Volcano Irazu Gravel Pit | Wild Camping

March 15th, 2024 by sonny jadun

Got here late while it was dark. No one was here except us. Around midnight couple of vehicless stopped by but they were respectful of RTT privacy. It was Thursday night so no loud music or party. A peaceful night.
Be warned as others have suggested on the weekend it can get loud.

June 16th, 2023 by rburrows407

Prepare for a chilly night at 10,000 ft. There a couple of flat places you can tuck into. Locals show up at all hours. Some to party late at night, others for an early morning hike.

October 15th, 2022 by LiLa

Definitely a great spot, BUT.

Most of the lower part of the gravel pit was flooded but we found a nice level grassy area at one side of the gravel overlooking the clouds. In the morning we could see the Caribbean coast. The night was quite chilly, around 5 degrees Celsius maybe.

It could have been an amazing experience, well here comes the BUT: it was a Saturday. We already read in the comments that probably we’d have to share with other campers which we wouldn’t mind. When we arrived around 5pm we were the only ones and it stayed like this until around 10pm when we heard noises on the other side of the gravel pit. Many cars came and apparently a lot of young people were throwing a party with huge campfire, loud music. Also this would have been ok with us until they started driving around the gravel pit with their cars for fun in the middle of the night. I’m glad that our car was parked at the side of the area but still felt slightly uncomfortable as cars were passing by pretty constantly with their headlights on and loud music. It went on until around 3am.

For everyone who’s planning to visit the volcano as well be aware that the pretty blue crater lake is currently dried out, so for us it felt is was little to see for 15$ pp.

Also you need to reserve the tickets in advance now via SINAC website. Gladly we had weak kolbi signal next to the entrance and could reserve the tickets on the spot.

September 25th, 2022 by tropicwavestudio.com

We stayed here one night, coldest place ever to sleep, it was like 6degrees at night so be prepared. We were only two vehicles. It’s safe and close to the entry. Around you have a little walk to see volcan Ibarlade. It’s an ancient crater.

October 24th, 2021 by katherineletts

Busy on a weekend. We were happily cool and comfortable in our van, and imagine it to be quite freezing for tent campers! It was a lovely crisp morning, and we could see the Atlantic. Coastal clouds covered the Pacific. Great spot if you don’t mind sharing with a few other campers. Weekdays are probably less busy (:

June 29th, 2021 by welt-erleben.ch

High clearance necessary if you like to go to the best spots, no problems for a 2WD motorhome.

March 11th, 2020 by jakubt1985

i sleep in this gravel pit, wind, but good for the stars seeing

February 22nd, 2020 by fabirumo

al llegar a la entrada principal al volcán tenemos una calle a mano izquierda con terreno de terracería, por allí bajamos aproximadamente 100 metros y encontraremos este hermoso lugar, es un terreno grande aproximadamente de 300mts de diámetro

extremadamente frío, temperaturas de 10° centígrados en meses de invierno

muy ventoso

noches mágicas llenas de estrellas

lugar muy solo intentar acampar bien adentró para tener buena visibilidad y seguridad en caso de algún ladrón

March 11th, 2019 by jeroen.grinwis

Great place to stay! Really cold at night and we were unlucky to have a storm at night. But made some amazing star pictures and it was really easy to be the first in the park in the morning.
Please be aware that local guys like to bring a girl up here for a few hours, but they all leave at night

August 3rd, 2018 by vismaplanete.com

Spot parfait pour une ou plusieurs nuit, à 200m de l’entrée du parc national du volcan Irazú. Attention il fait vraiment froid la nuit, beaucoup de brume et d’humidité. Vaste étendue de gravier volcanique, calme nuit et jour, on se sent en sécurité aucun problème. Il arrive qu’il y ait de l’eau en saison des pluies pour accéder au spot, ça passe sans problème le sol est dur.
On recommande.

July 3rd, 2018 by levandsuzy

Arrived late afternoon. Very remote, but sheltered from the high winds. We were here during rainy season. Very cold at night for a roof top tent but we huddled tight together. Take your winter blankets or dress in many layers. In the morning the crater lake was stunning. The clouds moved in 30nins after we arrived but the morning views from Irazu were worth the cold night.

June 27th, 2018 by juliettegoodman

It was about a 30min uphill drive from catargo to the National Park on a really good well paved road.

Once you get to the park entrance you take a gravel track to your right and see this mini crater pretty soon. Quiet, cold and secluded it was definitely an experience sleeping up here which we would recommend!

Too cloudy in the morning to make it worth paying the park entrance fee to try see the volcano, however well worth the trip up here anyway for an experience of a night - over 3000m above sea level!

May 15th, 2018 by albatros-on-tour.de

Indeed a nice place. Last 600 meters via a narrow dirt road but doable in a 2WD. If you're afraid of scratches think twice about going there. Final access to pit has one big pothole (looks as if someone got stuck with a tire). Carefully choose your track or fill hole with dirt/stones first ;-).

April 15th, 2018 by Tucks' Truck

Busy on a Sunday afternoon but quiet and cold at night. It's a good new road to get up here, and the crater doesn't open until 08:00 hrs, so if you don't like the altitude and/or cold, you could overnight lower down and easily come up in the morning.

April 6th, 2018 by Monkeys on the Road

Wonderful, peaceful, wild camp site. Good star gazing and quick access to the volcano in the morning.

April 5th, 2018 by happy74190

A droite à l’entrée du parc très beau parking
Nous étions seul à 3250m

March 19th, 2018 by lesdebsaroundtheworld

good place for rest 1 night before visit volcano. very quiet and safe

September 10th, 2017 by Ohlavan

Super quiet place. It was cold in the night. We were the only ones spending the night here. No toilets, should have to wait until 8am and use the ones in the Park. Cool place to spend the night.

June 12th, 2017 by martin

the gravel pit is quite exposed... the gate not accepted and not nice anyway so we drove here. a little Pearl! nicely tucked away in what looks like a mini crator. about 50m in diameter round plat piece. from the road lovely views down the mountain. most quite night in a long time. not a sound. none. beware 3200m above sea. we had 8°C at night. 20 in the daytime.
enjoy!

October 24th, 2015 by mit-eigenen-augen.blogspot.de

Nice Spot, very quiet, probably our Most quiet Night in Central America. During the Night there was a period where the sulfur smell was pretty strong, so keep that in mind if you choose to stay here. In the evening and in the Morning everything was fine. High altitude, so pretty chilly at Night!!! No facilities, but toilets in the park.

April 3rd, 2015 by Polo Free Spirit

200 meters away from the entrance to the Iraqi volcano park. Free. Very quiet at night. Perfect to sleep at before the opening of the gates at 8 am