🌋VolcanoAtlas

Turrialba Volcano

Costa Rica's Reawakened Giant

Elevation

3,340 m

Last Eruption

2022

Type

Stratovolcano

Country

Costa Rica

Location

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Volcanic Hazards & Risk Assessment

Primary Hazards

  • Pyroclastic flows
  • Lava flows
  • Volcanic bombs and ballistics
  • Lahars and mudflows

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 Activity4 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

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Interesting Facts

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Turrialba reawakened in 2010 after 144 years of dormancy — one of the longest recorded repose periods for a Central American volcano before returning to activity.

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The volcano's ash plumes forced the closure of Juan Santamaría International Airport in San José on at least 15 separate occasions between 2014 and 2016.

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Turrialba's massive edifice covers approximately 500 km² — larger than the entire island of Barbados.

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The ~40 CE eruption reached VEI 4, making it comparable in explosive magnitude to the 2010 eruption of Eyjafjallajökull in Iceland.

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Turrialba and its neighboring volcano Irazú are separated by just 12 km and may share a connected magmatic plumbing system at depth.

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The volcano's name means 'White Tower' in Spanish, referring to the column of white steam visible from the Central Valley below.

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Turrialba Volcano National Park, established in 1955, was one of Costa Rica's earliest protected areas, predating the country's famous national park system expansion.

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Over one million people in Costa Rica's Central Valley live within the ashfall hazard zone of Turrialba.

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The summit depression is breached to the northeast, creating a natural channel for lahars down the Río Turrialba valley.

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During the 2015–2019 eruptive phase, fine volcanic ash dusted cars and buildings in San José, 35 km to the southwest.

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Turrialba's three summit craters — Northeast, Central, and Southwest — span a 2,200-meter-long depression, one of the largest summit crater complexes in Central America.

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Coffee grown on Turrialba's volcanic soils is among Costa Rica's most prized single-origin varieties.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Turrialba volcano still active?
Yes, Turrialba is an active stratovolcano that last erupted in July 2022. After lying dormant for 144 years following its 1866 eruption, the volcano dramatically reawakened in January 2010 and has since produced over a dozen eruptions through 2022. OVSICORI-UNA, Costa Rica's volcanological observatory, continuously monitors the volcano with seismometers, gas sensors, GPS deformation instruments, and webcams. Fumarolic activity persists at the summit craters, and scientists consider future eruptions possible. Turrialba is one of Costa Rica's most closely watched volcanoes due to its proximity to the capital city of San José.
When did Turrialba last erupt?
Turrialba's most recent confirmed eruption began on July 17, 2022, producing ash emissions at VEI 1. This was part of a broader eruptive phase that started in January 2010 when the volcano ended 144 years of dormancy. The most intense period was from March 2015 to January 2019, when sustained eruptions reached VEI 3 and repeatedly disrupted air traffic at San José's international airport. Additional minor eruptions occurred in 2020 and 2021 before the July 2022 event. The current period of relative quiet does not indicate the eruptive phase is definitively over.
Could Turrialba erupt again?
Future eruptions of Turrialba are considered likely by volcanologists. The volcano's geological record shows recurring cycles of activity over 9,000 years, with five major explosive eruptions in the past 3,500 years. The current eruptive phase that began in 2010 may continue with additional episodes. Scientists note that the 144-year dormancy before 2010 was not unusually long by Turrialba's standards, and the volcano remains capable of eruptions up to VEI 4 — the scale of its largest known event around 40 CE. OVSICORI-UNA maintains continuous monitoring to detect precursory signals.
How far is Turrialba from San José?
Turrialba volcano is located approximately 35 km (22 miles) northeast of San José, Costa Rica's capital city. The city of Cartago lies closer at about 24 km to the southwest. The town of Turrialba sits roughly 15 km to the southeast at the volcano's base. This proximity to the densely populated Central Valley — home to over one million people — makes Turrialba a significant volcanic hazard. During eruptions, prevailing winds frequently carry ash from the summit directly toward San José and its international airport.
How tall is Turrialba volcano?
Turrialba stands at 3,340 m (10,958 ft) above sea level, making it Costa Rica's second-tallest volcano after neighboring Irazú at 3,432 m (11,260 ft). The two volcanoes are connected by a broad structural saddle and together form the highest section of the Central Volcanic Cordillera. Turrialba's summit is characterized by a large depression measuring 800 m wide by 2,200 m long, containing three distinct craters rather than a single peak.
What type of volcano is Turrialba?
Turrialba is classified as a stratovolcano (also called a composite volcano), built up through alternating layers of lava flows, tephra, and pyroclastic deposits over tens of thousands of years. It produces predominantly andesitic and basaltic-andesitic magma, typical of subduction zone volcanoes where the Cocos Plate descends beneath the Caribbean Plate. Stratovolcanoes like Turrialba tend to produce both effusive (lava flow) and explosive eruptions. Its eruption style has ranged from gentle phreatic steam blasts to powerful VEI 4 Plinian events with pyroclastic flows.
Can you visit Turrialba volcano?
Turrialba Volcano National Park is periodically open to visitors, though access has been restricted frequently since the 2010 reawakening. When open, visitors can drive a paved road to near the summit and walk to viewpoints overlooking the fuming craters. Check current access status with Costa Rica's SINAC (National System of Conservation Areas) before planning a visit. The park may close on short notice during periods of elevated volcanic activity. The surrounding region offers whitewater rafting, agritourism, and visits to CATIE's botanical gardens.
Why did Turrialba reawaken in 2010?
Turrialba's 2010 reawakening resulted from the injection of fresh magma into the volcano's shallow plumbing system after 144 years of dormancy. Precursory signs included increasing fumarolic activity and subtle ground deformation detected in the years before the first eruption. The long repose period was not unusual by geological standards — Turrialba has experienced variable quiet intervals between eruptive phases throughout the Holocene. Scientists believe the 2010–2022 phase may represent the beginning of a new eruptive cycle rather than an isolated episode.