Authorities from the National Emergency Commission (CNE), the National System of Areas of Conservation (SINAC) among others, are meeting again to evaluate the current conditions of the Poas Volcano and the steps towards a reopening of the park.

Although just a few weeks ago members of the National Emergency Commission spoke of the unstable conditions of this Volcano which makes it difficult to consider the reopening of the same as it doesn’t give out any alerts or alarms before an eruption and could put visitors at risk, the latest research and studies done of the same are being discussed with the possibility of reopening the park by Holy Week this year.

The Poas Volcano National Park has remained closed for 10 months now, and in the past weeks the volcanic activity has dropped considerably specially after the reappearance of the lake in the crater.
“Among the elements considered by the Observatory of Volcanic and Seismic Activity in Costa Rica (OVSICORI)and the National Seismology Network, are the decrease of gas emissions and the tremors, which could indicate the proper conditions to consider a reopening of the park”, explained Rafael Gutierrez, Director of SINAC in an interview with national daily CRHOY.

There are however several things to consider before being able to reopen the park, among them, the installation of a gas measuring system in the areas of public use and in the ranger stations; establishment of a space to be used as shelter for tourists in the event of a an eruption; placement of information signs regarding the situation; training of the rangers and personnel of the National Park on how to proceed in the event of an eruption, and, of course, the remodeling and repairing of different infrastructure in the park that was affected by the eruptions.
Authorities are already working on fulfilling these requirement, it is estimated that the investment needed to reopen to the public could involve close to $44,000.00 in infrastructure alone.

The closure of this National Park has taken a toll on the local economy that depends mostly on this tourism attraction, it has also represented high losses for SINAC since this was the second most visited National Park in Costa Rica only after Manuel Antonio.