What you can see on the Turrialba cams
The cam is pointed at Turrialba’s active crater. On most days it shows a plume of steam and gas; after heavy rain the plume can grow, and ash emissions show up as a grey or brown cloud.
Banded crater walls and the steaming vent
The camera stands on the edge of Turrialba's summit and looks across the crater from the side. On the left, a grassy ridge with a wooden fence runs up to a small hut and a mast; in the middle, steam pours up from the active vent, deep inside the crater; and on the right the far wall rises in bands of ochre, yellow and grey, the layers of old eruptions laid bare. Below it, the crater floor is covered in dark ash with a few pale patches.
Mornings are the clearest time to look: cloud often covers the summit by midday, and the steam from the vent then merges into it.
Eruptions of Turrialba
Turrialba’s previous eruption ended in 1866. Gas emissions increased from the 1990s, and in 2010 a new vent opened. From 2014 onwards, explosions sent ash over the Central Valley, sometimes forcing the international airport in San José to close for hours. Activity declined after 2020, but OVSICORI continues to watch the volcano closely.
When to watch Turrialba
Mornings are clearest, as clouds often cover the summit by midday. The Caribbean-facing slopes where Turrialba stands get rain in most months, so clear views are worth catching when they come. Costa Rica is six hours behind UTC.
Around Turrialba
The town of Turrialba, below the volcano, is a base for white-water rafting on the Pacuare and Reventazón rivers. Nearby, Guayabo National Monument protects the largest archaeological site in Costa Rica, with stone roads, mounds and aqueducts built by its pre-Columbian inhabitants. The CATIE research centre has a botanical garden open to visitors.
Visiting Turrialba
Turrialba Volcano National Park lies about 70 km (45 mi) by road from San José. It was closed for years during the eruptions; access to the summit area depends on the volcano’s activity, so check the national park service (SINAC) before going.
