Communities · Poás, Alajuela

Poás Volcano National Park Reopened After a Week-Long Bridge Closure

Poás Volcano National Park reopened on Jan. 29, 2026, after a bridge over the Quebrada Tigre in Poasito, on the park's main access road, was found at risk of collapse and closed for just over a week. The bridge reopened with a 9-tonne weight limit and warnings of short closures. Conditions at Poás change often, so the reopening date isn't a guide to today's hours or access.

By Pura-Verde.com Editors · Published October 30, 2026 · Updated October 31, 2026
Original report: La Nación: Parque Nacional Volcán Poás reabre tras habilitación del puente sobre la quebrada Tigre (2026-01-29)

For a little over a week in January 2026, one of Costa Rica's most visited volcanoes was cut off, not by an eruption but by a tired bridge. Poás Volcano National Park closed on Jan. 21 when engineers found serious damage on the main road up, and it reopened on Jan. 29 with a weight limit on the crossing. The episode is a reminder of how many things have to go right for a day trip to Poás.

A bridge at risk of collapse

The trouble was a small bridge over the Quebrada Tigre, a stream in Poasito de Poás, on National Route 120, the park's main access road. A field study by the Ministry of Public Works and Transport (MOPT) found damage that put vehicle traffic at risk, and traffic was stopped at 4 p.m. on Jan. 21, La República reported.

The park was first expected to reopen on Jan. 25. Officials pointed drivers to the old Poás road, a steep, narrow municipal route fit only for four-wheel-drive vehicles. MOPT also moved a single-lane modular Bailey bridge to the site, and the National Roads Council (CONAVI) said that crossing would be restored within four weeks at most.

The closure that kept getting longer

On Jan. 26, after a new technical review, the closure was extended with no reopening date. SINAC said the park would reopen only once MOPT confirmed the bridge was safe, El Observador reported. SINAC's Meryll Arias also reversed the earlier advice and told people not to use any alternate route to reach the park, since the detour was considered high-risk and emergency response there is limited.

Temporary repairs had begun on Jan. 21, and crews kept working through the week.

Reopening on Jan. 29, with conditions

On Thursday, Jan. 29, MOPT cleared traffic over the repaired bridge and the park returned to normal operation, as La Nación reported that morning. The conditions were strict:

• A 9-tonne weight limit on the bridge. MOPT warned that heavier vehicles could damage it further or force a full closure.
• Possible short closures in the following days while heavy machinery kept working.
• Rescheduling for affected visitors. People whose tickets fell during the closure could ask SINAC's Poás office to move their visit.

SINAC thanked visitors for their patience and said the safety of visitors and staff came first. We didn't find public reporting on whether the planned Bailey bridge was later installed or on a permanent replacement.

Why a week matters to Poasito

The road up through Poasito is known for its strawberry stands, restaurants and small lodges, many of which see much of their trade from park visitors. Officials noted that tourism around Poás supports the local economy and many small and medium-size businesses. A shutdown during the January high season hits those businesses directly, and this one came only six months after a much longer closure.

Poás has had a turbulent two years

In the first half of 2025, strong gas and ash emissions closed the park for months. It reopened on July 30, 2025, after the volcano's activity dropped, with online-only tickets and new emergency signs at the crater, Teletica reported.

Activity picked up again in 2026. After a moderate eruption in late August, the volcano stayed at the "Warning" level according to the volcano observatory OVSICORI, and from Aug. 28 the park cut its daily capacity almost in half, from 2,052 to 1,064 visitors, El Observador reported. The crater lookout was limited to 56 people per 20-minute turn, and helmets became mandatory on the main open trails. The same day, the National Emergency Commission (CNE) declared a preventive green alert for the park, which stayed open under the stricter rules, El Observador reported. The CNE's alert is separate from OVSICORI's activity level.

Planning a visit to Poás now

The Jan. 29 reopening is history, not a promise about today. Before you go:

• Book ahead through SINAC's official SICORE system. Poás tickets are sold online and capacity is limited.
• Check the volcano's status the day before on OVSICORI's activity-level page or its crater webcams.
• Stick to the main road and open trails. Don't try back roads or closed areas. Illegal entries are a real problem at Costa Rica's volcanoes, as SINAC's count of 408 holiday trespassers showed.
• Go early. Clouds often cover the crater by late morning.

Our guide to responsible ecotourism tours has more tips for low-impact park visits, and you can find Poás and other volcano parks on our national parks map.

Frequently asked questions

Why was Poás Volcano National Park closed in January 2026?

A bridge over the Quebrada Tigre on Route 120, the main road to the park, was found at risk of collapse. The park closed from Jan. 21 to Jan. 29, 2026.

Is Poás Volcano open now?

It reopened on Jan. 29, 2026, and since Aug. 28, 2026, it's been open under a CNE green alert with reduced capacity. Access can change at short notice because of volcanic activity or road work, so check SINAC and OVSICORI before you go.

Do I need to buy Poás tickets in advance?

Yes. Tickets are sold online through SINAC's SICORE system, and daily capacity is limited, especially since the August 2026 reduction.

Do I need a helmet to visit Poás?

Since Aug. 28, 2026, helmets have been required on the main open trails, including the path to the crater lookout, as a safety measure.

Sources and original reporting

1. La Nación: Parque Nacional Volcán Poás reabre tras habilitación del puente sobre la quebrada Tigre (2026-01-29)
2. La República: Riesgo de colapso obliga a cierre del Parque Nacional Volcán Poás por cinco días (2026-01-21)
3. El Observador: Parque Nacional Volcán Poás seguirá cerrado por tiempo indefinido hasta que MOPT repare puente (2026-01-26)
4. El Observador: Parque Nacional Volcán Poás reabre desde este jueves tras una semana cerrado por trabajos en puente (2026-01-29)
5. Teletica: Volcán Poás reabrirá al público el 30 de julio tras baja en actividad (2025-07-23)
6. El Observador: Volcán Poás aumenta su actividad: reducen a la mitad el aforo del parque y será obligatorio usar casco (2026-08-27)
7. El Observador: CNE declara alerta verde en volcán Poás por aumento de sismos, erupciones y gases (2026-08-28)
8. SINAC: SICORE online ticket system
9. OVSICORI: home page

We wrote this story from the published reports and official sources above. We didn't interview the people named unless the story says so.