There are over 200 volcanic centers here in Costa Rica. Fortunately only 10 are 'active'. Currently the most active one is near where we live. It is 66 miles away but during one of its eruptions we get a light ash coating over everything and your throat becomes irritated. Nuria, my better half, becomes even more irritated since she has to sweep the large front porch at least once a day.
We have visited Poas and Arenal. Both are awesome to see up close and personal. We lived at the foot of Poas for a brief period when we moved back and have been to Arenal several times. Arenal is the most visited volcano and for very good reason. It is set up as a tourist trap in the town of Fortuna that will gladly take your colones at twice the rate of the same services and 'souvenirs' down the road a few kilometers. You can get a nice little cottage for a reasonable rate. In the world of scams I think they are called 'the hook'.
The hot springs there are fantastic. They are on different levels as you walk up. There are slightly warm ones up to a temperture that a reasonable person would call damn hot. My favorite is the one where you wade up to a bar and order your beer or spirit of choice and then just sip and relax. Others have various man made obstacles that you can sit and/or climb on. They are the kids favorites while the men lounge around and ogle the women that take great pains to give the men something TO ogle at.
Poas is a nice inexpensive place to visit. Some say that it is the second largest volcanic crater in the world. However, this could not be substantiated by google. My wife who is a Tica (female Costa Rican) was tought in school that it is the largest. Just false pride by the natives I guess.You can stand at the rim of the volcano and look down into its belly. The pool of grayish green water makes you wonder how hot it is but with the steam that rises slowly tells you that its not lying in a volcano in an attempt for you to do a high dive and find out. Then your thoughts wander to the inevitable. Wonder how many virgins where tossed into this massive monster to appease the Gods many moons ago?.
*Special thanks to Nuria for her insight and her uncanny proof reading ability*
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