The Poás Volcano National Park, one of the most visited parks in Costa Rica, has been closed for almost four months, due to the explosive activity it started presenting since April, this has caused big economic loses to local commerce that depend on tourism; it has also affected the National System of Area of Conservation (SINAC) that is not receiving the park entry fee.

Considering that the Volcano has gone several weeks with passive activity, emission of gases and some ashes, but no important eruptions or explosions, SINAC is working on a proposal to reactivate the visitation to the park under certain control protocols.

Members of Sinac will be discussing the proposal in September with an interdisciplinary group formed by the National Emergency Commission , the National Seismology Network and the National University’s Volcanology and Seismology Research Institute (Ovsicori).

Details of the plan have not been released.

Even when the activity of the Poás Volcano has not been significant in the past few weeks, experts are continually monitoring the volcano since a strong eruption could take place at any moment.

The volcano has registered in the last four weeks a constant emission of gases and vapor and the occasional ash eruption; but nothing like the significant explosions back in April 12 and April 13.

The constant activity has caused significant changes in the National Park, the lake disappeared and the dome of the volcano was destroyed.

The National Emergency Commission closed the park in April 13 as a safety measure; yet, there are still many tourists who make their way close to the volcano accessing through clandestine trails, the authorities closed several of them, and warned the population of the risks of getting too close to the National Park.