The site of Barva Volcano offers only few facilities, but although it may sound as a let down, visitors don't seem to be disappointed by this. Records at the park ranger's station show that during the dry season, up to 200 people visit the area and hike through its tropical cloud forest.
Barva Volcano is actually a newly established National Park, adjacent to the western extreme of Braulio Carrillo National Park. Today, Barva is a dormant volcano 9534 feet high, but several crater lakes show that it has been active-and may be again in the future.
To get there drive to Heredia, and follow the signs to Sacramento (you will first pass through the town of Barva). Once in Sacramento, a sign leads the way to the park's entrance. Since the road is in poor conditions, some people prefer to leave the car in Sacramento (in front of la pulperķa -the town's grocery store), and hike the 2 miles long road to the park. If you have a four wheel drive car, and the will to fight against deep holes and loose rocks, there should be no trouble.
The volcano's surroundings are plain beautiful, and you will be amazed by the green colors prevailing everywhere, specially during the rainy season. Most of the land around the park is used for pasture, and so you will become familiar with the placid faces of grazing cows. The view down from the road to the volcano is magnificent, and Central Valley can easily be sighted.
Once at the park, it is hiking all around. There are well marked trails to the summit and other attractions. Vara Blanca Viewpoint is a one mile hike from the ranger station. The overlook is outstanding if fog doesn't get in the way. You may see as far north as the Tortuguero Lowlands. Poas Volcano can also be sighted on a clear day. Try to make it there as early as possible, since the chances of fog are fewer in the morning.
There are two more trails to the lake-filled craters of Barva and Copey. Laguna Barva is the highest one, 9,315 feet above sea level. The trail is quite steep and slippery during the rainy season. As you walk, don't forget to look around you: the sight is just overwhelming with peace and beauty. Vegetation is thick along the trail, allowing only a few sun beams to glide through the forest's canopy. If fog sets in, the scenery will turn gloomy and mysterious, but magnificent just the same.
Laguna Copey is smaller than Barva (40 m in diameter, 4 m deep), but it is there to remind us of the volcano's former activity. It is located 8,594 feet above sea level. The trail to Copey is your best bet for an overlook of the park. The trail gets steep at points, but it allows beautiful and over-all views of the forest's vegetation and rugged terrain.
Many rivers bathe the area, and so the soothing sound of running water will follow you at all times. There are 6,000 species of plants in the park. Giant oaks (quercus spp.) are everywhere, covered by abundant lichens, tree ferns, bromelias, and some of the 6 species of orchids to be found in the area. Look for the easy-to-spot "Sombrilla de pobre" (gunnera insignis), the largest leave in the park. Trails are good for bird watching (resplendent quetzals, black-faced solitaires and the clay-colored robin, among other 300 species). May is the best time of the year for spotting quetzals.
Hiking from the ranger's station to Copey, making a stop at Vara Blanca and then Laguna Barva, adds up to a 4 mile long journey (one way), so plan to spend from 5 to 6 hours at the volcano if you wish to see it all. There are a few huts along the trails where you can relax for a while, but only one picnic area located beside the ranger station.
Costa Rican Volcanoes 
