Access to one of Costa Rica’s most popular natural attractions has been suspended for an indefinite period, after authorities confirmed that Poás Volcano National Park will remain closed while engineers address serious structural problems on the main bridge leading to the park’s entrance. The decision extends what was initially announced as a short, preventive closure and is dealing a fresh blow to tour operators and rural communities that depend heavily on volcano tourism.

More News

Bridge Damage Turns Short Closure Into Indefinite Shutdown

The immediate trigger for the latest shutdown is the bridge over Quebrada Tigre on National Route 120, in the highland community of Poasito, Alajuela. The structure is the principal road link for vehicles heading to the park gates and visitor facilities. A detailed inspection carried out by engineers from the Ministry of Public Works and Transport found extensive deterioration that, according to officials, makes it unsafe for regular traffic and incompatible with tourism flows.

Authorities initially ordered a preventive closure of both the bridge and the park from January 21 to January 25, 2026, while crews carried out urgent, temporary repairs. Those works were designed to stabilize the existing bridge just enough to allow a regulated reopening with restrictions, including controlled passage and limits on heavy vehicles. For several days, tourism businesses and prebooked visitors operated under the assumption that the park would resume normal operations soon after.

However, subsequent evaluations revealed that the structural damage was more severe than first thought. The government now says the temporary interventions are insufficient to guarantee safe access for tourists and staff, especially given the high volume of buses and vans that routinely ferry visitors to Poás. As a result, the provisional timetable has been abandoned and the closure of Poás Volcano National Park has been extended for an undefined period while a more robust engineering solution is put in place.

Planned Modular Replacement and Prolonged Works

Transport officials have confirmed that the aging bridge will be replaced by a modular, single-lane Bailey-style structure, a common solution in Costa Rica for spanning rivers and ravines quickly in rural or mountainous areas. Bailey bridges are made of prefabricated steel panels that can be assembled on site and are often used as either temporary or semi-permanent fixes when existing bridges must be demolished or bypassed.

In early statements, the Ministry of Public Works and Transport indicated that a provisional modular bridge could be installed within several weeks, allowing limited traffic to resume while long-term plans are finalized. Engineers now caution that even the temporary installation involves complex logistics in a narrow, steep corridor, where heavy machinery, soil conditions and seasonal rains can all affect the schedule. Once the modular structure is ready, crews will also need time to adapt connecting road sections and carry out safety tests before reopening to general traffic.

The ministry has not offered a specific reopening date for either the bridge or the national park. The Environment and Energy Ministry and the National System of Conservation Areas have tied the park’s reopening directly to the completion of safe vehicular access. Until transport authorities certify that the new bridge is fully operational, the conservation and park agencies say they cannot authorize visitor entry to Poás, regardless of demand or pressure from the tourism sector.

Tourists Face Cancellations, Rerouting and Limited Alternatives

The sudden shift from a four day closure to an indefinite shutdown has created uncertainty for travelers who built Costa Rica itineraries around seeing Poás’ dramatic crater and high-altitude cloud forest. The national park, which typically manages access through prebooked online tickets and timed entry slots, was already operating under strict capacity controls due to its history of eruptions and volcanic gas emissions.

Visitors who had reservations during the closure period have been encouraged by park authorities to seek reprogramming or refunds through official booking channels. Travel agencies and independent guides are now working to reroute clients toward alternative attractions in the Central Valley and nearby regions, such as coffee plantation tours, waterfalls and other protected areas that remain open. Nonetheless, operators acknowledge that Poás’ unique appeal is difficult to substitute, particularly for travelers who favor volcano viewpoints as a highlight of their trip.

Some drivers have turned to older, secondary routes in the area to maintain at least a partial flow of local traffic. However, these alternatives are typically narrow, unpaved or steep, and suitable only for four wheel drive vehicles. Authorities emphasize that even where such detours are passable for residents, they are not appropriate for regular tourist buses or for diverting large numbers of park visitors, and they do not connect directly to official park infrastructure.

Communities and Businesses Around Poás Feel the Impact

For communities in the districts surrounding Poás Volcano, the closure is not merely an inconvenience but an economic setback layered on top of recent disruptions caused by volcanic activity. The park is a cornerstone attraction for day trips from San José and international circuits that combine beaches, rainforests and volcanoes. As a result, dozens of small businesses in Poasito and nearby towns rely heavily on the steady flow of visitors who arrive hungry, curious and ready to spend.

