When we started our trip to Poas Vulcano, small drops of rain were falling. But we didn’t care as long as it wouldn’t be getting worse! As we were the first to get to the bus, we could choose our seats but had to wait quite a bit till everyone had arrived. Then we could finally leave for the centre of San José. Yeah!
After we crossed Alajuela, the birthplace of the national hero Juan Santamaria, we stop at one of the many coffee plantations in the central valley. It is still raining, but we are able to bear it. At the boarder of the plantation, there is a small disaster. There is no Coffee as we know but rather the raw bean. You are supposed to remove the exterior flesh. Afterwards you have to suck the white slimy mass with core. The taste is similar to a pea and it has nothing in common with the typical coffee taste. Therefor you can find the coffee in the small shop of the plantation.
Now we have enough of the broth. We want to see the Poas Volcano. It goes upside soon. It goes even up to 1000 metres from Alajuela. The volcano has a altitude of exactly 2704 meters. While coffee is mounted on the lower slopes, you can find a dense rainforest in the higher regions. Fortunately we arrive at the Poas in the dry season (December to March). Due to that and also because our tour guide noted that we will spend some time at the volcano, we should have a good chance to see the crater lake.
Not a bit of it! Actually there was a rain shower like I've never experienced before. Waiting a few minutes in the museum of the National Park proved to be futile. The rain felt down just like a deluge. When we set off, the Poas-shower only needs a few moments to drench the clothes. At least the route is easy to find: you simply had to walk towards the streams...
When having arrived at the border of the crater we look down and see a white wall. I'd like to take pictures. As well as the unavailing efforts of some others to run for shelter under a viewing platform. But it really is the first time that I don't even dare to unpack my camera. Later we get to know that only 10 of 1.000 visitors may see the volcano clearly. But for everybody who wants to see the acid lake in one of the world's greatest crater, this is only cold comfort.
