartago’s hillsides are lined with farmland. Students saw everything from the famous Costa Rican coffee plant, to greenhouse farms, countless vegetable fields, and plenty of cows and horses. The ecosystem at the top of Irazú doesn’t provide for much animal life, but it is a wonder for the observation and study of ecology, geology, and climate. With several of our new students majoring in sciences, the significance of a site like Volcán Irazú was not lost on them.
Students concluded the trip by descending Irazú and visiting La Basilica de Nuestra Señora, or Basilica of Our Lady of the Angels, in the city center of Cartago. The church, once partially destroyed by an earthquake, is now a religious and cultural landmark. It’s home to la romería, a yearly religious pilgrimage taken by many Costa Ricans that happened just a week before our visit. It also borders the central park of Cartago and is surrounded by local business and residential housing. Students were able to tour the inside, explore the surrounding neighborhoods, and see Irazu Volcano from a new perspective- down below!