Local restaurants, souvenir shops, farm stands and family run lodges report cancellations and lower foot traffic in the days following the extended closure announcement. Many had already experienced reduced revenues during periods of heightened volcanic alert over the past year, when access to the crater area was restricted or suspended. The new bridge related shutdown, driven not by volcanic risk but by infrastructure safety, adds another layer of unpredictability to their planning and staffing.

Tourism associations from the region are urging the government to prioritize the bridge replacement and to provide clear, frequent updates about progress. Some business owners argue that while they understand the importance of safety, prolonged uncertainty can be as damaging as the closure itself, making it difficult to negotiate with banks, suppliers and tour partners. They are calling for interim support measures, marketing campaigns for alternative routes or attractions, and a transparent work schedule to help them anticipate when visitor flows might resume.

From Volcanic Alerts to Infrastructure Risks

The present closure is distinct in origin from the shutdowns that have marked recent years at Poás. In 2025, an intense cycle of volcanic unrest led authorities to declare an alert and order the indefinite closure of the park on multiple occasions due to eruptions, gas emissions and increased seismicity. Visitor access was only restored after a comprehensive review of risk levels, the installation of protective shelters and strict protocols on the number of people allowed at the main viewpoint and for how long.

By late 2025, improved monitoring data and reduced eruptive activity allowed the emergency commission and conservation authorities to gradually lift their restrictions, culminating in a full reopening of the park. Visitor numbers began to rebound, and tour operators rebuilt itineraries that had long listed Poás as a must see stop. That recovery, however, depended on both geophysical stability and functioning infrastructure, including the very bridge that is now at the center of the latest closure.

The transition from a natural hazard based shutdown to one driven by infrastructure safety has prompted renewed debate over investment in access roads to Costa Rica’s protected areas. Experts note that while volcanic risk can never be reduced to zero, it is at least expected in an active volcanic region and is routinely monitored in real time. Bridges and roads, on the other hand, can fail gradually, often out of public view, until inspections reveal problems that demand abrupt and prolonged closures to avoid accidents.

Authorities Prioritize Safety Amid Pressure to Reopen

Government agencies involved in the decision stress that public safety is nonnegotiable and that reopening Poás Volcano National Park before the access bridge is secure is not an option. Engineers have described the deterioration of the Quebrada Tigre bridge as serious enough to pose a risk under continued use by heavy vehicles. Officials point out that any incident involving tourist buses or local traffic on such a narrow mountain route could have grave consequences, including injuries, loss of life and environmental damage.

The Environment and Energy Ministry and the National System of Conservation Areas have aligned their position with the findings of transport and road authorities. They underline that Costa Rica’s protected area system is obligated by law to protect both natural resources and the wellbeing of visitors and staff. While alternative pedestrian access or limited entry schemes have been used in some other parks during road repairs, the steep terrain and distance involved in the Poás corridor make such options impractical on a large scale.

Behind the scenes, officials are aware of the economic stakes. The park generates entrance fee revenue for conservation programs nationwide, and it supports a broader regional economy that includes transportation providers, guides and agricultural suppliers. Nonetheless, spokespersons maintain that reopening on a compressed schedule without adequate engineering assurances would be irresponsible. They have committed to publishing updates as major milestones are reached in the bridge replacement process, in an attempt to balance transparency with the technical uncertainties inherent in infrastructure projects.

What Travelers Should Know Before Planning a Visit

For travelers currently planning trips to Costa Rica or already in the country, the key message is that Poás Volcano National Park remains closed to visitors until further notice, not because of eruptive activity but because of the unsafe condition of the principal access bridge. Prospective visitors are advised to verify the current status of the park directly with official conservation authorities or through their trusted tour operators before arranging transport or purchasing tickets.

Tour companies that specialize in volcano excursions are adjusting their offerings, substituting visits to other destinations where possible and advising clients of the situation well in advance. International visitors who had placed Poás at the center of their itineraries are being encouraged to maintain flexibility and to consider a wider range of experiences in the Central Valley, including cultural tours, coffee farm visits and nearby attractions that can be reached via unaffected routes.

Travel planners note that while the closure is a disappointment, it also highlights Costa Rica’s broader commitment to safety and environmental management. The same institutions that routinely close trails during heavy rains or restrict access during high volcanic activity are now applying similar precautionary standards to bridges and roads. For visitors, staying informed and working through reputable operators remains the best strategy while engineers and authorities work to restore safe access to one of the country’s most iconic volcanic landscapes.