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Rincón de la Vieja

The Colossus of Guanacaste

Elevation

1,729 m

Last Eruption

2021–2024

Type

Complex volcano

Country

Costa Rica

Location

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Volcanic Hazards & Risk Assessment

Primary Hazards

  • Lava flows and fountaining
  • Volcanic gas emissions
  • Local explosive activity

Risk Level

Population at RiskLow
Infrastructure RiskHigh
Aviation RiskSignificant

Geological Composition & Structure

Rock Types

Primary
Unknown
Silica Content
Varied composition

Tectonic Setting

Unknown
Intraplate setting with hotspot or regional volcanic activity.

Age & Formation

Epoch
Unknown
Evidence
Unknown

Eruption Statistics & Analysis

MetricValueGlobal RankingSignificance
Total Recorded EruptionsUnknownLowModerately active volcano
Maximum VEIVEI UnknownMinorLocal impact potential
Recent Activity-20209998 years agoVery RecentCurrently active

Monitoring & Alert Status

Monitoring Networks

Global Volcanism Program
International eruption database

Current Status

Active
Recent volcanic activity detected. Continuous monitoring in place.

Authority Sources

Smithsonian GVP
Official volcano database

Related Volcanoes

All Costa Rica Volcanoes
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Guanacaste Province
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Interesting Facts

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Rincón de la Vieja's estimated volume of 130 km³ makes it one of the most massive volcanic complexes in Central America, earning it the nickname 'The Colossus of Guanacaste.'

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The volcano's active crater lake has pH values as low as 1.0, making it one of the most acidic volcanic lakes on Earth.

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All eruptions at Rincón de la Vieja in the past 3,500 years have been phreatic (steam-driven), with no confirmed magmatic eruptions since the ~1820 BCE Plinian event.

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The ~1820 BCE Plinian eruption produced 0.25 km³ of tephra — enough to blanket the entire Guanacaste lowlands in pumice.

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The volcanic complex contains at least nine major eruptive centers and 12 craters along a 20 km ridge within the 15 km-wide Guachipelín caldera.

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Rincón de la Vieja National Park is part of the Guanacaste Conservation Area, a UNESCO World Heritage Site recognized for its outstanding biodiversity spanning from tropical dry forest to cloud forest.

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The volcano straddles the continental divide, with dramatically different rainfall on its Pacific (dry) and Caribbean (wet) flanks.

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Lahars are the primary hazard: in 1991, lahars triggered by a phreatic explosion killed at least two people along river drainages on the volcano's flanks.

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The name 'Rincón de la Vieja' — 'The Old Woman's Corner' — comes from a legend about an indigenous woman who lived on the volcano in solitude after a tragedy.

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The Las Pailas sector of the national park features bubbling mud pots and fumaroles heated by the same hydrothermal system that powers the volcano's phreatic eruptions.

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Between 2021 and 2024, the volcano produced dozens of phreatic explosions, with steam-and-ash plumes reaching up to 3,000 m above the crater rim.

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Rincón de la Vieja's Santa María cone (the highest peak at 1,729 m) has its own crater lake, separate from the active crater lake that drives eruptions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Rincón de la Vieja active?
Yes, Rincón de la Vieja is an active volcano. It has produced 34 recorded eruptions and most recently erupted in a phreatic (steam-driven) sequence from 2021 to 2024. The volcano is continuously monitored by OVSICORI-UNA, Costa Rica's volcanological observatory. While its recent eruptions have all been phreatic — driven by the interaction of hot volcanic gases with its acidic crater lake — the volcano remains capable of larger magmatic eruptions, as demonstrated by the VEI 4 Plinian eruption approximately 3,500 years ago. Scientists consider it one of Costa Rica's most persistently active volcanoes.
When did Rincón de la Vieja last erupt?
Rincón de la Vieja's most recent eruption was a prolonged phreatic sequence that began on June 28, 2021, and continued intermittently through 2024, rated VEI 2. The eruption produced dozens of steam-and-ash explosions from the acidic crater lake, generating plumes reaching up to 3,000 m above the crater and triggering lahars along river drainages on multiple flanks. Prior to this sequence, the volcano erupted in January 2020 (VEI 2), and before that in phreatic events in 2017–2018 and 2015–2016.
What type of volcano is Rincón de la Vieja?
Rincón de la Vieja is classified as a complex volcano — a volcanic system consisting of multiple overlapping or adjacent eruptive centers. The complex includes a 20 km-long ridge with 12 craters and pyroclastic cones built within the 15 km-wide Guachipelín caldera. Its highest point, the Santa María cone, and the active central crater are two of at least nine major eruptive centers. The dominant rock types are andesite and basaltic andesite, typical of subduction-zone volcanism along the Central American Volcanic Arc.
Can you visit Rincón de la Vieja?
Yes, Rincón de la Vieja National Park is one of Costa Rica's most popular volcanic attractions. The Las Pailas sector (27 km from Liberia) offers a 3.5 km loop trail past bubbling mud pots, fumaroles, and hot springs. The Santa María sector provides access to waterfalls and hot springs. Entry costs approximately $17 USD for foreign visitors. The park is open 8:00 AM–3:00 PM, Tuesday through Sunday. However, access to the summit craters is frequently restricted during volcanic unrest, and visitors should check OVSICORI-UNA alerts before their trip.
How dangerous is Rincón de la Vieja?
Rincón de la Vieja poses a moderate-to-high hazard, primarily through lahar generation. Phreatic explosions from the crater lake expel water and debris that form fast-moving lahars in river channels draining the volcano's flanks. In 1991, lahars killed at least two people. Several thousand people live in communities along at-risk river drainages. While a repeat of the VEI 4 Plinian eruption of ~1820 BCE is considered unlikely in the near term, it would pose a severe regional threat. The volcano's frequent phreatic activity makes it one of Costa Rica's most persistently hazardous volcanoes.
What is the crater lake at Rincón de la Vieja?
The active crater of Rincón de la Vieja contains a highly acidic lake approximately 300 m in diameter with pH values as low as 1.0, making it one of the most acidic volcanic lakes on Earth. The lake is heated by volcanic gases rising from the underlying hydrothermal system and periodically explodes when gas pressure exceeds the confining capacity of the water, producing phreatic eruptions. Changes in the lake's temperature, color, and chemistry are key indicators used by volcanologists to forecast eruptions.
Where is Rincón de la Vieja located?
Rincón de la Vieja is located in the Guanacaste Province of northwestern Costa Rica, approximately 25 km (16 mi) northeast of the city of Liberia and about 15 km south of the Nicaraguan border. It forms part of the Guanacaste Range, a segment of the Central American Volcanic Arc. The volcano is accessible from the Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport in Liberia, which receives both domestic and international flights.
How tall is Rincón de la Vieja?
Rincón de la Vieja's highest point — the Santa María cone — stands at 1,729 m (5,673 ft) above sea level. However, the active crater that produces eruptions is located at a lower elevation near the center of the volcanic ridge. The overall complex spans a 20 km-long ridge with 12 craters at various elevations, all within the broader 15 km-wide Guachipelín caldera. Compared to other Costa Rican volcanoes, it is shorter than Irazú (3,432 m) and Poás (2,708 m) but larger in total volcanic volume.